Excellent
#5 of 1,992 schools in MN
Top 1% in state
West Central Area N. El.
Elementary School · West Central Area · Elbow Lake, MN
An elementary school in Elbow Lake, MN where students score 29 points above what's typical for similar communities.
411 1ST ST SE, Elbow Lake, MN 56531
- Math 82% proficient (2022)
- Reading 62% proficient (2022)
- 9.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at West Central Area N. El. score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MN average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 5 points since 2019, to 72% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 65% (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
46.2%
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 West Central Area N. El. 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 41Car-Dependent
- Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low213/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$73,162
Median home value
$151,600
Median rent
$785/mo
College educated
19.9%
Homeownership
75.5%
Poverty rate
12.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 56531; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 in WEST CENTRAL AREA
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Area S. El.Enrollment path unverified | 6.0 | PK–4 | Not available | 125 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
West Central Area
- Schools in district
- 5
- Rank in district
- #1 of 4
- District spending per student
- $14,757NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
West Central Area N. El. is listed in WEST CENTRAL AREA; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About West Central Area N. El.
West Central Area N. El. is a public elementary school in Elbow Lake, MN, part of West Central Area, serving approximately 156 students in grades Pre-K-4th with a 9.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10 and ranks #5 of 1,992 schools in MN.
State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about West Central Area N. El.
What grades does West Central Area N. El. serve?
West Central Area N. El. serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
How many students attend West Central Area N. El.?
West Central Area N. El. has an enrollment of approximately 156 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Central Area N. El.?
The student-teacher ratio at West Central Area N. El. 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 West Central Area N. El. rank in MN?
West Central Area N. El. ranks #5 of 1,992 schools in MN.
What is West Central Area N. El.'s MySchoolScout rating?
West Central Area N. El. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 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 West Central Area N. El.?
Based on loaded state assessment records, West Central Area N. El. has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is West Central Area N. El. a charter school?
No, West Central Area N. El. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is West Central Area N. El. a Title I school?
No, West Central Area N. El. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Central Area N. El.?
46.2% of students at West Central Area N. El. 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
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 156
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Grant County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.2%
- Phone
- (218) 685-7500
- Area population (ZIP 56531)
- 1,948
- Area average commute
- 22.2 min
- Area median age
- 41.8
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 56531; 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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