Sioux Falls School District 49-5

201 E 38th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Sioux Falls School District 49-5 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 12 public middle schools serving 5,417 students in Sioux Falls School District 49-5. This district's average middle testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in South Dakota.
Public Middle Schools in Sioux Falls School District 49-5 have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the South Dakota public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the South Dakota public middle school average of 42% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
45 Schools
294 Schools
# Students
25,060 Students
39,775 Students
# Teachers
1,669 Teachers
2,945 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Sioux Falls School District 49-5, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#92 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
41%
42%
48%
51%
42%
42%
86%
82%
(2022-23)
27%
22.5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.65
0.60
% American Indian
5%
26%
% Asian
2%
1%
% Hispanic
17%
7%
% Black
13%
3%
% White
55%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,391 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,053. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,147 is higher than the state median of $12,557. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$311 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$330 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,391
$13,053
Spending / Student
$13,147
$12,557

Best Sioux Falls School District 49-5 Public Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Patrick Henry Middle School - 07
(Math: 57% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2200 S 5th Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-7639
Gr: 6-8 | 925 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #22.
Memorial Middle School - 04
(Math: 54% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1401 S Sertoma Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
(605) 362-2785
Gr: 6-8 | 1,133 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #33.
Structured Teaching - 12
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
201 N West Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: 6-12 | 16 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #44.
Summit Oaks-residential - 48
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
621 E Presentation Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: K-12 | 20 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #55.
Edison Middle School - 06
(Math: 42% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2101 S West Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-7643
Gr: 6-8 | 937 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #66.
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68
(Math: 38% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
6700 E 41st St
Sioux Falls, SD 57110
(605) 371-4155
Gr: 6-8 | 885 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #77.
George Mcgovern Middle School -09
(Math: 19% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
6221 W Maple St
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
(605) 367-4440
Gr: 6-8 | 780 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #88.
Whittier Middle School - 08
(Math: 15% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
930 E 6th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-7620
Gr: 6-8 | 675 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #99.
Axtell Park Middle School - 47
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
201 N West Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-4266
Gr: 6-8 | 31 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: n/an/a
Arise Shelter Care - 71
Alternative School
621 E Presentation St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: K-12 | 4 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: n/an/a
Avera Adolescent Addiction Care Program - 81
Alternative School
4400 W 69th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: 6-12 | 2 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1
Rank: n/an/a
Avera Behavioral Health Program - 82
Alternative School
4400 W 69th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: K-12 | 9 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 22%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 45 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 25,060 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 45%
  • : 86% (Top 20% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 41% (Btm 50%)
  • : 48% (Btm 50%)
  • : 42% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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