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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

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

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.5Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-2.83 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.3Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62%
Reading/ELA Proficiency67%
Overall Proficiency65%
Expected (poverty-adj.)49%
vs. Expected+15.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile88th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.7Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,233

Lake Benton Elementary — Students at Lake Benton Elementary score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

36%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 62.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 68.7%
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
67%
ELA
77%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
62%
ELA
67%

* 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.

Overall Score
8.0/10
89th percentile in MN
Academic
9.3/10
9.3/10
Growth
6.5/10
Above average
Environment
9.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
36%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
12 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
17 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
20 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Low (72/100K)

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
111
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
12
Free/Reduced Lunch
36.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Lincoln County
Data Year
2023–2024

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 methodology

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