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Excellent

#210 of 1,992 schools in MN

Top 11% 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

8.0

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Minnesota schools

#210 of 1,992

In Tower

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#2 of 9

ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Academic performance

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Tower-soudan Elementary

8.0/10

Elementary School in Tower · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Vermilion Country School

6.1/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Mesabi East Elementary

6.0/10

19.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Tower-soudan Elementary

Tower-soudan Elementary is a public elementary school in Tower, MN, part of ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. Tower-soudan Elementary serves approximately 89 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 8.9:1 student-teacher ratio.

Tower-soudan Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #210 of 1,992 schools in MN. Structured state assessment records for Tower-soudan Elementary show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares1.2 pts above district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.8
  • MN avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

At 89 students, Tower-soudan Elementary is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 8.9:1 students to teachers, Tower-soudan Elementary sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Tower-soudan Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.08 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency54.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency55% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)29% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+25.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,872
Chronic Absenteeism34.8%

Tower-soudan Elementary — Students at Tower-soudan Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

70.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 66.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 60.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
34.5%
ELA
64.5%
2011
Math
95%
ELA
74.5%
2012
Math
84.5%
ELA
64.5%
2013
Math
74.5%
ELA
54.5%
2014
Math
74.5%
ELA
54.5%
2015
Math
64.5%
ELA
64.5%
2016
Math
64.5%
ELA
64.5%
2017
Math
90%
ELA
69.5%
2018
Math
64.5%
ELA
64.5%
2019
Math
64.5%
ELA
64.5%
2020*
Math
44.5%
ELA
44.5%
2021*
Math
44.5%
ELA
44.5%
2022
Math
54.5%
ELA
54.5%

* 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: 7.3/10.

How Tower-soudan Elementary Compares

See how Tower-soudan Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.0/10
90th percentile in MN
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
7.3/10
Very Good
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
71%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
10 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
34.8%

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. North Star Elementary (rated 7.4/10, 26.5 miles away, in nearby Eveleth), with a comparable rating. Another option is Laurentian Elementary (rated 6.8/10, 25.6 miles away, in nearby Eveleth), a more accessible option. Additionally, WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY (rated 6.7/10, 20.2 miles away, in nearby Ely), a more accessible option. 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 6.1
MESABI EAST ELEMENTARY Aurora 19.1 mi 6.0
MESABI EAST SECONDARY Aurora 19.1 mi 5.3
BABBITT ELEMENTARY Babbitt 16.4 mi 6.0
NORTHEAST RANGE SECONDARY Babbitt 16.4 mi 6.1
NLC Transition Program Virginia 22.9 mi
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Virginia 23.2 mi 6.0
Parkview Elementary Virginia 23.2 mi 6.5
NORTHLAND LEARNING CENTER 020 Virginia 24.1 mi 6.7
NORTHLAND LEARNING CENTER 010 Virginia 24.1 mi 8.1
Rock Ridge Secondary Virginia 25.3 mi 6.8
Laurentian Elementary Eveleth 25.6 mi 6.8
EAST RANGE ACADEMY OF TECH-SCIENCE Mountain Iron 24.5 mi 5.6
WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY Ely 20.2 mi 6.7
MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL Ely 20.2 mi 8.1
Memorial Middle School Ely 20.2 mi 5.7
North Star Elementary Eveleth 26.5 mi 7.4
MERRITT ELEMENTARY Mountain Iron 24.9 mi 6.7
MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL SECONDARY Mountain Iron 24.9 mi 6.8
CHERRY ELEMENTARY Iron 34.5 mi 5.2

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

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
FINLAYSON ELEMENTARY Finlayson, MN 8.0
Lincoln Elementary - Ivanhoe Ivanhoe, MN 8.0
ST ELIZABETH ANN SETON SCHOOL Saint Cloud, MN 8.0
Discovery Woods Brainerd, MN 7.9
KING OF KINGS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Roseville, MN 8.1
RPS Online Elementary School Rochester, MN 7.9

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 ranks #210 of 1,992 schools in MN.

What is Tower-soudan Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Tower-soudan Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Tower-soudan Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Tower-soudan Elementary has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
27 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.8%

District

ST. LOUIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
District Enrollment
1,947
Schools in District
9
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,872
District Rank
#2 of 9

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