The top reported proficiency rate is 96% in Science. The lowest is 67% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Brandon Elementary - 03
Brandon Elementary sits on Holly Boulevard in the heart of Brandon, a fast-growing suburban community east of Sioux Falls. The school serves children from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade and is one of several elementary campuses spread across the Brandon Valley School District, the fourth-largest district in South Dakota. Because the school stops at grade four, there is no graduation rate to report, and the state science assessment, which is given in fifth grade, falls outside this school's tested span. Science results from an older year appear in the data, but they predate the current assessment framework and are not comparable to today's numbers, so they are not useful for judging current performance. What is current and useful is the math and English language arts picture from the most recent state testing.
On the SBAC assessment, Brandon Elementary's proficiency rates in both math and English language arts sit well above what South Dakota typically sees, and every enrolled student participated in testing. Math proficiency is particularly strong, with a solid majority of tested students clearing the proficient bar. English language arts is also strong, though slightly behind math. These are encouraging results for a school serving the early grades, and they suggest the instructional program is delivering well in core literacy and numeracy.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller groups of Hispanic students, students identifying as two or more races, and Black students, along with a few Asian and American Indian or Alaska Native students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is relatively low, which aligns with Brandon's broader economic profile as an affluent commuter suburb. Information on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available, so a parent wanting to understand special education services or language support would need to ask the school directly.
Brandon itself is a residential city that has grown steadily over the past two decades as families have moved east from Sioux Falls seeking newer housing and suburban space. The built environment reflects that: single-family neighborhoods, a commercial strip along Splitrock Boulevard, and a small civic core around Main Avenue where city offices sit. Walkability is limited by the suburban layout, though the city is actively upgrading sidewalks, stormwater infrastructure, and street lighting in older neighborhoods through its Rushmore Area Reconstruction project. The Big Sioux Recreation Area, just west of one of the district's other elementary schools, offers hiking and biking trails along the river and is a meaningful natural amenity for families.
Housing here is more expensive than the state as a whole and somewhat above the national benchmark. Typical home values sit well above South Dakota's median, and rents, while lower in absolute terms than a mortgage payment, reflect a market where buying requires a comfortable income. For families already settled in Brandon or those who can afford to move in, the school's academic results and the district's trajectory of investment make this an appealing option. The district recently opened a new elementary school to manage growth and added classrooms at the high school, signaling that enrollment pressure is real and that leadership is responding with capacity expansions.
What is missing from the available data is worth naming. There is no information on discipline, course access, staffing ratios, or attendance, so a parent cannot assess class sizes or student climate from this profile alone. There is no neighbor comparison to position Brandon Elementary against nearby schools within the county. Program offerings such as gifted services, after-school activities, or preschool specifics beyond the pre-kindergarten grade level were not provided. A parent considering this school would do well to visit and ask about those areas, particularly special education and English learner support, where the published data is silent. What the data does show is a school with strong academic outcomes in a growing, well-resourced community, part of a district that is actively building to keep pace with the families arriving at its doors.
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