Where Sioux Falls kids go after graduation

Megan Raposa -

Simplified: About 7 in 10 Sioux Falls School District graduates goes on to postsecondary school within six years of earning a diploma, and most of them are staying in-state, according to data presented to the school board on Monday.

Why it matters

  • About 60% of graduates enroll in college right away, whether it's a two-year or four-year program.
  • As expected, everyones paths divide quite a bit after that, but six years after graduation, more than 70% of district graduates have enrolled in at least some college, with two-thirds of those earning a degree.
  • Seven of the top 10 colleges these students enroll in after high school are in South Dakota, with the top three as the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Southeast Technical College, which saw its highest ever enrollment this year, Superintendent Jane Stavem said.
"Those are good signs," Stavem said. "We wondered what would happen with kids postpandemic, and it looks like things are starting to go in a good direction."

Tell me more about where kids go

Here's a look at the number of graduates from 2015 to 2022 who enrolled in college and the top 10 schools where they went:

  • University of South Dakota: 1,331
  • South Dakota State University: 1,142
  • Southeast Technical College: 612
  • Augustana University: 465
  • University of Sioux Falls: 317
  • Dakota State University: 241
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln: 213
  • University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: 194
  • South Dakota School of Mines: 135
  • Minnesota State University - Mankato: 94

What happens next?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2031 most jobs will require some type of postsecondary education, Assistant Superintendent Teresa Boysen said.

  • Specifically, more people will be needed in fields including: healthcare, computer and mathematical, personal care, and community and social services.

The district will continue to track graduates in years to come.