Summary:
The Albert Lea Public School District has one middle school, Southwest Middle School, serving grades 6-8. The school's academic performance has been a concern, with consistently lower proficiency rates in Math and Reading compared to the state averages. Over the past three years, the school's statewide ranking has declined, and it is currently rated 1 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger, indicating it is performing below average compared to other middle schools in Minnesota.
Southwest Middle School's Math proficiency rate for all grades was 17.62% in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to the state average of 45.21%. Similarly, the school's Reading proficiency rate for all grades was 33.95%, compared to the state average of 49.59%. This trend of underperformance has contributed to the school's declining statewide ranking, from 367 out of 529 Minnesota middle schools in 2022-2023 to 421 out of 519 in 2024-2025.
The data also reveals that Southwest Middle School has a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, at 60.44% in the 2023-2024 school year. This suggests the school serves a population with significant economic challenges, which may be a contributing factor to the academic performance issues. However, the school has a relatively low student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8 to 1, indicating it may have the resources to provide more individualized attention and support for students. Addressing the specific instructional practices, curriculum, and support systems in place at the school could be crucial in improving student achievement and the school's overall performance.
Thank you for your feedback!