About Us

About Us

Sioux Falls Public Schools are widely recognized for accomplishments in student achievement and innovative educational strategies. We serve a diverse population of 25,000 PreK-21 students and we embrace the opportunity for all children to learn about the world’s cultures from the curriculum and through the shared experiences of their classmates.

The District includes 24 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 4 traditional high schools, an alternative high school, a project-based learning academy, a career and technical education academy, one post-secondary technical institute, and all other district-owned facilities. Sioux Falls Public Schools offer a challenging and relevant curriculum with highly qualified and experienced staff. More than 67% of our 1,900+ teachers hold a master’s degree or have attained even higher levels of certification.

Sioux Falls Public Schools is proud to offer the following specialized elementary schools, including All-City Elementary which requires a parent/guardian volunteer commitment, Challenge Center for students in grades 2-5 who meet testing requirements, Eugene Field A+ School featuring Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence, Spanish Immersion at Sonia Sotomayor, and Two-Way Immersion Programs at both Rosa Parks and Hayward Elementary Schools. The District has all-day kindergarten at its 24 elementary sites and offers a full complement of early childhood and special education services. Junior Kindergarten classrooms are available at Cleveland, Hayward, John F. Kennedy, and Robert Frost Elementary Schools. Learning Adventures Preschool is a fee-based program at Discovery, John Harris, Robert Frost, and Sonia Sotomayor Elementary. Immersion programs for students new to the country who are learning English are located in elementary, middle, and high schools where students receive a variety of support services.

Students in Sioux Falls Public Schools consistently score above state and national averages on standardized exams with many students recognized as National Merit Scholars, Advanced Placement Scholars, and recipients of the Opportunity Scholarship from the state of South Dakota. The District also features gifted education, the National Honor Society, state and nationally recognized academic teams, as well as a host of state and nationally recognized co-curricular programs. Since 2023, Sioux Falls has been recognized for its commitment to music education with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) Award. This is an honor of which we are extremely proud.

Our teachers are working hard to embed the 21st-century skills of Problem Solving, Communicating, Collaborating, Analytical Thinking, Creativity and Innovation, and Finding and Evaluating Information into every lesson. Parents, businesses, and community leaders are closely involved in the schools through shared decision-making initiatives and councils, PTA, and the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation.

We value diversity in our community and in our schools. Our commitment to diversity allows the Sioux Falls School District to draw from an extensive pool of talent to create an outstanding working and learning environment. We are committed to staffing the schools of Sioux Falls with outstanding professionals who can encourage and challenge students to be the best version of themselves.

Together, the community and the Sioux Falls School District are making a concerted effort to create a culture that respects individuality and differences among people.

At a Glance

24,223

Students enrolled

Ignite Magazine

Our Vision

It is the vision of the Sioux Falls School District to provide the opportunities and challenges for each student to succeed as a lifelong learner in a changing world. The District values a highly trained and committed workforce, continually evaluating and improving their own and student performance. The District recognizes its role as a key contributor to the social, civic, and economic foundation of this community. To achieve this vision, we must ignite the hearts and minds of our students, staff, families, the business community, and citizens.

Our Mission

To educate and prepare each student to succeed in a changing world.

District Priorities

Sioux Falls School District prides itself on educating and preparing each student to succeed in a changing world. Serving nearly 25,000 students, the District must also contend with the challenge of meeting the unique needs of each student. In order to focus the District’s efforts and ensure positive student outcomes, a Strategic Plan guides day-to-day decisions and drives the work of the Sioux Falls School District.

The Plan is a living document with ongoing initiatives and strategies to accomplish goals such as increasing attendance, boosting the high school graduation rate, providing a safe and welcoming work and learning environment for staff and students and seeking input from all stakeholders. Enrollment is monitored regularly to determine growth needs while balancing fiscal accountability and providing the best learning environments for students.

View District Priorities