Skip to main content

Average

#1254 of 1,992 schools in MN

Jackson County Central Middle

Middle School · JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DIST.

PO BOX 754, Lakefield, MN 56150

Enrollment

236

Student-Teacher

14.8:1

Score

5.7

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Minnesota schools

#1,254 of 1,992

In Lakefield

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#3 of 4

JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DIST.

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Jackson County Central Middle?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

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

Jackson County Central Middle

5.7/10

Middle School in Lakefield · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Pleasantview Elementary

4.9/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Immanuel Lutheran School

5.3/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Jackson County Central Middle

Jackson County Central Middle is a public middle school in Lakefield, MN, part of JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DIST. Jackson County Central Middle serves approximately 236 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Jackson County Central Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,254 of 1,992 schools in MN.

Structured state assessment records for Jackson County Central Middle show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with MN schools
  • This school 5.7 · Average
  • MN avg 5.8

What Parents Should Know

Jackson County Central Middle sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.6Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.89 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.4Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency48% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency43% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency46% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-1.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile48th
Resources & Environment6.5Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,939
Chronic Absenteeism18.2%

Jackson County Central Middle — Students at Jackson County Central Middle score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

39.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 53.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 55.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
70%
ELA
68%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
70%
ELA
80%
2012
Math
58%
ELA
55%
2013
Math
47%
ELA
51%
2014
Math
39%
ELA
53%
2015
Math
61%
ELA
61%
2016
Math
59%
ELA
61%
2017
Math
53%
ELA
54%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
39%
ELA
40%
2021*
Math
39%
ELA
40%
2022
Math
48%
ELA
43%

* 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: 4.6/10.

How Jackson County Central Middle Compares

See how Jackson County Central Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.7/10
37th percentile in MN
Academic
6.4/10
Average
Growth
4.6/10
Below Average
Environment
6.5/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
39%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
16 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.2%

Location

PO BOX 754, Lakefield, MN 56150

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Jackson County Central Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Spirit Lake Middle School (rated 6.5/10, 18.4 miles away, in nearby Spirit Lake), which scores slightly higher. Another option is WINDOM MIDDLE (rated 5.8/10, 14.0 miles away, in nearby Windom), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Round Lake-Brewster Middle School (rated 4.9/10, 15.1 miles away, in nearby Brewster), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Lakefield, see our Lakefield schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 15.1 mi
School Distance Rating
PLEASANTVIEW ELEMENTARY Lakefield 0.0 mi 4.9
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Lakefield 0.4 mi 5.3
ST JOHNS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Okabena 8.8 mi
Heron Lake-Okabena Secondary Okabena 8.8 mi 5.4
Jackson County Central Senior High Jackson 9.1 mi 6.1
RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY Jackson 9.4 mi 6.0
HERON LAKE-OKABENA ELEMENTARY Heron Lake 10.9 mi 6.2
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER Windom 13.5 mi
SWWC ELC - Windom Windom 13.8 mi 7.4
SWWC ALC - Windom Windom 13.8 mi 6.6
WINDOM SENIOR HIGH Windom 14.0 mi 5.7
WINDOM MIDDLE Windom 14.0 mi 5.8
Windom Area Elementary Windom 14.0 mi 9.3
Spirit Lake High School Spirit Lake 18.2 mi 5.1
Spirit Lake Elementary School Spirit Lake 18.4 mi 7.5
Spirit Lake Middle School Spirit Lake 18.4 mi 6.5
Harris-Lake Park Elementary School Lake Park 17.2 mi 3.4
Harris-Lake Park High School Lake Park 17.7 mi 8.1
Round Lake-Brewster Elementary Brewster 15.1 mi 4.8
Round Lake-Brewster Middle School Brewster 15.1 mi 4.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 56150 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$69,224

Median Home Value

$128,500

Median Rent

$917/mo

Population

2,863

College Educated

18%

Homeownership

87.4%

Avg Commute

18.4 min

Poverty Rate

7.6%

Median Age

44.2

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Anwatin Middle Minneapolis, MN 5.7
Memorial Middle School Ely, MN 5.7
MINNEWASKA AREA JUNIOR HIGH Glenwood, MN 5.8
Red Lake Middle School Red Lake, MN 5.8
FOREST LAKE ELEMENTARY Forest Lake, MN 5.6
ROYALTON MIDDLE SCHOOL Royalton, MN 5.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Jackson County Central Middle

What grades does Jackson County Central Middle serve?

Jackson County Central Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Jackson County Central Middle?

Jackson County Central Middle has an enrollment of approximately 236 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Jackson County Central Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Jackson County Central Middle is 14.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Jackson County Central Middle rank in MN?

Jackson County Central Middle ranks #1,254 of 1,992 schools in MN.

What is Jackson County Central Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Jackson County Central Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Jackson County Central Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Jackson County Central Middle has 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Jackson County Central Middle a charter school?

No, Jackson County Central Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Jackson County Central Middle a Title I school?

No, Jackson County Central Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Jackson County Central Middle?

39.4% of students at Jackson County Central Middle 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
35 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
32 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
236
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
16
Free/Reduced Lunch
39.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Jackson County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.2%

District

JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DIST.
District Enrollment
1,104
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,939
District Rank
#3 of 4

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.