- Enrollment
- 1,806
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sioux Falls, SD
Explorer Elementary - 04
Federal NCES profile for Explorer Elementary - 04, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 463135001169
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Explorer Elementary - 04 earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools.
- #7 of 16
- elementary schools in Sioux Falls · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.1:1
- students per teacher
- 14.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Explorer Elementary - 04 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Explorer Elementary - 04 ranks #7 of 16 elementary schools in Sioux Falls, SD.
School address
District: Harrisburg School District 41-2 · South Dakota
NCES ID 463135001169 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-28 students YoY
Explorer Elementary - 04 shrank from 370 students in 2022-23 to 342 in 2023-24 (-7.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.6 → 24.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-28 students YoY 463135001169 · Sioux Falls, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
338 enr · 12.1:1 · 14.3% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Harrisburg High School - 01 (1,806 students)
Explorer Elementary - 04 shrank from 370 students in 2022-23 to 342 in 2023-24 (-7.6%). Teacher FTE lost 28.6 → 24.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Explorer Elementary - 04 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Harrisburg Hig
Harrisburg High School - 01
1,806 students
- Liberty Elemen 559
Liberty Elementary - 02
559 students
- Harrisburg Nor 534
Harrisburg North Middle School - 08
534 students
- Harrisburg Sou 519
Harrisburg South Middle School - 03
519 students
- Horizon Elemen 458
Horizon Elementary - 09
458 students
- This school 338
Explorer Elementary - 04
338 students
What this shows Explorer Elementary - 04 reports 338 students on the CCD universe file.
How Explorer Elementary - 04 compares
Explorer Elementary - 04 is a shrinking campus on CCD: 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 | 12.1:1 | ▼ 11% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.3% | ▼ 50% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 338 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
338
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
14.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 38% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
11.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,031
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 338 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.0%
African American 9.8%
Two or More 8.6%
Hispanic or Latino 8.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.1%
Asian 3.3%
Largest group: White at 66.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.8, Explorer Elementary - 04 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Harrisburg School District 41-2 reports $11,031 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Explorer Elementary - 04 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg High School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Elementary - 02 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harrisburg North Middle School - 08 | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harrisburg South Middle School - 03 | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Horizon Elementary - 09 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Explorer Elementary - 04's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 559
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 534
- Students per teacher
- 9.1:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 9.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 458
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar elementary schools in Sioux Falls
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
John F. Kennedy Elementary - 57
Standard public school
661 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Rosa Parks Elementary - 15
Standard public school
618 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Oscar Howe Elementary - 58
Standard public school
608 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Fred Assam Elementary - 06
Standard public school
531 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Laura Wilder Elementary - 31
Standard public school
447 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Eugene Field a+ Elementary - 16
Standard public school
444 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~338 students)
Frequently asked questions about Explorer Elementary - 04
How many students attend Explorer Elementary - 04?
Explorer Elementary - 04 has 338 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sioux Falls, SD. CCD year-over-year: 370 (2022-23) → 342 (2023-24), down 28.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Explorer Elementary - 04?
The student-teacher ratio at Explorer Elementary - 04 is 12.1:1, which is 11% lower than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 23% 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 Explorer Elementary - 04?
14.3% of students at Explorer Elementary - 04 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Explorer Elementary - 04?
The largest demographic group at Explorer Elementary - 04 is White at 66.0% of enrollment, in Sioux Falls, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Explorer Elementary - 04?
Explorer Elementary - 04 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 Explorer Elementary - 04 rank among elementary schools in Sioux Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Explorer Elementary - 04 ranks #7 of 16 elementary 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 elementary schools in Sioux Falls on the city page.
What other schools are in Harrisburg School District 41-2?
Besides Explorer Elementary - 04, Harrisburg School District 41-2 also operates Harrisburg High School - 01 (1,806 students), Liberty Elementary - 02 (559 students), and Harrisburg North Middle School - 08 (534 students). See the Harrisburg School District 41-2 district page for the complete list.