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Needs Improvement

#1986 of 1,992 schools in MN

Willow Creek Middle

Middle School · ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2425 11TH AVE SE, Rochester, MN 55904

Enrollment

834

Student-Teacher

17.7:1

Score

2.5

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Minnesota schools

#1,986 of 1,992

In Rochester

#38 of 38

public schools

In district

#34 of 34

ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Willow Creek Middle

2.5/10

Middle School in Rochester · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Pinewood Elementary

4.6/10

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

Franklin Elementary

4.3/10

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

About Willow Creek Middle

Willow Creek Middle is a public middle school in Rochester, MN, part of ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. Willow Creek Middle serves approximately 834 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Willow Creek Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,986 of 1,992 schools in MN.

Structured state assessment records for Willow Creek Middle show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares1.9 pts below district
  • This school 2.5 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 4.4
  • MN avg 5.8

What Parents Should Know

43% of students at Willow Creek Middle were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress1.9Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.29 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics2.7Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency16% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency28% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency22% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-23.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile9th
Resources & Environment3.3Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,804
Chronic Absenteeism43.2%

Willow Creek Middle — Students at Willow Creek Middle score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

42%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 43.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 52.1% (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
67%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
59%
ELA
73%
2011
Math
65%
ELA
70%
2012
Math
49%
ELA
51%
2013
Math
50%
ELA
51%
2014
Math
52%
ELA
54%
2015
Math
56%
ELA
61%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
54%
2017
Math
41%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
36%
ELA
46%
2019
Math
36%
ELA
46%
2020*
Math
19%
ELA
36%
2021*
Math
19%
ELA
36%
2022
Math
16%
ELA
28%

* 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: 1.9/10.

How Willow Creek Middle Compares

See how Willow Creek Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
2.5/10
0th percentile in MN
Academic
2.7/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
1.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
3.3/10
Needs Improvement
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
42%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
47 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
43.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

2425 11TH AVE SE, Rochester, MN 55904

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Willow Creek Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Longfellow 45-15 Districtwide Elem (rated 8.2/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is RPS Online Elementary School (rated 7.9/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, RPS Online Middle School (rated 7.1/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Rochester, see our Rochester schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
PINEWOOD ELEMENTARY Rochester 0.2 mi 4.6
FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY Rochester 0.7 mi 4.3
Montessori at Franklin Elementary Rochester 0.7 mi 6.8
Longfellow 45-15 Districtwide Elem Rochester 0.9 mi 8.2
RPS Online Elementary School Rochester 0.9 mi 7.9
RPS Online Middle School Rochester 0.9 mi 7.1
RPS Online High School Rochester 0.9 mi 3.2
Mayo Senior High Rochester 1.2 mi 5.9
Rochester Phoenix Academy Rochester 1.1 mi 6.3
CARE & TREATMENT HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND Rochester 1.1 mi
Care & Treatment at ESC Rochester 1.1 mi
Rochester Alternative Learning Cntr Rochester 1.3 mi 5.2
CREDIT RECOVERY Rochester 1.3 mi
Rochester ALC Recovery Program Rochester 1.3 mi
Lincoln K-8 District-Wide School Rochester 1.6 mi 6.6
Rochester Academy-Idp Living(RAIL) Rochester 1.7 mi 5.8
Middle School Right Fit Rochester 1.7 mi
ROCHESTER MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY Rochester 1.6 mi 3.9
ROCHESTER STEM ACADEMY Rochester 1.6 mi 6.0
AMBASSADOR ACADEMY Rochester 1.6 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 55904 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$76,434

Median Home Value

$237,200

Median Rent

$1,253/mo

Population

29,682

College Educated

37.2%

Homeownership

65.8%

Avg Commute

16.8 min

Poverty Rate

10.5%

Median Age

35.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
JOHN ADAMS MIDDLE Rochester, MN 2.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Willow Creek Middle

What grades does Willow Creek Middle serve?

Willow Creek Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Willow Creek Middle?

Willow Creek Middle has an enrollment of approximately 834 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Willow Creek Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Willow Creek Middle is 17.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Willow Creek Middle rank in MN?

Willow Creek Middle ranks #1,986 of 1,992 schools in MN.

What is Willow Creek Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Willow Creek Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.5 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 Willow Creek Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Willow Creek Middle has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Willow Creek Middle a charter school?

No, Willow Creek Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Willow Creek Middle a Title I school?

No, Willow Creek Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Willow Creek Middle?

42.0% of students at Willow Creek 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
55 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
834
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
47
Free/Reduced Lunch
42.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Olmsted County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
43.2%

District

ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
District Enrollment
17,342
Schools in District
49
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,804
District Rank
#34 of 34

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