Average
#1411 of 1,992 schools in MN
Southwest Middle
Middle School · Albert Lea Public School District · Albert Lea, MN
An Albert Lea Public School District middle school serving grades 6th – 7th.
1601 W FRONT ST, Albert Lea, MN 56007
- Math 27% proficient (2022)
- Reading 41% proficient (2022)
- 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southwest Middle score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MN average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 34% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
60.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Southwest Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 39Car-Dependent
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,704/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Albert Lea), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$66,479
Median home value
$161,100
Median rent
$843/mo
College educated
18.1%
Homeownership
76.1%
Poverty rate
10.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 56007; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Albert Lea Public School District
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #5 of 8
- District spending per student
- $16,107NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southwest Middle is listed in ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southwest Middle
Southwest Middle is a public middle school in Albert Lea, MN, part of Albert Lea Public School District, serving approximately 455 students in grades 6th-7th with a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,411 of 1,992 schools in MN. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southwest Middle
What grades does Southwest Middle serve?
Southwest Middle serves students in grades 6th through 7th.
How many students attend Southwest Middle?
Southwest Middle has an enrollment of approximately 455 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southwest Middle rank in MN?
Southwest Middle ranks #1,411 of 1,992 schools in MN.
What is Southwest Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Southwest Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 Southwest Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southwest Middle has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Southwest Middle a charter school?
No, Southwest Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southwest Middle a Title I school?
No, Southwest Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southwest Middle?
60.4% of students at Southwest 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 7th
- Enrollment
- 455
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 32
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Freeborn County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.6%
- Phone
- (507) 379-5240
- Area population (ZIP 56007)
- 21,467
- Area average commute
- 18.9 min
- Area median age
- 44
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 56007; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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