Excellent
#221 of 1,986 schools in MN
Top 11% in state
Lake Benton Elementary
Elementary School · LAKE BENTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
PO BOX 158, Lake Benton, MN 56149
Enrollment
111
Student-Teacher
9.2:1
Score
8.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
111
Student-Teacher
9.2:1
Score
8.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
Minnesota elementary schools
#202 of 962
School environment
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Lake Benton Elementary
Lake Benton Elementary serves 111 students in grades prekindergarten through sixth grade in the small community of Lake Benton, Minnesota. This regular public school has earned impressive recognition, ranking 29th out of 2,027 elementary schools statewide and placing in the 99th percentile with a strong 8.3 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating. The school maintains an excellent 9.2:1 student-teacher ratio with 12 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and strong relationships between educators and students.
Academic performance is notable, with 67% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and reading, while 62% demonstrate proficiency in mathematics across grade levels. Lake Benton Elementary operates in Lincoln County's zip code 56149, where the median household income is $56,923 and median home value reaches $142,300. The local community has a poverty rate of 11.1%, with 21% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher.
With a total zip code population of just 1,135 residents, this creates an intimate community atmosphere. The school sits in a remote rural setting, offering students the benefits of small-town education where individual attention and community connections flourish in Minnesota's agricultural heartland.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 111 students, Lake Benton 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.
With a student-teacher ratio of 9.2:1, Lake Benton Elementary offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Located in a rural area, Lake Benton 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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Lake Benton Elementary — Students at Lake Benton Elementary score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
36%
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: 6.5/10.
How Lake Benton Elementary Compares
See how Lake Benton Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 67% (2019) to 62% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 77% (2019) to 67% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 158, Lake Benton, MN 56149
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Lake Benton Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Lincoln Elementary - Ivanhoe (rated 9.5/10, 14.2 miles away, in nearby Ivanhoe), which scores notably higher. Another option is Pipestone Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 18.3 miles away, in nearby Pipestone), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, RTR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 6.8/10, 7.1 miles away, in nearby Tyler), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lake Benton, see our Lake Benton schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 17.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| LAKE BENTON SECONDARY Lake Benton | 0.0 mi | — |
| HEARTLAND ELEMENTARY Lake Benton | 6.6 mi | — |
| RTR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Tyler | 7.1 mi | 6.8 |
| RTR Secondary School Tyler | 7.1 mi | 7.7 |
| Elkton Elementary - 02 Elkton | 10.0 mi | 5.9 |
| Elkton High School - 01 Elkton | 10.0 mi | 6.4 |
| Elkton Jr. High - 03 Elkton | 10.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Lincoln Elementary - Ivanhoe Ivanhoe | 14.2 mi | 9.5 |
| SWWC ELC - Pipestone Pipestone | 16.6 mi | — |
| Newdale Colony Elementary - 04 Elkton | 12.2 mi | — |
| SWWC ALC - Pipestone Pipestone | 18.4 mi | 4.2 |
| Pipestone Elementary Pipestone | 18.3 mi | 8.9 |
| PIPESTONE SENIOR HIGH Pipestone | 18.3 mi | 5.7 |
| PIPESTONE MIDDLE Pipestone | 18.3 mi | 5.1 |
| Pleasant Valley Colony Elementary - 06 Flandreau | 16.6 mi | 5.8 |
| HENDRICKS ELEMENTARY Hendricks | 18.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Hendricks High School Hendricks | 18.3 mi | 6.7 |
| MNVSS Hendricks | 18.3 mi | 7.1 |
| Rolland Colony Elementary - 05 White | 16.1 mi | — |
| Norfeld Colony Elementary - 07 White | 17.7 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 56149 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$61,389
Median Home Value
$150,800
Median Rent
$681/mo
Population
1,205
College Educated
24.6%
Homeownership
80.1%
Avg Commute
27.5 min
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Median Age
44.2
Community Profile
The community surrounding Lake Benton Elementary has a median household income of $61,389. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $150,800, with a median rent of $681/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.2%. The average commute for residents is 28 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 |
|---|---|
| Cambridge-Isanti STEAM School Isanti, MN | 8.0 |
| LANCASTER ELEMENTARY Lancaster, MN | 8.0 |
| New Code Academy Elementary Bloomington, MN | 8.0 |
| Onamia Primary School Onamia, MN | 8.0 |
| ST ELIZABETH ANN SETON SCHOOL Saint Cloud, MN | 8.0 |
| ST ROSE OF LIMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Roseville, MN | 8.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Lake Benton Elementary
What grades does Lake Benton Elementary serve?
Lake Benton Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Lake Benton Elementary?
Lake Benton Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 111 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Benton Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Lake Benton Elementary is 9.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Lake Benton Elementary rank in MN?
Lake Benton Elementary is ranked #221 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is Lake Benton Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Lake Benton Elementary has a composite rating of 8.0 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 Lake Benton Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lake Benton Elementary has 62.0% math proficiency and 68.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Lake Benton Elementary a charter school?
No, Lake Benton Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Lake Benton Elementary a Title I school?
No, Lake Benton Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lake Benton Elementary?
36.0% of students at Lake Benton 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
- 111
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 36.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Lincoln County
- Phone
- (507) 368-4241
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
LAKE BENTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 113
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $23,504
- District Rank
- #1 of 1
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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