Very Good
#253 of 1,986 schools in MN
Top 13% in state
Finlayson Elementary
Elementary School · HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON SCHOOL DISTRICT
P.O. BOX 180, Finlayson, MN 55735
Enrollment
58
Student-Teacher
11.6:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
58
Student-Teacher
11.6:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Finlayson
#1 of 4
public schools
Minnesota elementary schools
#226 of 962
In district
#1 of 3
HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Academic performance
9.2 / 10
Exceptional
About Finlayson Elementary
Finlayson Elementary serves 58 students in grades prekindergarten through sixth grade in Pine County, Minnesota. Despite its small size with just 5 full-time equivalent teachers, the school delivers impressive academic results, earning a 7.8 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking as the 130th best elementary school out of 2,027 schools statewide, placing it in the 94th percentile. The school's academic performance stands out, with 64% of students achieving proficiency or above in mathematics and 54% meeting proficiency standards in English Language Arts and reading.
With a student-teacher ratio of 11.6 to 1, students benefit from personalized attention and small class sizes that support individual learning needs. The school draws from a close-knit community where the median household income is $61,023 and median home values average $213,500. The area has a 10.5% poverty rate, while 16% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.
Finlayson Elementary operates in a remote rural setting, providing students with a peaceful learning environment away from urban distractions while maintaining strong academic standards that consistently outperform state averages.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 58 students, Finlayson Elementary 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, Finlayson Elementary 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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Finlayson Elementary — Students at Finlayson Elementary score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
63.8%
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: 7.0/10.
How Finlayson Elementary Compares
See how Finlayson Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 64.5% (2019) to 64.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 64.5% (2019) to 54.5% (2022).
Location
P.O. BOX 180, Finlayson, MN 55735
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Finlayson Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MOOSE LAKE ELEMENTARY (rated 7.9/10, 17.5 miles away, in nearby Moose Lake), with a very similar rating. Another option is EAST CENTRAL ELEMENTARY (rated 7.6/10, 4.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, PINE CITY ELEMENTARY (rated 6.7/10, 26.4 miles away, in nearby Pine City), a more accessible option. For more schools in Finlayson, see our Finlayson schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 32.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| EAST CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Finlayson | 4.2 mi | 7.6 |
| EAST CENTRAL SENIOR SECONDARY Finlayson | 4.2 mi | 5.2 |
| CROSSROADS AREA LEARNING CENTER Finlayson | 4.2 mi | 5.2 |
| WILLOW RIVER ELEMENTARY Willow River | 9.1 mi | 4.3 |
| WILLOW RIVER SECONDARY Willow River | 9.1 mi | 6.9 |
| Pine County Transition Program Hinckley | 13.0 mi | — |
| HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON SECONDARY Hinckley | 13.0 mi | 6.1 |
| Empower Learning Center Hinckley | 13.0 mi | — |
| HINCKLEY ELEMENTARY Hinckley | 13.1 mi | 6.4 |
| MOOSE LAKE ELEMENTARY Moose Lake | 17.5 mi | 7.9 |
| MOOSE LAKE SECONDARY Moose Lake | 17.5 mi | 5.7 |
| MCF-MOOSE LAKE/WILLOW RIVER Moose Lake | 18.1 mi | — |
| BARNUM ELEMENTARY Barnum | 23.7 mi | 5.8 |
| PINE CITY ELEMENTARY Pine City | 26.4 mi | 6.7 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD Pine City | 26.4 mi | — |
| BARNUM SECONDARY Barnum | 24.0 mi | 5.2 |
| Vision Pine City | 26.8 mi | — |
| PINE CITY AREA LEARNING CENTER Pine City | 27.1 mi | 6.3 |
| PINE CITY SECONDARY Pine City | 27.2 mi | 5.9 |
| CROMWELL-WRIGHT SECONDARY Cromwell | 32.9 mi | 7.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 55735 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$62,125
Median Home Value
$233,500
Median Rent
$968/mo
Population
1,802
College Educated
16.3%
Homeownership
92.4%
Avg Commute
35.1 min
Poverty Rate
11%
Median Age
52.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding Finlayson Elementary has a median household income of $62,125. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $233,500, with a median rent of $968/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.0%. The average commute in the area is 35 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| RPS Online Elementary School Rochester, MN | 7.9 |
| ST THEODORE'S EL Albert Lea, MN | 7.9 |
| GREEN ISLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL Green Isle, MN | 8.0 |
| New Code Academy Elementary Bloomington, MN | 8.0 |
| DISCOVERY MONTESSORI ACADEMY Princeton, MN | 7.6 |
| GATE 4/5 Stillwater, MN | 7.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Finlayson Elementary
What grades does Finlayson Elementary serve?
Finlayson Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Finlayson Elementary?
Finlayson Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 58 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Finlayson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Finlayson Elementary is 11.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Finlayson Elementary rank in MN?
Finlayson Elementary is ranked #253 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is Finlayson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Finlayson Elementary has a composite rating of 7.9 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 Finlayson Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Finlayson Elementary has 57.8% math proficiency and 54.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Finlayson Elementary a charter school?
No, Finlayson Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Finlayson Elementary a Title I school?
No, Finlayson Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Finlayson Elementary?
63.8% of students at Finlayson Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 58
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 5
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 63.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Pine County
- Phone
- (320) 233-7611
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 946
- Schools in District
- 5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,816
- District Rank
- #1 of 3
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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