Nisswa Elementary

Nisswa Elementary serves 255 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 4 in Nisswa, Minnesota, as part of the Brainerd Public School District. With a student-teacher ratio of 12.8 to 1, classrooms stay small across the early grades — an advantage for young learners building foundational skills in reading and math. The school earns a composite score of 9.2 out of 10, rated Exceptional, driven by academic and growth scores of 9.5 each.

That performance places Nisswa Elementary at #8 among 962 public elementary schools statewide — a school that outperforms 100% of Minnesota public schools on MySchoolScout's composite measure. Within the Brainerd Public School District, it ranks first among all 11 schools, and it isn't close. Academic scores reflect tested proficiency relative to state peers; growth scores track how much students advance year over year, controlling for starting point.

Nisswa posts elite marks on both dimensions, meaning students here not only score well on assessments but gain ground faster than peers across Minnesota. For families weighing elementary options in the area, the data points in one consistent direction.

Located in a rural area, Nisswa 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.