SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Final enrollment numbers have been tabulated and verified for the Sioux Falls public schools.
Overall enrollment jumped by just over 300, to 23,957 students. A closer look at the numbers shows that the state's largest school district is continuing to become more diverse:
Ethnic background...... '17-'18 %
White............................ 63.7
Black............................ 11.9
Hispanic........................ 11
Multi-Racial .................. 5.5
Native American........... 4.3
Asian............................ 3.5
Pacific Islander............. .1
Since 1991 the percentage of white students in the Sioux Falls public schools has dropped from 94.4 to 63.7.
During that same time the number of Black students has increased from 1.5 to 11.9 percent. Similar jumps have been made by Hispanics and Multi-Racial students.
The districts' Michael Christopherson says the growth represents both challenges and opportunities "to understand perspectives of children from different backgrounds and learn to function in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment."
Additionally, the district saw a jump in the number of students either graduating or completing coursework, from 80.49% to 83.79% over the last four years. The completion rate for all Sioux Falls students sits at just over 87%. "The story of the Sioux Falls School District has been and continues to be we do not give up on students. If they come back to earn that high school diploma, we will be there to provide that education to them," said community relations supervisor DeeAnn Konrad.
The average ACT score for the Sioux Falls school district also sits well above the state average at 22.9 (21 state average).