Can I use Minnehaha County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Minnehaha County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Minnehaha County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Minnehaha County?

Start with the 80 listed public schools and 8 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Minnehaha County Schools & Education

Name: Minnehaha County, South Dakota Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Minnehaha County, South Dakota

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

24/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

87.6%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.6%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,848

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,409

School Score

24/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 38/100

State Score Position

#52

of 65 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Minnehaha County

Measured School Summary

Minnehaha County faces educational challenges with a school score of 24/100 and a graduation rate of 87.6%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $5,848 per pupil, Minnehaha County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 36% below the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 21% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Minnehaha County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

80 public schools and 8 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

24/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #52 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

87.6%

5.2 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,848

$1,561 below the state average

School coverage

8 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Minnehaha County has 80 public schools across 8 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Minnehaha County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Minnehaha County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#52

of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 14 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Elementary to high school visible

25,073 students

Elementary 25Middle 7High 7Other 2

41 listed schools in this county slice.

Brandon Valley School District 49-2

Elementary to high school visible

4,949 students

Elementary 6Middle 4High 2Other 0

12 listed schools in this county slice.

West Central School District 49-7

Elementary to high school visible

1,413 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 3Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Dell Rapids School District 49-3

Elementary to high school visible

982 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Sioux Falls School District 49-5 is the largest listed district slice, with 43 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Minnehaha County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Minnehaha County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Data Story

Minnehaha County Manages State’s Largest Consolidated Student Enrollment

Education data brief for Minnehaha County, South Dakota.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:District structure

Minnehaha County is home to the largest student population in South Dakota, with 34,666 students enrolled across 80 public schools. This includes the state's largest district, the Sioux Falls School District 49-5, which alone serves 25,122 students. The county’s largest high schools, such as Washington High School and Lincoln High School, each enroll over 1,800 students. The school mix includes 45 urban, 29 rural, and 6 town locations, featuring 7 alternative and 7 special education schools. Despite the scale of operations, the per-pupil expenditure is $5,848, which is lower than the state average of $7,409 and less than half of the national average of $13,000. The graduation rate of 87.6% is higher than the state average of 82.4% and slightly above the national average of 87.0%. The composite school score is 24.2, trailing the state average of 38.3. Compare district boundaries before drawing conclusions.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in Minnehaha County

Reported Enrollment

34,666

80 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary39

Middle17

High21

Other3

8 School Districts in Minnehaha County

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Brandon Valley School District 49-2

West Central School District 49-7

6 schools

1,413 students

Dell Rapids School District 49-3

3 schools

982 students

Tri-Valley School District 49-6

3 schools

945 students

Baltic School District 49-1

3 schools

608 students

Garretson School District 49-4

3 schools

460 students

East Dakota Educational Cooperative

8 schools

0 students

80 Public Schools in Minnehaha County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 9 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 80 matching schools

Public schools in Minnehaha County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Washington High School - 01	Profile	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57110City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,910
Lincoln High School - 02	Profile	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57105City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,883
Jefferson High School - 67	Profile	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57101Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,749
Roosevelt High School - 03	Profile	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57106City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,713
Brandon Valley High School - 01	Profile	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	Brandon, 57005Town: Fringe	9–12	High	1,345
Memorial Middle School - 04	Profile	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57106City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	1,168
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68	Profile	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57110Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	1,010
RF Pettigrew Elementary - 17	Profile	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57106City: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	952
Patrick Henry Middle School - 07	Profile	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57105City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	940
Edison Middle School - 06	Record	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57105City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	916
Discovery Elementary - 26	Record	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57106City: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	877
Brandon Valley Middle School - 02	Record	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	Brandon, 57005Town: Fringe	7–8	Middle	729
Rosa Parks Elementary - 15	Record	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57710City: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	729
Brandon Valley Intermediate - 07	Record	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	Brandon, 57005Rural: Fringe	5–6	Middle	728
George McGovern Middle School -09	Record	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57107Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	719
John Harris Elementary - 23	Record	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57103City: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	706
Whittier Middle School - 08	Record	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57103City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	704
Brandon Elementary - 03	Record	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	Brandon, 57005Town: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	701
John F. Kennedy Elementary - 57	Record	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57106City: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	682
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65	Record	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls, 57105City: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	676

Washington High School - 01

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57110 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,910 students

Lincoln High School - 02

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57105 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,883 students

Jefferson High School - 67

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57101 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,749 students

Roosevelt High School - 03

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57106 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,713 students

Brandon Valley High School - 01

Brandon Valley School District 49-2

Brandon, 57005 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,345 students

Memorial Middle School - 04

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57106 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,168 students

Ben Reifel Middle School - 68

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57110 / Rural: Fringe

Profile6–8Middle1,010 students

RF Pettigrew Elementary - 17

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57106 / City: Midsize

ProfilePK–5Primary952 students

Patrick Henry Middle School - 07

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57105 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle940 students

Edison Middle School - 06

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57105 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle916 students

Discovery Elementary - 26

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57106 / City: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary877 students

Brandon Valley Middle School - 02

Brandon Valley School District 49-2

Brandon, 57005 / Town: Fringe

Record7–8Middle729 students

Rosa Parks Elementary - 15

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57710 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary729 students

Brandon Valley Intermediate - 07

Brandon Valley School District 49-2

Brandon, 57005 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–6Middle728 students

George McGovern Middle School -09

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57107 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle719 students

John Harris Elementary - 23

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57103 / City: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary706 students

Whittier Middle School - 08

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57103 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle704 students

Brandon Elementary - 03

Brandon Valley School District 49-2

Brandon, 57005 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary701 students

John F. Kennedy Elementary - 57

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57106 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary682 students

Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65

Sioux Falls School District 49-5

Sioux Falls, 57105 / City: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary676 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,848

State avg $7,409

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Minnehaha County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which South Dakota counties have the highest graduation rates?

Deuel County (95.0%), Stanley County (95.0%), and Hamlin County (92.8%) currently lead South Dakota among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in South Dakota?

Across South Dakota counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,409. The highest current county values are Ziebach County ($13,420), Corson County ($10,486), and Sully County ($10,373). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Minnehaha County?

Minnehaha County has a school score of 24/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Minnehaha County?

The high school graduation rate in Minnehaha County is 87.6%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Minnehaha County spend per student?

Minnehaha County spends $5,848 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Marshall County

South Dakota

+0 pts

25/100

School score

Brule County

South Dakota

+1 pts

25/100

School score

Codington County

South Dakota

-4 pts

20/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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