- Enrollment
- 1,954
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Sioux Falls, SD
Discovery Elementary - 26
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Elementary - 26, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 466627001238
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 87
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Elementary - 26 earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of South Dakota schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Dakota.
- #13 of 22
- schools in Sioux Falls · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.8:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 15.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Elementary - 26 has class sizes larger than 88% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary - 26 ranks #13 of 22 schools in Sioux Falls, SD.
School address
District: Sioux Falls School District 49-5 · South Dakota
NCES ID 466627001238 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Discovery Elementary - 26 held near 867 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 49.7 → 49.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 466627001238 · Sioux Falls, SD Other · MID · TRAD
873 enr · 17.8:1 · 15.2% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School - 02 (1,954 students)
Discovery Elementary - 26 held near 867 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE held 49.7 → 49.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Discovery Elementary - 26 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lincoln High S
Lincoln High School - 02
1,954 students
- Jefferson High
Jefferson High School - 67
1,888 students
- Washington Hig
Washington High School - 01
1,819 students
- Roosevelt High
Roosevelt High School - 03
1,785 students
- Memorial Middl
Memorial Middle School - 04
1,133 students
- This school
Discovery Elementary - 26
873 students
What this shows Discovery Elementary - 26 reports 873 students on the CCD universe file.
How Discovery Elementary - 26 compares
Discovery Elementary - 26 held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.8:1 | ▲ 31% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.2% | ▼ 47% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 873 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
873
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
15.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% 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
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 31% above state mean
Top 88% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
5.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,456
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,985
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 582 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.1%
African American 5.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.8%
Two or More 4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.9%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: White at 80.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.9, Discovery Elementary - 26 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Sioux Falls School District 49-5 reports $11,456 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Discovery Elementary - 26 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School - 02 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson High School - 67 | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washington High School - 01 | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School - 03 | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Memorial Middle School - 04 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Discovery Elementary - 26's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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 other schools in Sioux Falls
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Rf Pettigrew Elementary - 17
Standard public school
846 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Hayward Elementary - 38
Standard public school
728 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65
Standard public school
690 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Harvey Dunn Elementary - 54
Standard public school
681 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
John Harris Elementary - 23
Standard public school
666 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Anne Sullivan Elementary - 20
Standard public school
632 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~873 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Discovery Elementary - 26
How many students attend Discovery Elementary - 26?
Discovery Elementary - 26 has 873 students enrolled. It is a public school in Sioux Falls, SD. CCD year-over-year: 877 (2022-23) → 867 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary - 26?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary - 26 is 17.8:1, which is 31% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Discovery Elementary - 26?
15.2% of students at Discovery Elementary - 26 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Elementary - 26?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Elementary - 26 is White at 80.1% of enrollment, in Sioux Falls, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Elementary - 26?
Discovery Elementary - 26 has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Discovery Elementary - 26 rank among schools in Sioux Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary - 26 ranks #13 of 22 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 schools in Sioux Falls on the city page.
What other schools are in Sioux Falls School District 49-5?
Besides Discovery Elementary - 26, 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.