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Needs Improvement

#56 of 56 private schools in SD

Good Shepherd Lutheran

Elementary School

4800 S SOUTHEASTERN AVE, Sioux Falls, SD 57103

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 43 schools in Sioux Falls. Learn more

Enrollment

58

Student-Teacher

11.6:1

Score

3.2

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Sioux Falls

#10 of 10

public schools

South Dakota elementary schools

#33 of 33

About Good Shepherd Lutheran

Good Shepherd Lutheran serves 58 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This elementary school maintains a notably small and intimate learning environment with just 5 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an excellent student-teacher ratio of 11.6:1 that allows for personalized attention and strong student-teacher relationships. The school has earned recognition for its educational quality, receiving a 7.4 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking 15th among 56 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 75th percentile of South Dakota schools.

This strong performance reflects the school's commitment to academic excellence within its close-knit community setting. Good Shepherd Lutheran is situated in the 57103 ZIP code area, where families enjoy a comfortable middle-class lifestyle with a median household income of $70,668 and median home values around $228,400. The neighborhood demonstrates a solid educational foundation, with 33% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, while maintaining a relatively low poverty rate of 12.1%.

Located on South Southeastern Avenue, the school serves families in this mid-size city environment that balances suburban comfort with urban amenities, creating an ideal setting for elementary education in the Sioux Falls community.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 58 students, Good Shepherd Lutheran is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

As a private school, Good Shepherd Lutheran operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Good Shepherd Lutheran compares to 44 public schools serving similar grades in Sioux Falls, SD

Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
This School
vs
13.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
58
This School
vs
473
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
3.2
This School
vs
5.8
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 94.8% vs 0%
Good Shepherd Lutheran Sioux Falls Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Good Shepherd Lutheran (this school) 3.2
John Harris Elementary - 23 7.4
Horizon Elementary - 09 5.6
Harvey Dunn Elementary - 54 5.4
Challenge Center - 51 7.2
Robert Frost Elementary - 18 4.3
Bridges At Horace Mann - 52 4.5
Patrick Henry Middle School - 07 7.0
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 5.1
Rosa Parks Elementary - 15 5.3
Cleveland Elementary - 14 5.3
Inspiration Elementary - 08 7.3
Susan B. Anthony Elementary - 66 6.0
Journey Elementary - 05 6.4
Eugene Field A+ Elementary - 16 4.3
Terry Redlin Elementary - 11 6.8
Edison Middle School - 06 4.6
Lowell Elementary - 28 5.9
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65 6.6
Anne Sullivan Elementary - 20 6.2
Laura Wilder Elementary - 31 4.7

Showing 20 of 44 schools. View all schools in Sioux Falls

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in SD.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
C+ 4.2 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 11.6:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
D 1.3 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,029.2
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C- 2.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 0%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C+ 4.2 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 58
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in SD

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 94.8%
Native American 5.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

4800 S SOUTHEASTERN AVE, Sioux Falls, SD 57103

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Good Shepherd Lutheran may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. John Harris Elementary - 23 (rated 7.4/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Inspiration Elementary - 08 (rated 7.3/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Challenge Center - 51 (rated 7.2/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Sioux Falls, see our Sioux Falls schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.7 mi
School Distance Rating
John Harris Elementary - 23 Sioux Falls 0.4 mi 7.4
Horizon Elementary - 09 Sioux Falls 0.8 mi 5.6
SIOUX FALLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Sioux Falls 1.1 mi 3.4
Harvey Dunn Elementary - 54 Sioux Falls 1.6 mi 5.4
Lincoln High School - 02 Sioux Falls 1.7 mi 8.3
CORNERSTONE SCHOOL Sioux Falls 1.7 mi 6.9
Bridges At Horace Mann - 52 Sioux Falls 2.2 mi 4.5
Cleveland Elementary - 14 Sioux Falls 2.5 mi 5.3
Robert Frost Elementary - 18 Sioux Falls 2.0 mi 4.3
Challenge Center - 51 Sioux Falls 2.0 mi 7.2
Patrick Henry Middle School - 07 Sioux Falls 2.3 mi 7.0
Rosa Parks Elementary - 15 Sioux Falls 2.5 mi 5.3
Eugene Field A+ Elementary - 16 Sioux Falls 3.0 mi 4.3
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68 Sioux Falls 2.5 mi 5.1
Susan B. Anthony Elementary - 66 Sioux Falls 2.8 mi 6.0
Terry Redlin Elementary - 11 Sioux Falls 3.4 mi 6.8
Inspiration Elementary - 08 Sioux Falls 2.6 mi 7.3
Anne Sullivan Elementary - 20 Sioux Falls 3.7 mi 6.2
Journey Elementary - 05 Sioux Falls 2.8 mi 6.4
Washington High School - 01 Sioux Falls 3.7 mi 5.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57103 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$73,945

Median Home Value

$244,800

Median Rent

$938/mo

Population

35,282

College Educated

33.4%

Homeownership

67.3%

Avg Commute

16.5 min

Poverty Rate

12%

Median Age

37.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Good Shepherd Lutheran has a median household income of $73,945. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $244,800, with a median rent of $938/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.0%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 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
Rustic Acres Elementary - 04 Chester, SD 3.1
McIntosh Elementary - 02 Mcintosh, SD 3.5
Maxwell Colony Elementary - 04 Menno, SD 3.8
Edmunds Central Elementary - 05 Roscoe, SD 4.2
TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Aberdeen, SD 4.4
Bridges At Horace Mann - 52 Sioux Falls, SD 4.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Good Shepherd Lutheran

What grades does Good Shepherd Lutheran serve?

Good Shepherd Lutheran serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Good Shepherd Lutheran?

Good Shepherd Lutheran has an enrollment of approximately 58 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Good Shepherd Lutheran?

The student-teacher ratio at Good Shepherd Lutheran is 11.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Good Shepherd Lutheran rank in SD?

Good Shepherd Lutheran is ranked #56 out of 56 private schools in SD.

What is Good Shepherd Lutheran's MySchoolScout rating?

Good Shepherd Lutheran has a composite rating of 3.2 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.

Is Good Shepherd Lutheran a private school?

Yes, Good Shepherd Lutheran is a private coeducational school with a Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Good Shepherd Lutheran a religious school?

Good Shepherd Lutheran has a Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (3,454/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Sioux Falls). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
58
Gender Split
55% M / 45% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
5
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
School Day
6.2 hours
Days Per Year
166 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
MINNEHAHA
Data Year
2022–2023

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.

Read our full methodology

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