Ely Public School District

Ely Public School District, MN serves 528 students in three schools: Washington Elementary (PK–5, 201 students), Memorial Middle School (6–8, 146 students), and Memorial High School (9–12, 181 students). There are no alternative schools. The district itself ranks 113th of 458 Minnesota districts — 75th percentile, 4 stars — putting it in the top quartile statewide, but that strong overall rating hides large differences among the three schools.

Memorial High School is the standout, ranked 67th of 473 high schools (86th percentile, 4 stars) after improving from the 74th to the 86th percentile over three years. Its reading proficiency is 73.5% versus the state's 48.6%, science is 52.9% versus 25.5%, and graduation is 97.9% versus 84.9% with a 0.0% dropout rate. Its weakness is severe: math proficiency of just 12.5%, versus 44.9% statewide, and 11th-grade math at 12.5% versus 35.3%. Washington Elementary is the most balanced school, beating both district and state in all three subjects (math 53.3%, reading 51.0%, science 34.3%), with the lowest student/teacher ratio at 13.5 and the highest free/reduced-lunch rate at 38.81%. Its results swing widely, though — 55th to 78th to 64th percentile across three years, dropping from 4 stars to 3, with reading falling from 65.0% to 51.0%.

Memorial Middle School is the district's weakest link, below district and state in every subject (math 38.3%, reading 42.9%, science 14.9% against a district science score of 31.9% and state 25.5%). It has held 3 stars for three years, sits at the 56th percentile, and has the highest student/teacher ratio at 18.1. Math is the district-wide concern: above state in elementary, below in middle school, and far below in high school. The district's strong science average is carried by the high school and elementary, not the middle school.