South Dakota
Vikings Support Minnesota & South Dakota Athletes by Providing USA Football Coach Certification
EAGAN & INDIANAPOLIS – The Minnesota Vikings will provide more than 1,650 youth football coaches in Minnesota and South Dakota with USA Football’s Coach Certification in 2024, benefiting thousands of youth football athletes, their families and communities across the two states. With this latest commitment, the Vikings have paved the way for 3,500 coach certifications to be certified for free since the start of 2022.
The Vikings and USA Football, the sport’s governing body and a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), continue to work together to support grassroots football by preparing dedicated coaches with the knowledge and tools to provide athletes and their families with memorable experiences.
“Playing team sports provides young athletes with many benefits, including life lessons and camaraderie,” said Vikings Vice President of Social Impact Brett Taber. “The Vikings are proud to partner with USA Football to grow the game and assist youth coaches and their programs with Coach Certification. Their comprehensive curriculum helps coaches teach young athletes the right football and life skills to be successful on and off the field.”
Minnesota and South Dakota youth coaches working with leagues that enroll with USA Football are eligible to receive support from the Vikings and get certified at no charge. USA Football enrollment is free and open to all youth football organizations at usafootball.com.
USA Football’s Coach Certification encompasses the Football Development Model (FDM), which focuses on progressive skill instruction, developing the whole athlete and building age-appropriate skills. The FDM was developed in partnership with a council of medical, child development, long-term athlete development and football subject matter experts drawn from the youth, high school, collegiate and professional ranks.
“USA Football is grateful to the Vikings for their continued trust and partnership,” said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. “By providing coaches with USA Football’s best-in-class Coach Certification, the Vikings will impact hundreds of communities and thousands of athletes.”
Since 2012, USA Football has certified more than 1.1 million coaches in 50 states and numerous foreign countries across six continents. USA Football’s Coach Certification is the only certification for youth football coaches accredited by the United States Center for Coaching Excellence’s (USCCE) National Committee for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE).
About USA Football: USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole US member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes men’s and women’s US National Teams in federation-sanctioned international competition.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – On Jan. 7, 1995, William Janklow began his third of four terms as governor. From statehood until 1972, governors served two-year terms. Voters then approved a constitutional amendment in 1972 allowing governors to serve two consecutive four-year terms.
Janklow served from 1979 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 2003. His 16 years are the longest stint of any governor in South Dakota history
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South Dakota’s K-12 population dropped slightly this year, along with public and private school enrollment, but enrollment in alternative instruction grew once again.
That’s according to headcount numbers taken Sept. 26, 2025, and released by the South Dakota Department of Education by Dec. 31.
All totaled, there are 163,053 K-12 students across the state, with 83% of those students attending public schools, 9% enrolled in nonpublic schools and 8% in alternative instruction.
There are 934 fewer K-12 students across the state than last year’s count of 163,987, a 0.5% decrease.
Public school enrollment decreased by 1,736 students statewide. Across 147 public school districts, there were 135,577 K-12 students this fall, down from 137,313 in last year’s fall count, a decrease of slightly more than 1%.
Private school enrollment decreased by 142 students statewide, totaling 15,043 students in nonpublic schools accredited by the SDDOE across the state, down from last year’s count of 15,185, a decrease of 1%.
Nonpublic school enrollment includes 9,462 students in private schools, 5,072 in tribal/BIE schools, 268 in special population schools, 175 in coop/multi-districts, 26 in community-based service providers, 21 in the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and 19 in alternative schools.
Alternative instruction enrollment increased by 944 students statewide, totaling 12,433 students in alternative instruction or homeschooling this fall, up from 11,489 in last year’s count, an increase of 8%.
In the Sioux Falls metro area, there are 52,325 K-12 students, with 85% attending public schools, 9% enrolled in nonpublic schools and 6% in alternative instruction.
Sioux Falls area public schools
The state’s largest public school district, the Sioux Falls School District, shrunk by 171 students this fall, down from last year’s count of 24,221 K-12 students to this year’s count of 24,050.
Sioux Falls’ neighboring public K-12 school districts saw the following enrollment changes this year:
- Harrisburg, the state’s third-largest district, grew by 173 students, from 6,182 last year to 6,355 this year.
- Brandon Valley, the state’s fourth-largest district, grew by 82 students, from 5,073 last year to 5,155 this year.
- Tea Area grew by five students, from 2,509 last year to 2,514 this year.
- West Central shrunk by 32 students, from 1,418 last year to 1,386 this year.
- Lennox grew by 14 students, from 1,119 last year to 1,133 this year.
- Tri-Valley grew by 41 students, from 952 last year to 993 this year.
- Dell Rapids shrunk by 32 students, from 965 last year to 933 this year.
- Canton shrunk by 23 students, from 888 last year to 865 this year.
- Baltic grew by three students, from 539 last year to 542 this year.
- Garretson shrunk by 10 students, from 468 last year to 458 this year.
All totaled, there are 44,384 K-12 students in Sioux Falls area public schools, a growth of 50 students or 0.1% from last fall’s count of 44,334.
Sioux Falls area private schools
Sioux Falls’ three largest private K-12 school systems saw the following enrollment changes this year:
- Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools, the largest private school system in the state, shrunk by two students, from 2,224 last year to 2,222 this year.
- Sioux Falls Christian School shrunk by nine students, from 1,447 last year to 1,438 this year.
- Sioux Falls Lutheran School grew by 41 students, from 336 last year to 377 this year.
Other local nonpublic K-12 school enrollments include:
- 221 students at St. Mary’s School in Dell Rapids;
- 130 students at Children’s Home Society of South Dakota;
- 125 at East Dakota Educational Cooperative;
- 119 at LifeScape;
- 49 at McCrossan Boys Ranch;
- 45 at Good Shepherd Lutheran School,
- 43 at Westside Christian School,
- 23 at Bethel Lutheran School;
- Four at Southeastern;
- Three at Baan Dek Montessori;
- One at 605 Prep;
- One at DakotAbilities.
All totaled, there are 4,801 K-12 students in Sioux Falls area nonpublic schools, a growth of 24 students or 0.5% from last fall’s count of 4,777.
Sioux Falls area alternative instruction
Though it’s the second-largest public school district in the state, Rapid City Area Schools saw the largest number of students opt out of public school and into alternative instruction and homeschooling once again this year, with 1,839 students, followed by the largest district, Sioux Falls, with 1,793 students.
Sioux Falls-area schools had the following alternative instruction enrollment shifts this year:
- 1,793 in Sioux Falls, an increase of 131 from last year’s count of 1,662;
- 379 in Harrisburg, an increase of 78 from last year’s count of 301;
- 350 in Brandon Valley, an increase of 67 from last year’s count of 283;
- 111 in Tea, a decrease of four from last year’s count of 115;
- 105 in Lennox, an increase of two from last year’s count of 103;
- 97 in West Central, an increase of six from last year’s count of 91;
- 87 in Dell Rapids, an increase of 11 from last year’s count of 76;
- 79 in Canton, a decrease of two from last year’s count of 81;
- 73 in Tri-Valley, an increase of seven from last year’s count of 66;
- 42 in Garretson, an increase of 10 from last year’s count of 32;
- 24 in Baltic, a decrease of one from last year’s count of 25.
All totaled, there are 3,140 students in alternative instruction in the Sioux Falls metro area, an increase of 305 students or 10.7% from last year’s count of 2,835.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 6, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Jan. 6 drawing
09-39-47-58-68, Mega Ball: 24
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 6 drawing
10-13-24-27-31, Lucky Ball: 08
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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