Best Public Schools in Lakeland, MN

The city of Lakeland, Minnesota has one standout elementary school, Afton-Lakeland Elementary, which has consistently ranked in the top 20% of Minnesota elementary schools over the past 3 years, reaching as high as 41st out of 872 schools in the 2024-2025 school year. This high-performing school significantly outperforms the Stillwater Area Public Schools district and the state of Minnesota in both math and reading proficiency across all grade levels.

Afton-Lakeland Elementary has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 17.2, which is likely contributing to its strong academic performance. Additionally, only 16.85% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a relatively affluent student population. In the 2024-2025 school year, 76.99% of Afton-Lakeland students were proficient or better in math, compared to 58.25% for the district and 45.21% statewide. Similarly, 71.68% of Afton-Lakeland students were proficient or better in reading, compared to 60.96% for the district and 49.59% statewide.

Overall, Afton-Lakeland Elementary appears to be an exemplary school that is providing a high-quality education to its students. The data suggests the school is well-positioned to continue its strong academic performance and maintain its status as a top-ranked elementary school in Minnesota.