Very Good
#119 of 574 schools in SD
Top 21% in state
Discovery Elementary - 26
Elementary School · Sioux Falls School District 49-5
1506 S Discovery Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Enrollment
867
Student-Teacher
17.7:1
Score
7.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
867
Student-Teacher
17.7:1
Score
7.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Sioux Falls
#3 of 44
public schools
South Dakota elementary schools
#63 of 271
In district
#2 of 37
Sioux Falls School District 49-5
Academic growth
9.1 / 10
Exceptional
About Discovery Elementary - 26
Discovery Elementary - 26 serves 867 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Sioux Falls, making it one of the larger elementary schools in the district. With 49 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 17.7:1, providing students with reasonable access to individual attention. Academically, Discovery Elementary demonstrates solid performance with a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks 102nd out of 586 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 83rd percentile.
The school's academic score of 8.2 reflects consistent student achievement, with 54% of students performing at or above proficient levels in English Language Arts and reading, while 55% meet or exceed proficiency standards in mathematics. The school draws families from ZIP code 57106, a well-established area where the median household income reaches $74,484 and the median home value is $249,600. The community shows strong educational values, with 36% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, while maintaining a low poverty rate of just 7.1%.
Discovery Elementary sits along South Discovery Avenue in Sioux Falls, serving families in this mid-size city known for its growing economy and family-friendly atmosphere.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
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Discovery Elementary - 26 — Students at Discovery Elementary - 26 score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
20.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from SD state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.1/10.
How Discovery Elementary - 26 Compares
See how Discovery Elementary - 26 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 49% (2019) to 61% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 51% (2019) to 59% (2022).
Location
1506 S Discovery Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Discovery Elementary - 26 may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Tea Area Frontier Elementary - 05 (rated 7.2/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Tea), with a comparable rating. Another option is All City Elementary - 50 (rated 6.6/10, 3.6 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Garfield Elementary - 19 (rated 6.2/10, 3.3 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Sioux Falls, see our Sioux Falls schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.6 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 57106 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$77,070
Median Home Value
$268,800
Median Rent
$996/mo
Population
51,780
College Educated
34.5%
Homeownership
59.9%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Median Age
33.6
Community Profile
The community surrounding Discovery Elementary - 26 has a median household income of $77,070. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $268,800, with a median rent of $996/month. The local poverty rate of 8.7% is relatively low. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| John Harris Elementary - 23 Sioux Falls, SD | 7.4 |
| Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05 Piedmont, SD | 8.0 |
| Sturgis Elementary - 03 Sturgis, SD | 7.2 |
| Patriot Elementary -06 Box Elder, SD | 7.1 |
| Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65 Sioux Falls, SD | 6.6 |
| Brandon Elementary - 03 Brandon, SD | 6.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Discovery Elementary - 26
What grades does Discovery Elementary - 26 serve?
Discovery Elementary - 26 serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Discovery Elementary - 26?
Discovery Elementary - 26 has an enrollment of approximately 867 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary - 26?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary - 26 is 17.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Discovery Elementary - 26 rank in SD?
Discovery Elementary - 26 is ranked #119 out of 574 schools in SD.
What is Discovery Elementary - 26's MySchoolScout rating?
Discovery Elementary - 26 has a composite rating of 7.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Discovery Elementary - 26?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Discovery Elementary - 26 has 55.0% math proficiency and 54.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Discovery Elementary - 26 a charter school?
No, Discovery Elementary - 26 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Discovery Elementary - 26 a Title I school?
No, Discovery Elementary - 26 is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Discovery Elementary - 26?
20.5% of students at Discovery Elementary - 26 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 20 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 0 Minimal Transit
- Bike Score
- 33 Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (3,454/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Sioux Falls). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 867
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 49
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 20.5%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Minnehaha County
- Phone
- (605) 362-3530
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Sioux Falls School District 49-5- District Enrollment
- 25,216
- Schools in District
- 44
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,457
- District Rank
- #2 of 37
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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