Simplified: Look, there's still plenty of summer fun to be had, but it's also the time of year where the "back to school" sections start popping up in stores. So, whether you're looking to score the best deal, support local businesses or find environmentally sustainable school supplies, Sioux Falls Simplified did the research so you don't have to.

Tell me more

In past years, the back-to-school shopping stories have focused on where to find the best deals. That's still part of the story today.

  • But this year, the goal is to provide not only the best deals but the best school supply option for you and your unique situation, needs and values.

The methodology for this reporting included walking around various stores in Sioux Falls and tracking prices in a spreadsheet – as well as online searches.

  • For the supply list, I looked at a few elementary school lists in the Sioux Falls School District and added a few common supply items like loose-leaf paper, colored pencils and different types of notebooks.

Here's a look at the supplies tracked and the various costs:

First off, where do I find my kids' school supply list?

You can find all the supply lists K-12 in the Sioux Falls School District here.

Live outside the Sioux Falls School District?

  • Here's a list for
    • Tri-Valley,
    • and West Central (This is last year's list. I couldn't for the life of me find the 26-27 link, and the phone system kept routing me to robots, not people. Any Hartford friends who wanna help me out, I'd love to update this.)

So, where can I find the cheapest school supplies?

Overall, the cheapest school supplies are at Target. Target also had the lowest year-over-year increase at 10% – so parents can expect to spend a little more anywhere you shop.

  • The list I used could be purchased in its entirety for just under $33 at Target.
  • WalMart was a close second at $35, about a 14% increase year-over-year.

What if I'm buying in bulk?

Amazon has the most options for bulk deals – in fact, it was hard to find individual school supplies. So, if you're buying for multiple kids, it might be worth looking at some things like notebooks, folders, etc. in bulk.

  • But, largely, you do pay more for the convenience of having the items shipped right to you. Amazon had the highest year-over-year increase at 38% – though you do have to factor in that some of those items were bought in bulk and not individual packs.

What if I prefer to keep my spending closer to home?

If you're looking to keep your school supply spending as close to the local Sioux Falls economy as possible, your best bet is probably to shop at Lewis.

  • Lewis is headquartered in Sioux Falls, was founded here and, if spending a little more on supplies won't break the bank, they're the only locally-owned store we could find* that has all the supplies you need in one place.

*Please email megan@sfsimplified.com if you have another local/regionally owned option for one-stop school supply shopping. I don't want to leave anyone out.

What if I'm trying to buy more eco-friendly stuff?

The best way to reduce waste from school supplies is to use the stuff you already have.

  • That might mean re-using the same pair of scissors, pencil bags, backpacks, etc. Or, it could be as simple as checking what you have stored away before you head to the store.

There are some options for sustainably-made school supplies online like Zero Waste Store, but options are pretty limited, pretty costly and in many cases sold out.

That said, there are several local options for buying things like reusable lunch bags, and there are plenty of spots to buy secondhand clothing, shoes and backpacks as you restock the dresser drawers for the fall.

Have a school supply question not answered here?

Email megan@sfsimplified.com, and I'll do my best to help you out.