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United South Central Elementary

Q: Is United South Central Elementary a good school?

United South Central Elementary ranks 159 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

159^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 82% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

United South Central Elementary is a PK–6 public school at 600 11th St SW in Wells, Minnesota, serving 420 students as the only elementary in the United South Central Schools district. In 2025–2026 it ranked 159th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools — the 82nd percentile, 4 stars — its best showing in at least a decade and well ahead of its own district's 59th percentile. Proficiency rates were 66.8% in math, 60.8% in reading, and 32.8% in science, clearing state averages (44.9%, 48.6%, 25.5%) by 21.9, 12.2, and 7.3 points respectively.

Among nearby schools, United South Central Elementary leads all six comparisons in every subject. Maple River Elementary is next best at the 57th percentile and Sibley Elementary lowest at the 15th. The math gap over Maple River Elementary is 11.3 points; the reading gap over Blue Earth Area Elementary is 11.6 points. Notably, Alden-Conger Elementary, just 9 miles away, posts the lowest math result in the group at 23.2%. USC's free/reduced lunch rate of 45.24% is higher than at Maple River (40.8%) and Alden-Conger (34.5%), so its results are not simply a reflection of intake.

The trajectory is the standout story: from the 56th percentile in 2022–2023 to the 82nd now, a 218-place climb, with math up 10.9 points over three years. Two areas to watch are a 6th-grade math dip to 37.5% — below the 39.5% state mark, versus 74.6% to 75.9% in grades 3–5 — and science sliding from 50.0% to 41.3% to 32.8%, though that subject is tested only in 5th grade and remains above state and district levels. The school also serves its low-income students exceptionally well (93rd percentile) and its special education students strongly (76th percentile).

420

Students ?

12.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,465

Per pupil spending ?

45.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

600 11th St SW
Wells, MN 56097-0312

(507) 553-5810

District: United South Central Schools

Students who attend United South Central Elementary usually attend:

High:

United South Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.6%

Hispanic:

17.9%

Two or more races:

4.5%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare United South Central Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 73rd percentile in 2016 → 82nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (60% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of Minnesota elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school60%

District avg46%

Minnesota avg43%

159^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 18%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to top 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

186^th of 458United South Central Schools among Minnesota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	78.9	159 of 869	81.7%	★★★★☆
2025	73.4	224 of 872	74.3%	★★★★☆
2024	70.3	253 of 881	71.3%	★★★★☆
2023	59.6	371 of 845	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.9	270 of 858	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.4	263 of 869	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.2	292 of 870	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.0	335 of 847	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	76.3	176 of 853	79.4%	★★★★☆
2016	72.2	227 of 848	73.2%	★★★★☆
2015	74.6	191 of 840	77.3%	★★★★☆
2014	74.9	171 of 826	79.3%	★★★★☆
2013	67.6	280 of 824	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	65.2	312 of 820	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	47.4	536 of 814	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	55.6	452 of 803	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	57.0	400 of 781	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	70.3	202 of 777	74.0%	★★★★☆
2006	72.5	168 of 756	77.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	70.7	218 of 790	72.4%	★★★★☆
2025	74.9	177 of 799	77.8%	★★★★☆
2024	76.6	157 of 809	80.6%	★★★★☆
2023	66.1	278 of 787	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.8	228 of 799	71.5%	★★★★☆
2021	66.1	273 of 783	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.9	207 of 787	73.7%	★★★★☆
2018	72.1	200 of 774	74.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	93.8	9 of 256	96.5%	★★★★★
2024	85.8	19 of 249	92.4%	★★★★★
2023	72.4	38 of 214	82.2%	★★★★☆
2019	71.3	42 of 219	80.8%	★★★★☆
2018	60.9	71 of 220	67.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	86.0	51 of 764	93.3%	★★★★★
2025	78.2	106 of 764	86.1%	★★★★☆
2024	86.1	54 of 793	93.2%	★★★★★
2023	75.1	138 of 774	82.2%	★★★★☆
2022	85.4	44 of 663	93.4%	★★★★★
2021	73.4	130 of 683	81.0%	★★★★☆
2019	74.7	132 of 740	82.2%	★★★★☆
2018	79.7	79 of 728	89.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	82.4	102 of 807	87.4%	★★★★☆
2025	66.3	277 of 812	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.4	381 of 826	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.6	444 of 799	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.0	319 of 808	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.2	279 of 784	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.5	378 of 798	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.0	435 of 779	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	64.9	139 of 579	76.0%	★★★★☆
2025	56.6	208 of 562	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.0	268 of 572	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.6	203 of 500	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.8	139 of 417	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.5	319 of 515	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.2	278 of 463	40.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	65.8	215 of 710	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.2	308 of 714	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.3	353 of 730	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	38.7	474 of 712	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.0	342 of 725	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.9	304 of 710	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.3	322 of 722	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.3	375 of 712	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2026)96th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)93rd percentile+12 vs school

Male (2026)87th percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2026)76th percentile-6 vs school

Female (2026)72nd percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)70th percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math67%+22 vs state

Reading61%+12 vs state

Science33%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near United South Central Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)					MCA-IV Science (2026)		MCA-III Math (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-IV Reading 4th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 5th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
United South Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	600 11th St SW	Wells	56097	Faribault County	United South Central Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 553-5810	420	34	12.3	45.2%	326 (77.6%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (17.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.5%)	78.9	159^th of 869 public elementary schools	81.7%		73.4	224^th of 872 public elementary schools	74.3%	65	64.4	53.8	60.3	64.6	60.8	32.8	32.8	74.6	75.0	75.9	37.5	66.8	$12,465
Alden-Conger Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	215 N Broadway	Alden	56009	Freeborn County	Alden-Conger Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 874-3240	229	23	10.0	34.5%	206 (90.0%)	2 (0.9%)	11 (4.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.9%)	21.1	714^th of 869 public elementary schools	17.8%		41	563^rd of 872 public elementary schools	35.4%	151	36.1	44.4	32.3	23.1	33.8	12.9	12.9	44.4	33.3	9.7	5.1	23.2	$10,670
Maple River Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	801 Central Ave S	Mapleton	56065	Blue Earth County	Maple River School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(507) 524-3918	424	34	12.5	40.8%	370 (87.3%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (6.8%)	58.3	370^th of 869 public elementary schools	57.4%		64.4	329^th of 872 public elementary schools	62.3%	41	37.8	45.7	60.6		47.6	28.8	28.8	67.6	56.5	40.9		55.5
Sibley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1501 W Front St	Albert Lea	56007	Freeborn County	Albert Lea Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 379-5080	275	23	11.9	66.5%	143 (52.0%)	11 (4.0%)	55 (20.0%)	54 (19.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.4%)	16.3	741^st of 869 public elementary schools	14.7%		21.5	705^th of 872 public elementary schools	19.2%	36	24.5	24.4	29.0		25.6	12.9	12.9	26.5	40.9	18.2		29.4	$11,409
Lakeview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	902 Abbott St	Albert Lea	56007	Freeborn County	Albert Lea Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 379-5020	400	28	14.2	52.3%	240 (60.0%)	8 (2.0%)	105 (26.3%)	25 (6.3%)	6 (1.5%)	2 (0.5%)	14 (3.5%)	44.3	523^rd of 869 public elementary schools	39.8%		46.3	508^th of 872 public elementary schools	41.7%	15	38.2	40.6	32.4		37.0	16.2	16.2	70.6	57.6	38.2		55.4	$14,996
Blue Earth Area Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	315 E 6th St	Blue Earth	56013	Faribault County	Blue Earth Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 526-3090	515	33	15.4	52.8%	374 (72.6%)	3 (0.6%)	122 (23.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.7%)	47.6	492^nd of 869 public elementary schools	43.4%		42.2	549^th of 872 public elementary schools	37.0%	57	52.3	51.7	42.7		49.2	15.1	15.1	72.1	43.8	20.0		46.4	$11,825
Hawthorne Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 E Hawthorne	Albert Lea	56007	Freeborn County	Albert Lea Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 379-4960	400	29	13.7	63.0%	195 (48.8%)	19 (4.8%)	81 (20.3%)	79 (19.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.3%)	23.9	690^th of 869 public elementary schools	20.6%		19.2	717^th of 872 public elementary schools	17.8%	27	46.2	35.1	27.5		36.3	3.9	3.9	46.2	36.8	6.1		30.4	$12,375

Frequently Asked Questions about United South Central Elementary

Is United South Central Elementary a good school?

United South Central Elementary ranks 159^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of United South Central Elementary attend?

Students who attend United South Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : United South Central High School

What district is United South Central Elementary in?

United South Central Schools

How many students attend United South Central Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 420 students attended United South Central Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of United South Central Elementary?

Students at United South Central Elementary are 78% White, 18% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

Rate United South Central Elementary!

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Schools in Wells, MN

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresNewSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.