Summary:
Elementary schools in the Cloquet Public School District in Minnesota serve students across three schools: Washington Elementary (PK–4, 495 students), Churchill Elementary (PK–4, 351 students), and Shared Time (PK–6, just 6 students). Together that is 852 students, with Washington the largest at about 58% of enrollment. Families choosing between the two main schools are choosing between a larger PK–4 campus and a smaller one with stronger academic results.
Churchill Elementary is the standout. It earns 4 stars in each of the last three years and ranks in the 75th percentile in 2025–26, compared with 3 stars and the 62nd percentile for Washington Elementary. Churchill also posts higher all-grade Math (64.9 vs. 57.8) and Reading (58.1 vs. 52.4), has a lower free/reduced-lunch rate (39.6% vs. 46.67%), and a smaller student-teacher ratio (10 vs. 13). Its advantage is biggest in 4th grade: Math 62.8 vs. 50.5 and Reading 61.0 vs. 44.3. Washington's bright spot is 3rd grade Reading at 61.0, ahead of Churchill's 54.9 and the state's 46.8 — but its 4th grade Reading of 44.3 falls below district and state.
Both schools slipped from 2024–25 to 2025–26 by roughly 4 points in each subject, far more than the district or state, which moved less than 1.2 points. Churchill's rank has drifted from the 85th percentile to the 75th over three years but it remains a 4-star school, while Washington moved 61st to 71st to 62nd. The district overall sits at the 61st percentile with 3 stars, yet both measured elementaries beat district and state averages in all-grade Math and Reading. Shared Time has no test, rank, free/reduced-lunch, or class-size data, so it cannot be compared — its lack of data is not a sign of weakness.
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