Sioux Falls SD 49-5 board reviews district demographics; final fall enrollment drops 172 students
October 28, 2025 | Sioux Falls School District 49-5, School Districts, South Dakota
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The Sioux Falls School District 49-5 Board of Education received and acknowledged its annual district demographic report and the final K–12 fall enrollment count, which the district reported as 24,059 students — 172 fewer than the previous year.
Deanne Conrad presented the district demographics, framing the report as a compilation of information used by community groups, businesses and lawmakers. “Our mission is to educate and prepare each student to succeed in a changing world,” she said while outlining district priorities: academic success, community engagement, well-being, staff excellence and effective use of resources.
Conrad reported that the district’s student population is slightly more diverse (up 0.7 percent this year) and that English learners total 3,086 students speaking 115 languages in students’ homes. The five most common non-English languages were listed as Spanish, Swahili, Amharic, Kunama and Nepali. She said 51.5 percent of elementary students qualify for free or reduced-price meals; the districtwide rate is 46.5 percent.
Conrad said the district serves 4,397 students through special education (ages 3–21), an increase of 243 from the prior year, and 2,978 students have 504 plans. Total staff was reported at 3,668, including 1,936 teachers; 1,261 teachers hold master’s degrees or higher.
Todd Morrison (presenting the final fall enrollment reconciliation) said the final junior kindergarten–12 count was 24,059 after reconciliations with the state for the last-Friday-in-September enrollment. He noted the district processed nearly 600 student record changes between the earlier day-4 count and the final count and said the kindergarten class size has been a key driver of recent enrollment dips. Morrison said fall funding implications will be assessed — he estimated the change in funded students this cycle equates to about $1.5 million in revenue impact.
Board members discussed implications for staffing and facilities. A board vote acknowledged both the demographic report and the final fall enrollment.
Deanne Conrad presented the district demographics, framing the report as a compilation of information used by community groups, businesses and lawmakers. “Our mission is to educate and prepare each student to succeed in a changing world,” she said while outlining district priorities: academic success, community engagement, well-being, staff excellence and effective use of resources.
Conrad reported that the district’s student population is slightly more diverse (up 0.7 percent this year) and that English learners total 3,086 students speaking 115 languages in students’ homes. The five most common non-English languages were listed as Spanish, Swahili, Amharic, Kunama and Nepali. She said 51.5 percent of elementary students qualify for free or reduced-price meals; the districtwide rate is 46.5 percent.
Conrad said the district serves 4,397 students through special education (ages 3–21), an increase of 243 from the prior year, and 2,978 students have 504 plans. Total staff was reported at 3,668, including 1,936 teachers; 1,261 teachers hold master’s degrees or higher.
Todd Morrison (presenting the final fall enrollment reconciliation) said the final junior kindergarten–12 count was 24,059 after reconciliations with the state for the last-Friday-in-September enrollment. He noted the district processed nearly 600 student record changes between the earlier day-4 count and the final count and said the kindergarten class size has been a key driver of recent enrollment dips. Morrison said fall funding implications will be assessed — he estimated the change in funded students this cycle equates to about $1.5 million in revenue impact.
Board members discussed implications for staffing and facilities. A board vote acknowledged both the demographic report and the final fall enrollment.
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