Summary:
Garfield, Minnesota is home to a single public school — Garfield Elementary — an elementary school serving grades K–5 with 117 students, part of the Alexandria Public School District, which ranks 55th of 458 Minnesota districts (88th percentile, 4 stars).
That one school stands out for strong academic results. In 2025–2026, Garfield Elementary exceeded both its district and the state in Math, Reading, and Science: 66.7% proficiency in Math (vs. 54.8% district / 44.9% state), 60.3% in Reading (vs. 55.3% / 48.6%), and 38.9% in Science (vs. 31.1% / 25.5%). The brightest spot is 5th grade Math at 83.3%, far ahead of the district's 61.3% and the state's 41.9%. 4th grade Reading was also strong at 68.8%. Results are uneven by grade, though: 3rd and 4th grade Math fell below the district average. In statewide school rankings, Garfield placed 116th of 881 (2023–2024), 57th of 872 (2024–2025), and 192nd of 869 (2025–2026), still within the top 22% of Minnesota schools.
Families should know that proficiency declined in all three subjects from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, with Math and Reading each down about 10 percentage points while the district held steady or improved slightly. With only 117 students, each grade-level figure reflects a small number of students, so a few students can shift percentages by several points; the drop may reflect cohort changes rather than a lasting trend. Free/reduced lunch is 17.09% and the student-teacher ratio is 12.8, offering useful context without direct district or state comparators.
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