Sioux Falls Recommends Closing Renberg Elementary
The school district proposes closing the northern elementary school at the end of the 2026-2027 school year amid declining enrollment.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Primary Education
Live Poll
Do you think closing a neighborhood elementary school when enrollment drops is justified?
The Sioux Falls School District has recommended closing Renberg Elementary, which had 87 students enrolled for the 2026-2027 school year. The school board is scheduled to vote on the closure at its Monday meeting.
Why it matters
Enrollment at Renberg fell from 159 to 99 students in 2025, and the district cites a lack of development in the surrounding area along with students choosing to open enroll elsewhere. Closure would reassign students and reduce district costs for families across Sioux Falls.
Enrollment dropped from 159 to 99 students in 2025, and the district estimates savings of $500,000 to $750,000 if Renberg closes. The board's decision on the recommendation remains pending.
The players
Sioux Falls School District
The public school district serving Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which issued the recommendation to close Renberg Elementary.
Renberg Elementary
A public elementary school in the northern part of the Sioux Falls School District that is recommended for closure.
The details
Under the district's proposal, students west of the Big Sioux River would attend Marcella LeBeau Elementary, which opened in 2025, while students east of the river would attend Laura B. Anderson Elementary. Fifty-four Renberg students live closer to Marcella LeBeau and seven live closer to Laura B. Anderson.
Timeline
2025: Renberg enrollment dropped from 159 to 99 students, and Marcella LeBeau Elementary opened.
November 2025: Information about the school's future was shared at a School Board work session.
November 9, 2026: The district published its closure recommendation report.
Monday following publication: The school board will review the report and vote on the closure.
End of 2026-2027 school year: Renberg would close if the board approves the closure.
Enrollment Shifts
The recommendation follows the 2025 enrollment decline at Renberg, which dropped from 159 to 99 students in the same year Marcella LeBeau Elementary opened nearby. The closure would consolidate students into schools that the district says are closer to most of them.
Families of the 87 students currently enrolled at Renberg would be reassigned to Marcella LeBeau or Laura B. Anderson Elementary if the closure is approved. The change would take effect at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.
The takeaway
Parents of Renberg students should watch the school board's Monday vote and check their assigned elementary school before the 2027 school year begins.
What happens next
The Sioux Falls School Board is scheduled to vote on the closure recommendation at its Monday meeting following the November 9, 2026 report.
Further reading
For more on how districts handle school boundaries and enrollment, explore Primary Education coverage across Sioux Falls.
Live Poll
Do you think closing a neighborhood elementary school when enrollment drops is justified?
