Very Good
#604 of 1,986 schools in MN
Top 30% in state
Tower-soudan Elementary
Elementary School · ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
PO BOX 469, Tower, MN 55790
Enrollment
89
Student-Teacher
8.9:1
Score
7.1
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
89
Student-Teacher
8.9:1
Score
7.1
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Tower
#1 of 2
public schools
Minnesota elementary schools
#430 of 962
In district
#4 of 9
ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
School environment
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Tower-soudan Elementary
Tower-Soudan Elementary serves 89 students in grades PK through 6 in the remote rural community of Tower, Minnesota. This small public school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1 with 10 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for individualized attention that contributes to strong academic outcomes. The school demonstrates solid performance with a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #254 out of 2,027 Minnesota elementary schools, placing it in the 88th percentile statewide.
Students achieve 54% proficiency rates in both English Language Arts/Reading and Math across all tested grades, reflecting consistent academic achievement in core subjects. Tower-Soudan Elementary draws families from ZIP code 55790, where the median household income reaches $77,969 and median home values are $290,800. The community shows educational commitment with 33% of adults holding bachelor's degrees or higher, while maintaining a relatively low poverty rate of 9.8% among its 1,871 residents.
Located in St. Louis County's pristine wilderness region, Tower-Soudan Elementary offers students the unique advantage of learning in Minnesota's remote northern landscape, where outdoor education opportunities and tight-knit community connections naturally complement traditional academics.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 89 students, Tower-soudan 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 8.9:1, Tower-soudan 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, Tower-soudan 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 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Tower-soudan Elementary — Students at Tower-soudan Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
70.8%
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: 5.2/10.
How Tower-soudan Elementary Compares
See how Tower-soudan Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 64.5% (2019) to 54.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 64.5% (2019) to 54.5% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 469, Tower, MN 55790
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Tower-soudan Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MERRITT ELEMENTARY (rated 7.7/10, 24.9 miles away, in nearby Mountain Iron), which scores slightly higher. Another option is CHERRY ELEMENTARY (rated 7.6/10, 34.5 miles away, in nearby Iron), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, North Star Elementary (rated 7.2/10, 26.5 miles away, in nearby Eveleth), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Tower, see our Tower schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 34.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Vermilion Country School Tower | 0.5 mi | 4.9 |
| MESABI EAST ELEMENTARY Aurora | 19.1 mi | 6.0 |
| MESABI EAST SECONDARY Aurora | 19.1 mi | 3.5 |
| BABBITT ELEMENTARY Babbitt | 16.4 mi | 4.6 |
| NORTHEAST RANGE SECONDARY Babbitt | 16.4 mi | 5.0 |
| NLC Transition Program Virginia | 22.9 mi | — |
| MARQUETTE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Virginia | 23.2 mi | 6.0 |
| Parkview Elementary Virginia | 23.2 mi | 6.2 |
| NORTHLAND LEARNING CENTER 020 Virginia | 24.1 mi | 7.8 |
| NORTHLAND LEARNING CENTER 010 Virginia | 24.1 mi | 7.3 |
| Rock Ridge Secondary Virginia | 25.3 mi | 5.2 |
| Laurentian Elementary Eveleth | 25.6 mi | 6.4 |
| EAST RANGE ACADEMY OF TECH-SCIENCE Mountain Iron | 24.5 mi | 7.3 |
| WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY Ely | 20.2 mi | 6.4 |
| MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL Ely | 20.2 mi | 6.7 |
| Memorial Middle School Ely | 20.2 mi | 6.5 |
| North Star Elementary Eveleth | 26.5 mi | 7.2 |
| MERRITT ELEMENTARY Mountain Iron | 24.9 mi | 7.7 |
| MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL SECONDARY Mountain Iron | 24.9 mi | 4.8 |
| CHERRY ELEMENTARY Iron | 34.5 mi | 7.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 55790 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$74,732
Median Home Value
$297,900
Median Rent
$630/mo
Population
1,933
College Educated
33.6%
Homeownership
88%
Avg Commute
27.9 min
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Median Age
61.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Tower-soudan Elementary has a median household income of $74,732. It is an area where 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $297,900, with a median rent of $630/month. The local poverty rate of 9.6% is relatively low. 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 |
|---|---|
| EMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Hamburg, MN | 7.1 |
| Prodeo Academy St. Paul Elementary Saint Paul, MN | 7.1 |
| SACRED HEART AREA SCHOOL Staples, MN | 7.1 |
| ST MARY OF MT. CARMEL SCHOOL Long Prairie, MN | 7.1 |
| VIKING ELEMENTARY Viking, MN | 7.1 |
| WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY Crookston, MN | 7.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Tower-soudan Elementary
What grades does Tower-soudan Elementary serve?
Tower-soudan Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Tower-soudan Elementary?
Tower-soudan Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 89 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Tower-soudan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Tower-soudan Elementary is 8.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Tower-soudan Elementary rank in MN?
Tower-soudan Elementary is ranked #604 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is Tower-soudan Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Tower-soudan Elementary has a composite rating of 7.1 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 Tower-soudan Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Tower-soudan Elementary has 54.5% math proficiency and 54.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Tower-soudan Elementary a charter school?
No, Tower-soudan Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Tower-soudan Elementary a Title I school?
No, Tower-soudan Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Tower-soudan Elementary?
70.8% of students at Tower-soudan 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- County Safety
- Average (251/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 89
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 10
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 70.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- St. Louis County
- Phone
- (218) 753-4040
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 1,947
- Schools in District
- 9
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,872
- District Rank
- #4 of 9
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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