Summary:
Elementary schools in the Lancaster Public School District come down to a single school: Lancaster Elementary, a PK–6 campus of 122 students located on Central Ave S in Lancaster, Minnesota. Because it is the only elementary school in the district, there is no local school-to-school comparison — everything is measured against the district, the state, and the school's own prior performance. The school serves a high-need population: 63.93% of students were eligible for free or reduced lunch in 2024–2025, and the student/teacher ratio was 14.8. The district as a whole ranks 354th of 458 in Minnesota, at the 23rd percentile with 1 star.
Lancaster Elementary consistently outperforms its own district. In both 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, its all-grade proficiency beat the district in Math, Reading, and Science — in 2025–2026 by +7.9 points in Math, +6.9 in Reading, and +4.7 in Science. Against the state, however, results are weaker and recently declining. In 2024–2025 the school was at or above the state in Math (51.56% vs 45.21%) and Science (26.67% vs 26.15%) and slightly below in Reading (47.69% vs 49.59%), earning 3 stars at the 53rd percentile (411 of 872). In 2025–2026 it fell to 602 of 869 — the 31st percentile and 2 stars — with all three subjects below state averages.
Grade-level results show where the change is concentrated. Fourth grade Reading is the bright spot at 50% proficient, above the state's 48.8%, though Reading slips to 44.4% in 5th grade and 38.9% in 6th, both below state figures. Math is the clearest concern: all-grade Math dropped from 51.56% to 35.6% year over year, and 5th and 6th grade Math both sit at 22.2% against state averages of 41.9% and 39.5%. Science is 22.2% versus the state's 25.5%. Third grade Math and Reading scores for 2025–2026 are suppressed by the state, so early-grade performance is unknown. With only 122 students, grade-level percentages can swing widely from year to year.
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