Below Average
#1835 of 1,986 schools in MN
Heron Lake-okabena Elementary
Elementary School · HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PO BOX 378, Heron Lake, MN 56137
Enrollment
132
Student-Teacher
12:1
Score
4.3
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
132
Student-Teacher
12:1
Score
4.3
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
Minnesota elementary schools
#907 of 962
In district
#2 of 2
HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL DISTRICT
School environment
8.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Heron Lake-okabena Elementary
Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary is a regular public school located in the remote rural area of Heron Lake, Minnesota. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, the school has an enrollment of 132 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 12:1 with 11 full-time equivalent teachers. The school's academic performance reflects room for improvement, with MySchoolScout ranking it at 4.0 out of 10 and placing it at #1679 among the 2027 schools in Minnesota.
Test scores show that 45% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading and 34% in Math. Despite these challenges, Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary focuses on providing a supportive educational environment in its close-knit community setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 132 students, Heron Lake-okabena 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, Heron Lake-okabena 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
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Heron Lake-okabena Elementary — Students at Heron Lake-okabena Elementary score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
56.1%
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: 2.5/10.
How Heron Lake-okabena Elementary Compares
See how Heron Lake-okabena Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 47% (2019) to 22% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 52% (2019) to 37% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 378, Heron Lake, MN 56137
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Heron Lake-okabena Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Windom Area Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 10.9 miles away, in nearby Windom), which scores notably higher. Another option is ST MARY'S SCHOOL (rated 7.8/10, 18.4 miles away, in nearby Worthington), which scores notably higher. Additionally, FULDA ELEMENTARY (rated 7.1/10, 15.4 miles away, in nearby Fulda), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Heron Lake, see our Heron Lake schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 18.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Heron Lake-Okabena Secondary Okabena | 3.6 mi | 5.5 |
| ST JOHNS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Okabena | 3.6 mi | — |
| Round Lake-Brewster Elementary Brewster | 10.1 mi | 7.0 |
| Round Lake-Brewster Middle School Brewster | 10.1 mi | 6.5 |
| IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Lakefield | 10.5 mi | 5.3 |
| PLEASANTVIEW ELEMENTARY Lakefield | 10.9 mi | 6.6 |
| JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL MIDDLE Lakefield | 10.9 mi | 6.4 |
| WINDOM SENIOR HIGH Windom | 10.7 mi | 6.0 |
| WINDOM MIDDLE Windom | 10.7 mi | 4.7 |
| Windom Area Elementary Windom | 10.9 mi | 9.1 |
| SWWC ELC - Windom Windom | 11.0 mi | 7.1 |
| SWWC ALC - Windom Windom | 11.0 mi | 6.2 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER Windom | 11.4 mi | — |
| WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SECONDARY Westbrook | 18.3 mi | 6.5 |
| FULDA ELEMENTARY Fulda | 15.4 mi | 7.1 |
| FULDA SECONDARY Fulda | 15.6 mi | 5.6 |
| WORTHINGTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Worthington | 17.3 mi | 6.4 |
| WORTHINGTON SENIOR HIGH Worthington | 18.2 mi | 4.9 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD Worthington | 18.2 mi | 6.9 |
| ST MARY'S SCHOOL Worthington | 18.4 mi | 7.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 56137 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$68,500
Median Home Value
$114,400
Median Rent
$738/mo
Population
1,091
College Educated
18.2%
Homeownership
84.1%
Avg Commute
17.4 min
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Median Age
42.4
Community Profile
The community surrounding Heron Lake-okabena Elementary has a median household income of $68,500. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $114,400, with a median rent of $738/month. The local poverty rate of 8.9% is relatively low. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 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 |
|---|---|
| AFSA Elementary Little Canada, MN | 4.3 |
| CHRIST COMMUNITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Watertown, MN | 4.3 |
| Endazhi-Nitaawiging Red Lake, MN | 4.3 |
| Falcon View Connections Elementary Wabasha, MN | 4.3 |
| LIVING HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL Shakopee, MN | 4.3 |
| Rise Academy Saint Paul, MN | 4.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Heron Lake-okabena Elementary
What grades does Heron Lake-okabena Elementary serve?
Heron Lake-okabena Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Heron Lake-okabena Elementary?
Heron Lake-okabena Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 132 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Heron Lake-okabena Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Heron Lake-okabena Elementary is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Heron Lake-okabena Elementary rank in MN?
Heron Lake-okabena Elementary is ranked #1835 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is Heron Lake-okabena Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Heron Lake-okabena Elementary has a composite rating of 4.3 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 Heron Lake-okabena Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Heron Lake-okabena Elementary has 33.7% math proficiency and 45.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Heron Lake-okabena Elementary a charter school?
No, Heron Lake-okabena Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Heron Lake-okabena Elementary a Title I school?
No, Heron Lake-okabena Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Heron Lake-okabena Elementary?
56.1% of students at Heron Lake-okabena 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
- City Safety
- Average (341/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Heron Lake). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 132
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 56.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Jackson County
- Phone
- (507) 793-2307
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 290
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,231
- District Rank
- #2 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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