Average
#906 of 1,986 schools in MN
Top 46% in state
Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element
Elementary School · Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart
PO BOX 307, Hector, MN 55342
Enrollment
190
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
190
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Hector
#1 of 2
public schools
Minnesota elementary schools
#567 of 962
In district
#1 of 2
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart
Academic performance
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element serves 190 students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Hector, Minnesota. This well-regarded elementary school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 12.7:1 with 15 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an intimate learning environment where students can receive personalized attention. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranking 79th out of 2,027 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 96th percentile.
Students show particularly impressive results in mathematics, with 72% achieving proficiency or above across grade levels. In English Language Arts and reading, 57% of students meet or exceed proficiency standards. Located in Renville County, the school serves a community where the median household income is $61,518 and the poverty rate stands at 7.1%.
The area's median home value of $129,600 reflects the affordable rural character of the region. While only 14% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, the school's strong academic outcomes suggest effective educational programming that helps students succeed regardless of their community's educational background. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element operates in a remote rural setting, providing quality elementary education to families in this close-knit agricultural community of 1,819 residents.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 190 students, Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element — Students at Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
61.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from MN state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.5/10.
How Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element Compares
See how Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 82% (2019) to 72% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 72% (2019) to 57% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 307, Hector, MN 55342
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. GFW Elementary School (rated 8.5/10, 17.4 miles away, in nearby Gibbon), which scores notably higher. Another option is BOLD-Bird Island Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 13.4 miles away, in nearby Olivia), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Hutchinson Tiger Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 18.5 miles away, in nearby Hutchinson), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Hector, see our Hector schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 19.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Seconda Hector | 0.0 mi | 5.1 |
| SWWC ELC - Cosmos Cosmos | 13.6 mi | 7.4 |
| PRAIRE LUTHERAN SCHOOL UPPER SITE Fairfax | 14.8 mi | 6.4 |
| BOLD-Bird Island Elementary Olivia | 13.4 mi | 8.4 |
| BOLD Senior High School Olivia | 13.4 mi | 6.5 |
| BOLD Middle School Olivia | 13.4 mi | 7.0 |
| CEDAR MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY Franklin | 17.0 mi | 5.8 |
| PRAIRIE LUTHERAN SCHOOL Gibbon | 17.2 mi | 6.2 |
| GFW Elementary School Gibbon | 17.4 mi | 8.5 |
| IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Hutchinson | 17.6 mi | 2.4 |
| New Century Academy Hutchinson | 18.3 mi | 5.9 |
| HUTCHINSON WEST ELEMENTARY Hutchinson | 18.5 mi | 7.0 |
| Hutchinson Tiger Elementary Hutchinson | 18.5 mi | 8.2 |
| HUTCHINSON MIDDLE Hutchinson | 18.6 mi | 5.7 |
| HUTCHINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL A.L.C. Hutchinson | 18.6 mi | 4.8 |
| HUTCHINSON SENIOR HIGH Hutchinson | 18.7 mi | 5.3 |
| CROW RIVER AREA LEARNING CENTER Hutchinson | 18.7 mi | — |
| CORNERSTONE Hutchinson | 18.7 mi | — |
| HUTCHINSON NIGHT ALT LEARNING CTR Hutchinson | 18.7 mi | — |
| ST ANASTASIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hutchinson | 19.1 mi | 6.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 55342 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$63,257
Median Home Value
$148,100
Median Rent
$1,014/mo
Population
1,884
College Educated
15%
Homeownership
80.8%
Avg Commute
19.6 min
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Median Age
40.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element has a median household income of $63,257. It is a community where 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $148,100, with a median rent of $1,014/month. The local poverty rate of 9.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| BADGER ELEMENTARY Badger, MN | 6.5 |
| CREST VIEW ELEMENTARY Brooklyn Park, MN | 6.5 |
| CROWN OF LIFE LUTHERAN West Saint Paul, MN | 6.5 |
| KNIGHT ELEMENTARY Randall, MN | 6.5 |
| LYLE ELEMENTARY Lyle, MN | 6.5 |
| MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY Fergus Falls, MN | 6.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element
What grades does Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element serve?
Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element?
Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element has an enrollment of approximately 190 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element?
The student-teacher ratio at Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element rank in MN?
Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element is ranked #906 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element's MySchoolScout rating?
Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element has a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element has 72.0% math proficiency and 63.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element a charter school?
No, Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element a Title I school?
No, Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element?
61.1% of students at Buffalo Lake-hector-stewart Element qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- Low (204/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Hector). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 190
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 15
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 61.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Renville County
- Phone
- (320) 848-2233
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart- District Enrollment
- 446
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,096
- District Rank
- #1 of 2
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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