The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in English language arts. The lowest is 55% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Memorial Middle School - 04
Memorial Middle School sits on South Sertoma Avenue in Sioux Falls, serving grades six through eight as part of the Sioux Falls School District 49-5. It is one of seven middle schools in what is the largest district in South Dakota, a system that continues to grow and recently opened Susan B. Anthony Elementary to help absorb rising enrollment across its roughly four dozen schools. That growth context matters for families considering Memorial: the district is actively managing capacity, and boundary assignments can shift as new schools come online.
The school's state assessment results tell a encouraging story. In English language arts, a solid majority of tested students reached proficiency on the SBAC assessment, and math proficiency was close behind. Science results, measured on the South Dakota Science Assessment, showed roughly half of tested students proficient. Participation was near-universal across all three subjects, which gives these results real weight. Average scale scores were not available, so parents looking for a finer-grained read on student performance would need to go beyond what the summary data provides. Still, the proficiency picture across the three tested subjects is a genuine strength, particularly in English language arts.
Enrollment is large for a middle school, with all three grade levels well-populated. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller but visible Hispanic, multiracial, Black, and American Indian populations, plus a handful of Asian and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. The free and reduced-price lunch rate is relatively low, suggesting that the immediate attendance area is more economically comfortable than many parts of Sioux Falls. Data on individualized education programs and English learner status was not available, which limits the picture of how the school serves students with specialized needs. A parent whose child falls into either category may want to ask the school directly about support services.
The surrounding community is Sioux Falls itself, the state's largest city and its economic hub. The city's economy has shifted over the decades from an industrial base toward health care, finance, and retail, though manufacturing and food processing still have a presence. Sanford Health and Avera Health are the dominant employers, with Wells Fargo and Citigroup reflecting the city's draw as a financial-services center, aided by the absence of a state corporate income tax. The school district itself is among the largest employers. For families, this means a diversified local economy and a metro area that accounts for a substantial portion of the state's population, with the growth and amenities that come with that scale.
Culturally, the city offers more than many expect for its region. Falls Park, centered on the Big Sioux River cascades, anchors the downtown. A 30-mile paved loop trail supports biking and walking. The Washington Pavilion, repurposed from the old Washington High School, houses performing arts, visual arts, and a science center with free exhibits. Downtown has seasonal street life through SculptureWalk and First Fridays, while the broader city remains largely car-dependent outside the core, with Sioux Area Metro providing bus service on a set schedule. Augustana University, the University of Sioux Falls, and Southeast Technical College all have campuses spread across the city.
Housing in the school's zip code is moderately priced relative to national figures, sitting slightly above the state benchmark but below the national benchmark. Typical home values and rents have moved up modestly year over year. Estimated monthly mortgage costs run higher than typical rents, so renting may be the more accessible entry point for families new to the area. Median household income nationally supports a price-to-income ratio that remains within a range many working families can manage, though current mortgage rates are a factor.
Memorial Middle School presents a strong academic profile within a growing, economically diverse city, a large and stable student body, and a community setting that combines urban amenities with the feel of a midsize prairie metro. The missing data on special populations is the main gap a family should probe further.
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