Enrollment
885
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Sioux Falls, SD
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68
Federal NCES profile for Ben Reifel Middle School - 68, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 466627001425
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also one of the largest schools in South Dakota.
- #3 of 8
- middle schools in Sioux Falls · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13:1
- students per teacher
- 27.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 ranks #3 of 8 middle schools in Sioux Falls, SD.
School address
District: Sioux Falls School District 49-5 · South Dakota
NCES ID 466627001425 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
68.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
27.7%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
-4% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Ben Reifel Middle School - 68
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 is a large middle school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, enrolling 885 students.
At 13:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the South Dakota median, within a few percentage points of the 13.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 27.7% lands close to the South Dakota typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Dakota, bigger than 98% of state schools at 885 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 691 scored South Dakota schools.
Among 30 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Dakota schools statewide, it ranks #3, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (60%) and African American (14%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 60/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 295 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Sioux Falls School District 49-5 spends $10,788 per pupil, 20% below the South Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 18.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 328 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 885 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Sioux Falls's middle schools, it stands alongside Memorial Middle School - 04 (1,133 students): Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13:1 vs 16.4:1).
Sioux Falls School District 49-5 also operates Lincoln High School - 02 (1,954 students) and Jefferson High School - 67 (1,888 students) alongside Ben Reifel Middle School - 68.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 compares
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 on the metrics families compare, against South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▼ 4% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.7% | ▼ 4% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 885 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
885
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
27.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% below the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 47% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
27.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,788
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,477
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 295 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
241
in-school suspensions + 87 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 27.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 37.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 60.0%
African American 14.2%
Hispanic or Latino 12.2%
Two or More 8.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.1%
Asian 2.3%
Largest group: White at 60.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.7, Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sioux Falls School District 49-5, which includes Ben Reifel Middle School - 68.
$10,788
Per student
-20%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-35%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 48.1%
State 33.1%
Federal 18.9%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School - 02 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jefferson High School - 67 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Washington High School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School - 03 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Memorial Middle School - 04 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ben Reifel Middle School - 68's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,954
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,888
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,819
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,785
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,133
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar middle schools in Sioux Falls
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Memorial Middle School - 04
Standard public school
1,133 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Edison Middle School - 06
Standard public school
937 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Patrick Henry Middle School - 07
Standard public school
925 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
George Mcgovern Middle School -09
Standard public school
780 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Whittier Middle School - 08
Standard public school
675 students 10.9:1 students per teacher
Harrisburg North Middle School - 08
Standard public school
534 students 9.1:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~885 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Ben Reifel Middle School - 68's federal record.
- Compare Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 against another school. Compare schools
- Sioux Falls School District 49-5's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Ben Reifel Middle School - 68
How many students attend Ben Reifel Middle School - 68?
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 has 885 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Sioux Falls, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ben Reifel Middle School - 68?
The student-teacher ratio at Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 is 13:1, which is 4% lower than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ben Reifel Middle School - 68?
27.7% of students at Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ben Reifel Middle School - 68?
The largest demographic group at Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 is White at 60.0% of enrollment, in Sioux Falls, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ben Reifel Middle School - 68?
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 rank among middle schools in Sioux Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 ranks #3 of 8 middle schools in Sioux Falls, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Sioux Falls on the city page.
Is Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 a good school?
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also one of the largest schools in South Dakota. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Sioux Falls School District 49-5?
Besides Ben Reifel Middle School - 68, Sioux Falls School District 49-5 also operates Lincoln High School - 02 (1,954 students), Jefferson High School - 67 (1,888 students), and Washington High School - 01 (1,819 students). See the Sioux Falls School District 49-5 district page for the complete list.
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Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.