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Best Elementary Schools in Sioux Falls, SD (2025-26)
Every ranked elementary school in Sioux Falls, SD, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Sioux Falls, SD rankings: Elementary Schools
Sioux Falls, SD elementary schools ranked
How Sioux Falls, SD's elementary schools compare
A: 9B: 6C: 4D: 11F: 1
48% of the 31 ranked elementary schools in Sioux Falls, SD earn an A or B (9 A grades, 6 B, 4 C, 11 D, 1 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 23 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (74% here, 70% nationally), and 13 exceed it. On average 46% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 41% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Challenge Center 51 (95% against 66%, A+), Inspiration Elementary 08 (78% against 51%, A+), Fred Assam Elementary 06 (88% against 64%, A+), All City Elementary 50 (72% against 51%, A+), Harvey Dunn Elementary 54 (59% against 38%, A-).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 10): Sioux Falls School District 49-5 (6), Brandon Valley School District 49-2 (2), Harrisburg School District 41-2 (2).
The largest ranked elementary schools: Rf Pettigrew Elementary 17 (952 students, B-, #15), Discovery Elementary 26 (877 students, B+, #11), Rosa Parks Elementary 15 (729 students, D+, #21).
Elementary schools in Sioux Falls, SD that are not ranked
1 graded elementary schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.
Not yet graded (1)
Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.
- Elementary Immersion Center 43, Sioux Falls
About this ranking
- Scope: public elementary schools in Sioux Falls, SD, as grouped on its schools page; the South Dakota ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about elementary schools in Sioux Falls, SD
What is the best elementary school in Sioux Falls, SD?
Challenge Center 51 in Sioux Falls ranks first among the 31 ranked elementary schools in Sioux Falls, SD with a SchoolGrade of A+, 95% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 66%.
How are elementary schools in Sioux Falls, SD ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many elementary schools does Sioux Falls, SD have?
SchoolGrade grades 32 public elementary schools in Sioux Falls, SD; 31 are ranked here and 1 are listed as not ranked.