Total enrollment
34,852
+1,103 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Minnehaha County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Minnehaha County's 83 public schools sit inside South Dakota and collectively enroll about 34,919 K-12 students across 41 elementary, 15 middle, and 20 high.
4-year change in Minnehaha County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
69
-1 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Minnehaha County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 49.5% | #12 of 22 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 34,919 | #1 of 31 | #305 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 70 | #1 of 31 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.3:1 | #27 of 31 | #1,862 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 41.7% | #10 of 31 | #2,022 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 56.8% | #6 of 30 | #750 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Minnehaha County school rankings
Residents
203,289
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
83
9 districts
Enrollment
34,919
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$76,880
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
41.7%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
41
16,569 students
Middle
15
8,057 students
High
20
10,269 students
Combined / other
7
24 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Sioux Falls School District 49-5
25,049 students · 9 districts in Minnehaha County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Minnehaha County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
35.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.5%
civilian labor
Median age
36
25.4% under 18
Test scores in Minnehaha County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 49 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Challenge Center - 51· 97.9%
- Fred Assam Elementary - 06· 85.7%
- Inspiration Elementary - 08· 80.5%
- Brandon Valley Intermediate - 07· 74.7%
- Brandon Valley Middle School - 02· 73.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Bridges At Horace Mann - 52· 11.4%
- Hayward Elementary - 38· 16.8%
- Hawthorne Elementary - 56· 20.7%
- Garfield Elementary - 19· 21.9%
- Terry Redlin Elementary - 11· 22.0%
Cities in Minnehaha County
About Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County is an average-sized county of about 203,289 residents in South Dakota. Its public-school system serves approximately 34,919 students across 83 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $76,880, roughly 35% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%. That income level is 10% noticeably above the South Dakota median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Minnehaha County is built around 41 elementary schools (16,569 students), 15 middle schools (8,057), 20 high schools (10,269), and 7 combined or other schools.
Sioux Falls School District 49-5 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 25,049 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 34,852 students, rose 3% from the 33,749 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Minnehaha County lost 1 school, going from 70 to 69.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Minnehaha County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data