Fairmont Area School District

The Fairmont Area School District in Minnesota serves roughly 1,846 students across two schools: Fairmont Elementary School (PK–6, 1,007 students) and Fairmont Junior/Senior High School (7–12, 839 students). The district ranks 232 of 458 in Minnesota — 49th percentile, 2 stars — placing it in the middle of the state. Both schools are currently 2-star schools: the elementary sits at the 36th percentile and the high school at the 48th percentile, down from 59th percentile and 3 stars in 2023–2024.

Comparing the two, the elementary school is the stronger performer in math and reading. Its all-grade math score is 39.1 and reading is 42.2, ahead of the high school's 36.8 and 38.0, even though the elementary has a higher free/reduced lunch rate (59.09% vs 46.96%) and a smaller student/teacher ratio (15.3 vs 19.5). Both schools still trail state averages in math (44.9) and reading (48.6). Science is the district's bright spot: the high school's all-grade science score of 27.5 is the only all-grade subject in either school above the state's 25.5, and both schools improved sharply in science year over year. The high school's 8th grade stands out, with math at 47.1 vs state 42.3 and science at 22.7 vs state 16.7.

Families should note a few concerns. The elementary school has a steep drop in 5th and 6th grade: math falls from 55.6 in 3rd grade and 51.7 in 4th to 30.0 in 5th and 20.3 in 6th, well below the state's 39.5 in 6th grade, and 6th grade reading is 35.5 vs state 53.4. At the high school, graduation is 85.0%, essentially at the state's 84.9%, but the dropout rate is 10.7% against a state rate of 4.2%. Priority areas are elementary 5th–6th grade math and reading, high school reading and 11th grade math, and dropout prevention.