Enrollment
443
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Sioux Falls, SD
Hawthorne Elementary - 56
Federal NCES profile for Hawthorne Elementary - 56, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 466627000936
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hawthorne Elementary - 56 earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of South Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools.
- #9 of 22
- schools in Sioux Falls · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.3:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Hawthorne Elementary - 56 has class sizes larger than 71% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hawthorne Elementary - 56 ranks #9 of 22 schools in Sioux Falls, SD.
School address
District: Sioux Falls School District 49-5 · South Dakota
NCES ID 466627000936 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.3:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
+247% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hawthorne Elementary - 56 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hawthorne Elementary - 56
Hawthorne Elementary - 56 is a high-poverty, large combined-grade school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, enrolling 443 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.3:1 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 100.0% of students qualify for free meals, 247% above the South Dakota average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 443 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 17 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #3.
Its student body is led by White (31%) and Hispanic or Latino (22%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 79/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 222 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.1% 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.
Among Sioux Falls's public schools, it stands alongside Discovery Elementary - 26 (873 students): Hawthorne Elementary - 56 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.3:1 vs 17.8:1).
Sioux Falls School District 49-5 also operates Lincoln High School - 02 (1,954 students) and Jefferson High School - 67 (1,888 students) alongside Hawthorne Elementary - 56.
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 Hawthorne Elementary - 56 compares
Hawthorne Elementary - 56 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 | 15.3:1 | ▲ 13% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 247% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 443 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
443
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 247% above the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 71% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.1%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 222 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
45
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.7 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 30.7%
Hispanic or Latino 21.9%
African American 20.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 13.1%
Two or More 9.3%
Asian 3.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.4%
Largest group: White at 30.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 78.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 78.9, Hawthorne Elementary - 56 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 Hawthorne Elementary - 56.
$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 Hawthorne Elementary - 56 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School - 02 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jefferson High School - 67 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Washington High School - 01 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School - 03 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Memorial Middle School - 04 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hawthorne Elementary - 56'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 other schools in Sioux Falls
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Discovery Elementary - 26
Standard public school
873 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
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
Similar other 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 (~443 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hawthorne Elementary - 56's federal record.
- Compare Hawthorne Elementary - 56 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 Hawthorne Elementary - 56
How many students attend Hawthorne Elementary - 56?
Hawthorne Elementary - 56 has 443 students enrolled. It is a public school in Sioux Falls, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hawthorne Elementary - 56?
The student-teacher ratio at Hawthorne Elementary - 56 is 15.3:1, which is 13% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hawthorne Elementary - 56?
100.0% of students at Hawthorne Elementary - 56 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hawthorne Elementary - 56?
The largest demographic group at Hawthorne Elementary - 56 is White at 30.7% of enrollment, in Sioux Falls, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 78.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hawthorne Elementary - 56?
Hawthorne Elementary - 56 has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Hawthorne Elementary - 56 rank among schools in Sioux Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Hawthorne Elementary - 56 ranks #9 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.
Is Hawthorne Elementary - 56 a good school?
Hawthorne Elementary - 56 earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of South Dakota schools. 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 Sioux Falls School District 49-5?
Besides Hawthorne Elementary - 56, 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.