- Enrollment
- 1,954
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sioux Falls, SD
Lowell Elementary - 28
Federal NCES profile for Lowell Elementary - 28, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 466627000602
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lowell Elementary - 28 earns 51/100 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.
- #3 of 16
- elementary schools in Sioux Falls · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 57.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Lowell Elementary - 28 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lowell Elementary - 28 ranks #3 of 16 elementary schools in Sioux Falls, SD.
School address
District: Sioux Falls School District 49-5 · South Dakota
NCES ID 466627000602 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+65 students YoY
Lowell Elementary - 28 grew from 358 students in 2022-23 to 423 in 2023-24 (+18.2%).
Teacher FTE added 29.7 → 31.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+65 students YoY 466627000602 · Sioux Falls, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
426 enr · 14.7:1 · 57.5% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School - 02 (1,954 students)
Lowell Elementary - 28 grew from 358 students in 2022-23 to 423 in 2023-24 (+18.2%). Teacher FTE added 29.7 → 31.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Lowell Elementary - 28 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 426
Lowell Elementary - 28
426 students
What this shows Lowell Elementary - 28 reports 426 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lowell Elementary - 28 compares
Lowell Elementary - 28 is a growing 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 | 14.7:1 | ▲ 8% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.5% | ▲ 100% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 426 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
426
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 100% 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
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 66% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.6%
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
$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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 213 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
55
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 33.6%
White 26.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 13.4%
African American 12.9%
Two or More 10.1%
Asian 2.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 33.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.0, Lowell Elementary - 28 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 Lowell Elementary - 28 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Memorial Middle School - 04 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lowell Elementary - 28'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 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 (~426 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lowell Elementary - 28
How many students attend Lowell Elementary - 28?
Lowell Elementary - 28 has 426 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sioux Falls, SD. CCD year-over-year: 358 (2022-23) → 423 (2023-24), up 65.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary - 28?
The student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary - 28 is 14.7:1, which is 8% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lowell Elementary - 28?
57.5% of students at Lowell Elementary - 28 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lowell Elementary - 28?
The largest demographic group at Lowell Elementary - 28 is Hispanic or Latino at 33.6% of enrollment, in Sioux Falls, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lowell Elementary - 28?
Lowell Elementary - 28 has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher 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 Lowell Elementary - 28 rank among elementary schools in Sioux Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Lowell Elementary - 28 ranks #3 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 Sioux Falls School District 49-5?
Besides Lowell Elementary - 28, 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.