Enrollment
426
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.7:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
57.5%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
+100% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Lowell Elementary - 28 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Lowell Elementary - 28
Lowell Elementary - 28 is a higher-need, large elementary school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, enrolling 426 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.7:1 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 57.5% of students qualify for free meals, 100% above the South Dakota average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 426 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 691 scored South Dakota schools.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (34%) and White (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 77/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 213 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.6% 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 elementary schools, it stands alongside John F. Kennedy Elementary - 57 (661 students): Lowell Elementary - 28 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.7:1 vs 17.4:1).
Sioux Falls School District 49-5 also operates Lincoln High School - 02 (1,954 students) and Jefferson High School - 67 (1,888 students) alongside Lowell Elementary - 28.
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 Lowell Elementary - 28 compares
Lowell Elementary - 28 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$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 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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sioux Falls School District 49-5, which includes Lowell Elementary - 28.
$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 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
- 1,954
- 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 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 (~426 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Lowell Elementary - 28's federal record.
- Compare Lowell Elementary - 28 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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Lowell Elementary - 28 a good school?
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. 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 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.
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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.