The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in English language arts. The lowest is 40% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Edison Middle School - 06
Edison Middle School sits on South West Avenue in Sioux Falls, serving grades six through eight as part of the Sioux Falls School District 49-5, the largest district in South Dakota. The district has been growing steadily and recently opened Susan B. Anthony Elementary to help accommodate that growth, a signal that capacity and boundary decisions are active concerns across the system.
The school's enrollment is sizable for a middle school, with roughly balanced numbers across the three grade levels. The student body reflects the composition of Sioux Falls itself, a city whose economy has shifted from industrial roots toward healthcare, finance, and retail trade. White students make up a clear majority, with Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students forming the next largest groups, and a smaller American Indian population. Just over a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. IEP and English learner data were not available in the sources reviewed, so those population sizes cannot be characterized here.
On state assessments administered through South Dakota's SBAC and SDSA testing, Edison's results paint a mixed picture. English language arts is the stronger area, with a majority of tested students reaching proficiency. Math and science proficiency sit lower, with roughly four in ten students meeting the benchmark in each. Participation rates were near-universal across all three subjects, which means the results reflect nearly the entire student body. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is hard to say whether these proficiency levels represent improvement, decline, or stability. Average scale scores were also missing from the data. A parent weighing academic fit may want to ask the school how it supports students who are not yet proficient, particularly in math and science.
Sioux Falls itself is a city in sustained growth. Publicly reported figures show the population has more than doubled since the late 1970s, with the metropolitan area now accounting for more than a third of South Dakota's residents. The city sits at the junction of Interstates 29 and 90 and has attracted major financial employers like Wells Fargo and Citigroup, partly because South Dakota has no state corporate income tax. Sanford Health and Avera Health are the largest employers. Falls Park, the Big Sioux River, a paved loop trail, the Washington Pavilion, and a summer SculptureWalk give the city civic and cultural anchors that many mid-sized Midwestern cities lack. Outside the downtown core, Sioux Falls is largely car-dependent, with bus service running Monday through Saturday.
The housing market in Edison's zip code is more affordable than both the state and national benchmarks. Home values sit below the South Dakota and national medians, and rents are moderate as well. With current mortgage rates, renting remains cheaper than buying on a monthly basis in this area, which may matter to families weighing a move. Home values have appreciated only slightly year over year, suggesting a relatively stable market rather than a rapidly heating one.
Some data that parents often look for was not available in the sources reviewed. The school's Title I status, magnet or specialized program information, course access details, staffing ratios, discipline data, and attendance patterns were all absent. There is no graduation rate, which is expected for a middle school serving only grades six through eight. Civil rights data was also not provided. These gaps mean the picture here is partial. A family considering Edison would benefit from asking the school directly about advanced course offerings, extracurriculars, special education services, and how the school communicates academic progress to families. The academic results that are available suggest a school where reading is a relative strength and where math and science outcomes have room to grow, set in a community that is expanding and economically diverse.
See more original research from School Decision →