Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 12 schools in district

Robert Bennis Elementary - 05

2001 S Sioux Blvd, Brandon, SD 57005Brandon Valley School District 49-2 →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–04Non-Charter
556
Students
Total enrolled
$11,271
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 21% vs nat'l
16.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 10% vs nat'l
49/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 556 students in grades KG–04 in Brandon, South Dakota.
21% below average funding
District spends $11,271 per pupil, 21% less than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 49th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Robert Bennis Elementary - 05 is a large elementary in Brandon, South Dakota, serving grades KG–04 with 556 students. The district invests $11,271 per student — 21% below the national average of $14,347, with a 16.9:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. With only 10% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Robert Bennis Elementary - 05

556
Total Students
16.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
10%
Free Lunch
33
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–04) are served by this school
Gender Distribution308 male · 248 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility10%
National avg 52% · 55 students
Student Composition
87%
Asian1%
White87%
Hispanic / Latino4%
Black1%
Multiracial6%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 460795001237

Academic Outcomes at Robert Bennis Elementary - 05

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
49
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 49th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 77th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 57005

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$11,271Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$11,271
State avg
$16,272
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$4,959
Student Support$2,141
Administration$1,353
Operations$1,691
Other$1,127
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $11,271 spent per student, an estimated $4,993 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
41%
46%
State government
41.0%
Local (property tax)
45.9%
Federal programs
13.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 10% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-average funding — $11,271/student, 21% less than the national average
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Brandon Elementary - 03Fred Assam Elementary - 06Inspiration Elementary - 08Valley Springs Elementary - 04
+1 more
↓
Middle
Brandon Valley Middle School - 02Brandon Valley Intermediate - 07Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy Middle School - 93Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy Intermediate - 90
↓
High School
Brandon Valley High School - 01Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy High School - 92
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 04
Location—
CountyMinnehaha County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictBrandon Valley School District 49-2 →
Phone: (605)582-8010
NCES ID: 460795001237
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Brandon seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Brandon Valley School District 49-2
High
Brandon Valley High School - 01
1,345 students · 09–12
● 49 opp11% FRL
Mid
Brandon Valley Middle School - 02
729 students · 07–08
● 49 opp13% FRL
Mid
Brandon Valley Intermediate - 07
728 students · 05–06
● 49 opp14% FRL
Elem
Brandon Elementary - 03
701 students · PK–04
● 49 opp21% FRL
Elem
Fred Assam Elementary - 06
486 students · KG–04
● 54 opp6% FRL
Elem
Inspiration Elementary - 08
295 students · KG–04
● 54 opp17% FRL
Elem
Valley Springs Elementary - 04
75 students · KG–04
● 49 opp27% FRL
High
Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy High School - 92
20 students · 09–12
● 49 opp15% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
2001 S Sioux Blvd, Brandon, SD 57005
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.