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6.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Fairmont, Minnesota

10 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 High · 2 Other

Public: 6
Private: 4
Districts: 2
Avg Rating: 6.5/10
Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Fairmont?

Use this page to compare every school in Fairmont by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Fairmont Elementary School

7.7/10

Elementary · Fairmont Area School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

7.2/10

High · Southern Plains Education Coop.. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

St James Lutheran School

6.4/10

Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Fairmont for 2026 are Fairmont Elementary School (7.7/10), Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. (7.2/10), and St James Lutheran School (6.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 6 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Schools

10

6 public · 4 private

Avg Score

6.5

out of 10

Median Home

$175,600

home value · ACS

Districts

2

serving the city

Top-Rated Schools in Fairmont

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (6 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 Fairmont Elementary School 7.7 / 10
2 Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. 7.2 / 10
3 St James Lutheran School 6.4 / 10
4 St Paul Lutheran School 6.2 / 10
5 St John Vianney School 6.0 / 10
6 Fairmont Jr./sr. High School 5.7 / 10

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance
Avg school rating
6.5/10

33% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$61,373

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$175,600

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
26%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
16 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
69%

Of occupied housing units

How Fairmont compares

Minnesota rank

#65 of 229

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.3

above Minnesota avg (6.2)

Median household income

$61k

73% of Minnesota median

Schools in this city

6

About Schools in Fairmont, Minnesota

Fairmont, Minnesota is home to 10 schools, including 6 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, , and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.5 out of 10, schools in Fairmont show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Fairmont is Fairmont Elementary School with a composite score of 7.7/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Fairmont is served by 2 school districts: SOUTHERN PLAINS EDUCATION COOP., FAIRMONT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT. These districts collectively serve 1,922 students.

Fairmont's community shows 26% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $61,373. The poverty rate in the area is 11.7%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by ZIP: 56031 (10)

Elementary Schools

6 schools
# School Rating
1 974 students · Pre-K–6th 7.7
2 17 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten
Private Schools 4 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 48 students · Pre-K–8th 6.4
2 78 students · Pre-K–8th 6.2
3 88 students · Kindergarten–6th 6.0
4 22 students · Pre-K–4th

High Schools

2 schools
# School Rating
1 59 students · 8th–12th 7.2
2 844 students · 7th–12th 5.7

Other Schools

2 schools
# School Rating
1 5 students · Kindergarten–12th
2 23 students · Kindergarten–12th

Schools in Fairmont

Fairmont, Minnesota · 10 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$61,373

Median Home Value

$175,600

Median Rent

$719/mo

Population

11,800

College Educated

26%

Homeownership

69%

Avg Commute

16 min

Poverty Rate

11.7%

Community Profile

Fairmont has a median household income of $61,373. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $175,600, with a median rent of $719/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.7%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 16 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Fairmont, Minnesota

How many schools are in Fairmont, Minnesota?

Fairmont has 10 schools, including 6 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Fairmont, Minnesota?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fairmont is 6.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Fairmont, Minnesota?

The top-ranked school in Fairmont on MySchoolScout is Fairmont Elementary School with a composite score of 7.7/10.

What is the best elementary school in Fairmont, Minnesota?

The top-ranked elementary school in Fairmont on MySchoolScout is Fairmont Elementary School with a composite score of 7.7/10.

What is the best high school in Fairmont, Minnesota?

The top-ranked high school in Fairmont on MySchoolScout is Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. with a composite score of 7.2/10.

How many school districts serve Fairmont, Minnesota?

Fairmont is served by 2 school districts: Southern Plains Education Coop., Fairmont Area School District.

What is the education level in Fairmont, Minnesota?

According to Census data, 26% of adults in Fairmont have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Fairmont, Minnesota?

The median household income in Fairmont is approximately $61,373 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Fairmont, Minnesota?

Yes, Fairmont has 4 private schools alongside 6 public schools. The top-rated private school is St James Lutheran School with a score of 6.4/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Fairmont, Minnesota?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fairmont is 9.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Fairmont, Minnesota?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Minnesota Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.