Lowell Elementary - 28

Summary:

Lowell Elementary - 28 is a public elementary school serving 358 students in grades K-5 in the Sioux Falls School District 49-5 in South Dakota. The school has consistently been ranked in the bottom quarter of South Dakota elementary schools over the past decade, receiving a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, and has a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 73.74% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Lowell Elementary - 28 significantly underperforms compared to the Sioux Falls School District and the state of South Dakota on standardized tests, with only 31% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 32.16% proficient or better in mathematics, compared to the district and state averages of around 50%. The school also has a much higher chronic absenteeism rate at 26.7%, compared to the district and state averages of around 11.6% and 11.3%, respectively. While the school ranks highly for African American and Hispanic students, it ranks very low for students with special needs and low socioeconomic status.

Interestingly, Lowell Elementary - 28 is located in close proximity to several other Sioux Falls elementary schools, including the high-performing Challenge Center - 51 and Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65, which significantly outperform Lowell on academic measures. Additionally, the school spends more per student ($11,327 in 2022-2023) compared to the district average, but this does not seem to translate into improved academic outcomes, raising questions about the effective allocation of resources and the need for targeted interventions to address the specific challenges faced by the school.


Detail:

Public K-5

 710 W 18th St
       Sioux Falls, SD  57104


(605) 367-8378

District: Sioux Falls School District 49-5

SchoolDigger Rank:
177th of 201 South Dakota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,327 Help


Students who attend Lowell Elementary - 28 usually attend:

Middle:    George McGovern Middle School -09
High:    Jefferson High School - 67

Student/teacher ratio:  12.0 Help
Number of students:  358

Racial breakdown:

White:
32.1%
Hispanic:
28.2%
African American:
17.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  73.7% Help


 See top rated South Dakota elementary schools

 Compare Lowell Elementary - 28 to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Lowell Elementary - 28 ranks worse than 88.1% of elementary schools in South Dakota. It also ranks 17th among 23 ranked elementary schools in the Sioux Falls School District 49-5. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.26. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Lowell Elementary - 28 has the largest elementary school student body size in the Sioux Falls School District 49-5.  (See more...)
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lowell Elementary - 28 is $11,327, which is the 7th highest among 23 elementary schools in the Sioux Falls School District 49-5.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lowell Elementary - 28:

SchoolDigger ranks Lowell Elementary - 28 177th of 201 South Dakota public elementary schools. (See Lowell Elementary - 28 in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Sioux Falls School District 49-5:

SchoolDigger ranks Sioux Falls School District 49-5 72nd of 126 South Dakota school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Lowell Elementary - 28?

Rank History for Lowell Elementary - 28

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Rank History for all students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 9.05 174th 187 7.0%
2004 5.72 180th 189 4.8%
2005 20.50 171st 194 11.9%
2006 19.93 176th 197 10.7%
2007 20.59 171st 194 11.9%
2008 9.43 184th 194 5.2%
2009 13.73 180th 196 8.2%
2010 23.45 183rd 206 11.2%
2011 25.21 181st 205 11.7%
2012 15.55 196th 214 8.4%
2013 9.10 187th 201 7.0%
2015 16.84 187th 209 10.5%
2016 15.13 185th 206 10.2%
2017 19.35 183rd 207 11.6%
2018 17.73 182nd 204 10.8%
2019 23.04 175th 206 15.0%
2021 19.88 168th 202 16.8%
2022 23.02 166th 202 17.8%
2023 31.47 149th 204 27.0%
2024 18.26 177th 201 11.9%
See the entire list of South Dakota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.05 3rd 7 57.1%
2019 57.01 6th 12 50.0%
See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.77 2nd 11 81.8%
2019 21.71 10th 11 9.1%
2021 37.21 8th 11 27.3%
2022 45.69 7th 10 30.0%
2023 45.18 7th 15 53.3%
2024 35.54 9th 13 30.8%
See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.05 55th 62 11.3%
2022 17.50 60th 61 1.6%
2023 18.24 65th 72 9.7%
2024 19.56 67th 72 6.9%
See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.62 76th 121 37.2%
2019 48.40 61st 121 49.6%
2021 48.34 53rd 106 50.0%
2022 62.40 23rd 80 71.3%
2023 58.56 38th 112 66.1%
2024 44.13 57th 110 48.2%
See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.54 144th 163 11.7%
2019 16.86 138th 155 11.0%
2021 21.88 126th 151 16.6%
2022 25.81 121st 150 19.3%
2023 28.72 113th 154 26.6%
2024 20.05 141st 165 14.5%
See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.54 148th 170 12.9%
2019 31.76 122nd 160 23.8%
2021 23.76 127th 157 19.1%
2022 24.72 124th 154 19.5%
2023 35.81 111th 166 33.1%
2024 21.25 135th 161 16.1%
See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.96 5th 9 44.4%
2019 46.27 5th 11 54.5%
2021 47.22 5th 10 50.0%
2022 72.37 1st 9 88.9%
2024 58.82 2nd 11 81.8%
See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.50 7th 18 61.1%
2019 53.46 6th 21 71.4%
2021 46.58 8th 18 55.6%
2022 56.83 7th 18 61.1%
2023 52.05 10th 21 52.4%
2024 34.70 13th 22 40.9%
See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Lowell Elementary - 28

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.32 145th 186 22.0%
2019 30.19 153rd 191 19.9%
2021 30.63 140th 185 24.3%
2022 45.34 108th 184 41.3%
2023 48.19 99th 185 46.5%
2024 26.47 149th 184 19.0%
See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Dakota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Lowell Elementary - 28 Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: South Dakota Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a citizen
Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Open Quote Lowell has an active Cub Scout program. It is open to all boys, first through fifth grades. Cub Scouts meet on the first, third and fourth Thursdays of each month during the school year. Meetings are held at 6:30 pm in the Cafeteria. Hope to see you there! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Lowell Elementary - 28

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 469 469
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 462 462
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 461 461
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 461 461
1993 355 6 9 3 15 n/a n/a 0 388
1994 361 21 8 5 17 n/a n/a 0 412
1995 353 17 4 6 17 n/a n/a 0 397
1996 353 17 4 6 17 n/a n/a 0 397
1997 319 34 5 11 16 n/a n/a 0 385
1998 287 29 4 10 18 n/a n/a 0 348
1999 282 29 9 16 40 n/a n/a 0 376
2000 255 22 10 12 51 n/a n/a 0 350
2001 250 36 13 16 47 n/a n/a 0 362
2002 238 44 6 36 41 n/a n/a 0 365
2003 238 44 6 36 41 n/a n/a 0 365
2004 261 53 5 41 44 n/a n/a 0 404
2005 200 50 6 43 47 n/a n/a 0 346
2006 196 35 0 32 39 n/a n/a 0 302
2007 185 32 0 23 45 n/a n/a 0 285
2008 192 31 4 37 54 n/a n/a 0 318
2009 226 40 6 49 85 n/a n/a 0 406
2010 183 49 5 41 64 n/a n/a 0 342
2011 164 45 2 53 58 1 28 0 351
2012 201 69 4 69 91 0 42 0 476
2013 187 84 10 66 86 1 56 0 490
2014 195 109 6 68 85 2 47 0 512
2015 193 99 8 79 68 1 49 0 497
2016 214 102 7 72 57 1 58 0 511
2017 185 101 8 75 65 0 57 0 491
2018 176 98 8 74 70 0 58 0 484
2019 165 91 4 77 67 1 65 0 470
2020 162 57 4 86 59 1 62 0 431
2021 148 73 3 110 56 0 45 0 435
2022 118 59 1 108 48 0 37 0 371
2023 115 63 1 101 40 1 37 0 358

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Lowell Elementary - 28

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 469 26.5 17.6 n/a
1990 462 26.8 17.2 n/a
1991 461 28.2 16.3 n/a
1992 461 28.2 16.3 n/a
1993 388 24.3 16.0 n/a
1994 412 23.5 17.5 n/a
1995 397 22.6 17.6 n/a
1996 397 22.6 17.6 n/a
1997 385 23.7 16.2 28.8
1998 348 17.0 20.5 39.7
1999 376 20.0 18.8 59.8
2000 350 24.2 14.5 44.3
2001 362 24.8 14.6 55.8
2002 365 26.3 13.9 57.5
2003 365 26.3 13.9 57.5
2004 404 27.8 14.5 54.5
2005 346 27.5 12.6 68.5
2006 302 24.7 12.2 68.2
2007 285 26.2 10.9 71.6
2008 318 26.5 12.0 4.1
2009 406 26.0 15.6 74.4
2010 342 28.8 11.8 81.9
2011 351 30.9 11.3 86.3
2012 476 31.4 15.1 87
2013 490 34.9 14.0 89.2
2014 512 32.8 15.5 84.8
2015 497 34.0 14.6 100
2016 511 34.0 15.0 100
2017 491 35.4 13.8 100
2018 484 33.9 14.2 100
2019 470 30.4 15.4 100
2020 431 32.1 13.4 100
2021 435 33.7 12.8 100
2022 371 30.5 12.1 100
2023 358 29.6 12.0 73.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Lowell Elementary - 28

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 469 26.5 17.6 n/a
1990 462 26.8 17.2 n/a
1991 461 28.2 16.3 n/a
1992 461 28.2 16.3 n/a
1993 388 24.3 16.0 n/a
1994 412 23.5 17.5 n/a
1995 397 22.6 17.6 n/a
1996 397 22.6 17.6 n/a
1997 385 23.7 16.2 28.8
1998 348 17.0 20.5 39.7
1999 376 20.0 18.8 59.8
2000 350 24.2 14.5 44.3
2001 362 24.8 14.6 55.8
2002 365 26.3 13.9 57.5
2003 365 26.3 13.9 57.5
2004 404 27.8 14.5 54.5
2005 346 27.5 12.6 68.5
2006 302 24.7 12.2 68.2
2007 285 26.2 10.9 71.6
2008 318 26.5 12.0 4.1
2009 406 26.0 15.6 74.4
2010 342 28.8 11.8 81.9
2011 351 30.9 11.3 86.3
2012 476 31.4 15.1 87
2013 490 34.9 14.0 89.2
2014 512 32.8 15.5 84.8
2015 497 34.0 14.6 100
2016 511 34.0 15.0 100
2017 491 35.4 13.8 100
2018 484 33.9 14.2 100
2019 470 30.4 15.4 100
2020 431 32.1 13.4 100
2021 435 33.7 12.8 100
2022 371 30.5 12.1 100
2023 358 29.6 12.0 73.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Lowell Elementary - 28

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2020 $1,415 (14.5%) $8,354 (85.5%) $9,768
2021 $1,758 (17.3%) $8,417 (82.7%) $10,175
2022 $2,008 (18.6%) $8,810 (81.4%) $10,818
2023 $2,344 (20.7%) $8,983 (79.3%) $11,327

Data source: South Dakota Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Lowell Elementary - 28

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 175th of 206 Elementary schoolsRanks 149th of 204 Elementary schools
 11.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Lowell Elementary - 28)5039.4
 10.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sioux Falls School District 49-5)43.641.2
 2.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)49.145.3
 3.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Lowell Elementary - 28)56.342.4
 13.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Sioux Falls School District 49-5)4947.7
 1.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)52.751.1
 1.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Lowell Elementary - 28)32.439
 6.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Sioux Falls School District 49-5)46.245.1
 1.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)50.347.2
 3.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Lowell Elementary - 28)28.223.7
 4.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Sioux Falls School District 49-5)43.745.3
 1.6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)4947.7
 1.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Lowell Elementary - 28)32.345.8
 13.5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Sioux Falls School District 49-5)51.345.9
 5.5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)54.148.7
 5.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Lowell Elementary - 28)32.337.3
 5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Sioux Falls School District 49-5)39.137.5
 1.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)40.539.4
 1.2%
5th Grade Science (Lowell Elementary - 28)11.333.9
 22.6%
   5th Grade Science (Sioux Falls School District 49-5)34.937.7
 2.8%
   5th Grade Science (South Dakota)42.139.9
 2.2%
All Grades English Language Arts (Lowell Elementary - 28)38.141.3
 3.2%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Sioux Falls School District 49-5)49.747
 2.7%
   All Grades English Language Arts (South Dakota)53.249.7
 3.5%
All Grades Mathematics (Lowell Elementary - 28)38.634.8
 3.8%
   All Grades Mathematics (Sioux Falls School District 49-5)43.141.3
 1.8%
   All Grades Mathematics (South Dakota)44.941.9
 3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students470358
 23.8%
African American9163
 30.8%
American Indian6740
 40.3%
Asian41
 75%
Hispanic77101
 31.2%
Pacific Islander11
White165115
 30.3%
Two or More Races6537
 43.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%73.7%
 26.3%


Schools Near Lowell Elementary - 28









Frequently Asked Questions about Lowell Elementary - 28

Students who attend Lowell Elementary - 28 usually go on to attend:

Middle : George McGovern Middle School -09
High : Jefferson High School - 67

Students at Lowell Elementary - 28 are 32% White, 28% Hispanic, 18% African American, 11% American Indian, 10% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 358 students attended Lowell Elementary - 28.

Lowell Elementary - 28 ranks in the bottom 11.9% of South Dakota elementary schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Dakota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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