Enrollment
338
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.1:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
14.3%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
-50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Explorer Elementary - 04 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Explorer Elementary - 04
Explorer Elementary - 04 is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, enrolling 338 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 14.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 338 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 691 scored South Dakota schools.
Against 86 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #35.
Its student body is led by White (66%) and African American (10%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 338 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
11.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Harrisburg School District 41-2 spends $10,402 per pupil, 23% below the South Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Sioux Falls's elementary schools, it stands alongside John F. Kennedy Elementary - 57 (661 students): Explorer Elementary - 04 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.1:1 vs 17.4:1).
Harrisburg School District 41-2 also operates Harrisburg High School - 01 (1,806 students) and Liberty Elementary - 02 (559 students) alongside Explorer Elementary - 04.
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 Explorer Elementary - 04 compares
Explorer Elementary - 04 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$10,402
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
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Harrisburg School District 41-2, which includes Explorer Elementary - 04.
$10,402
Per student
-23%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-37%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 58.8%
State 31.7%
Federal 9.5%
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 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
- 1,806
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- 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
Similar elementary 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 (~338 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Explorer Elementary - 04's federal record.
- Compare Explorer Elementary - 04 against another school. Compare schools
- Harrisburg School District 41-2'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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Explorer Elementary - 04 a good school?
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. 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 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.
Related tools
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.