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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

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 metrics
Student Progress7.0Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-2.39 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.2Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency64.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.5%
Overall Proficiency60%
Expected (poverty-adj.)33%
vs. Expected+26.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile88th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,598

Finlayson Elementary — Students at Finlayson Elementary score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

63.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 57.8%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 54.5%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from MN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
64.5%
ELA
64.5%
2021*
Math
44.5%
ELA
44.5%
2022
Math
64.5%
ELA
54.5%

* 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.

Overall Score
7.9/10
87th percentile in MN
Academic
9.2/10
9.2/10
Growth
7.0/10
Above average
Environment
8.1/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
64%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
5 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
27 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
34 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Elevated (1,329/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

District

HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON SCHOOL DISTRICT
District Enrollment
946
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,816
District Rank
#1 of 3

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 methodology

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