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Waterville Elementary

Q: Is Waterville Elementary a good school?

Waterville Elementary ranks 469 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

469^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 46% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Waterville Elementary is a small PK–4 school in Waterville, MN, serving 264 students as part of the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown district in a small southern Minnesota community. It is currently ranked in the 46th percentile statewide (2 stars), placing it in the middle of Minnesota elementary schools and slightly below its district’s overall 61st-percentile (3-star) rank. Historically, the school was much stronger, reaching the 84th percentile in 2018–2019 and 81st in 2020–2021, but recent years have mostly ranged from the 37th to 57th percentiles.

Academically, math is the clear bright spot. In 2025–2026, the school’s all-grade math proficiency was 55.5%, above its district’s 46.2% and the state’s 44.9%; among nearby schools, only Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Elementary (66.3%) scored higher. Reading is the main weakness: 42.0% proficiency, below the state’s 48.6% and close to the district’s 41.8%, and behind Cleveland Elementary (59.4%), Le Center Pre K-8 (51.2%), and Montgomery Pre K-8 (50.9%). Third grade is above state in both subjects, but fourth grade is below state in both, with the fourth-grade reading gap especially large at about 14 percentage points. The school’s overall rank is middle-of-the-pack nearby: higher than Hartley Elementary, Team Academy, Lincoln Elementary, and Jefferson Elementary, but below Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Elementary and Cleveland Elementary and roughly similar to Le Center Pre K-8 and Montgomery Pre K-8.

Context also matters. The school’s free/reduced lunch rate was 35.61% in 2024–2025, down from 41.43% in 2022–2023, and its student-teacher ratio improved to 12.5. The school’s low-income student group ranked in the 71st percentile (4 stars), well above its overall rank, while male students ranked lower, in the 32nd percentile (2 stars). Because the school is small, year-to-year cohort swings can be substantial, so a single grade’s results may not reflect a lasting trend. Nearby comparisons come with caveats, too: some schools serve different grade spans or much higher-poverty populations, and SW Metro Level 3 has only 11 students with state-suppressed test scores, which should not be read as zero. The main takeaway is that this small, historically strong school now sits mid-state, with math as a strength and reading—especially in fourth grade—as the clearest area to watch.

264

Students ?

12.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,980

Per pupil spending ?

35.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

92.5%

Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (MMR)

500 Paquin St E
Waterville, MN 56096-8888

(507) 362-4439

District: Waterville-Elysian-Morristown

Students who attend Waterville Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Morristown Elementary
	Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Junior
High:	Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Senior

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.9%

Hispanic:

4.9%

Two or more races:

3.4%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 36th percentile in 2023 → 46th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 46th (2026) from a 36th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg44%

Minnesota avg47%

469^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 22 pts since 2016

From top 32% (2016) to bottom 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

178^th of 458Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 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	49.6	469 of 869	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.1	550 of 872	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.2	382 of 881	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.2	537 of 845	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	72.9	236 of 858	72.5%	★★★★☆
2021	77.9	161 of 869	81.5%	★★★★☆
2019	79.6	141 of 870	83.8%	★★★★☆
2018	67.0	291 of 847	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	80.1	114 of 853	86.6%	★★★★☆
2016	68.8	270 of 848	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	93.2	4 of 840	99.5%	★★★★★
2014	87.0	32 of 826	96.1%	★★★★★
2013	87.1	38 of 824	95.4%	★★★★★
2012	80.4	83 of 820	89.9%	★★★★☆
2011	67.1	273 of 814	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.0	443 of 803	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	38.1	607 of 781	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	53.2	445 of 777	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	42.6	551 of 756	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	57.2	352 of 685	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	61.9	276 of 676	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2003	50.4	413 of 674	38.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	56.1	360 of 790	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.3	392 of 799	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.9	407 of 809	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.6	441 of 787	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	76.5	152 of 799	81.0%	★★★★☆
2021	70.9	206 of 783	73.7%	★★★★☆
2019	85.2	56 of 787	92.9%	★★★★★
2018	74.4	174 of 774	77.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	64.2	225 of 764	70.5%	★★★★☆
2025	63.9	236 of 764	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.4	255 of 793	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.0	404 of 774	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	88.0	28 of 663	95.8%	★★★★★
2021	70.1	159 of 683	76.7%	★★★★☆
2019	89.1	25 of 740	96.6%	★★★★★
2018	87.4	30 of 728	95.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	548 of 807	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.2	612 of 812	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	60.0	344 of 826	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.1	573 of 799	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	64.1	293 of 808	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	80.7	105 of 784	86.6%	★★★★☆
2019	67.9	263 of 798	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.1	376 of 779	51.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	68.4	130 of 515	74.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	25.0	588 of 710	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.9	642 of 714	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.3	496 of 730	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	19.9	639 of 712	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	55.9	321 of 725	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	72.4	156 of 710	78.0%	★★★★☆
2019	78.0	102 of 722	85.9%	★★★★☆
2018	53.1	349 of 712	51.0%	★★★☆☆

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)

Special Education (2019)75th percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)71st percentile+25 vs school

Female (2026)54th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)32nd percentile-14 vs school

White (2026)17th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math56%+11 vs state

Reading42%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Waterville 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)							MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)							Vaccination (2025-26)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science 8th 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 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Waterville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	500 Paquin St E	Waterville	56096	Le Sueur County	Waterville-Elysian-Morristown	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 362-4439	264	21	12.5	35.6%	240 (90.9%)	2 (0.8%)	13 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.4%)	49.6	469^th of 869 public elementary schools	46.0%		42.1	550^th of 872 public elementary schools	36.9%	81	49.2	34.5					42.0				65.6	44.8					55.5	92.5%	0%	$12,980
Team Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	220 17th Ave NE	Waseca	56093	Waseca County	Team Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(507) 833-8326	101	18	5.6	81.2%	53 (52.5%)	5 (5.0%)	36 (35.6%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.9%)	25.1	682^nd of 869 public elementary schools	21.5%		27.9	664^th of 872 public elementary schools	23.9%	18	40.0	29.4	40.0	20.0			31.9	20.0		20.0	50.0	35.3	30.0	0.0			29.8	72.7%	18.2%	$14,333
Hartley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-3	605 7th St NE	Waseca	56093	Waseca County	Waseca Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 835-2248	429	29	14.9	53.4%	308 (71.8%)	7 (1.6%)	80 (18.6%)	8 (1.9%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (4.9%)								(n/a)	34.8						34.8				35.5						35.5	97.7%	0%	$12,318
Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	110 E 3rd St	Janesville	56048	Waseca County	Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 234-5181	317	27	11.5	24.9%	287 (90.5%)	4 (1.3%)	12 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (4.1%)	79.8	152^nd of 869 public elementary schools	82.5%		77.6	171^st of 872 public elementary schools	80.4%	19	44.7	65.0	78.0	62.8			62.0	46.3		46.3	53.2	67.5	75.6	70.5			66.3	87.3%	12.7%	$13,369
Jefferson Elementary	Public	1-5	922 SW Home Place	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Faribault Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 333-6500	389	31	12.7	82.5%	75 (19.3%)	148 (38.0%)	134 (34.4%)	8 (2.1%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.4%)	14	756^th of 869 public elementary schools	13.0%		8.8	802^nd of 872 public elementary schools	8.0%	46	16.3	26.1	40.3				26.8	13.2		13.2	29.3	18.0	16.9				21.7			$15,329
Lincoln Elementary	Public	1-5	510 Lincoln Ave NW	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Faribault Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 333-6600	391	32	12.1	75.2%	122 (31.2%)	81 (20.7%)	146 (37.3%)	9 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.2%)	18.6	732^nd of 869 public elementary schools	15.8%		10.5	791^st of 872 public elementary schools	9.3%	59	35.0	32.0	36.0				34.3	11.4		11.4	33.1	19.2	16.9				23.8			$15,689
Le Center Pre K-8	Public	PK, KG-8	150 W Tyrone St	Le Center	56057	Le Sueur County	Tri-City United School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 357-6802	385	35	10.9	39.0%	217 (56.4%)	1 (0.3%)	151 (39.2%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.1%)	47.1	499^th of 869 public elementary schools	42.6%		61.7	353^rd of 872 public elementary schools	59.5%	146	34.1	39.5	70.3	60.0	50.0	53.7	51.2	24.3	19.5	21.8	31.7	47.4	37.8	28.9	43.6	51.2	40.1	89.5%	2.6%	$11,755
SW Metro Level 3	Public	K-8	150 W Tyrone St	Le Center	55379	Le Sueur County	Southwest Metro Intermediate 288	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(952) 567-8117	11	2	4.8	36.4%	8 (72.7%)	1 (9.1%)	1 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (9.1%)								(n/a)
Surad Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	128 8th Ave NW	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Surad Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(507) 805-2335	77	9	8.3	—	0 (0.0%)	77 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33.7	615^th of 869 public elementary schools	29.2%		22.9	693^rd of 872 public elementary schools	20.5%	78	6.7	15.4	27.3	40.0			20.4	27.3		27.3	53.3	57.1	27.3	40.0			46.0	25.9%	3.7%
Cleveland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	400 6th St	Cleveland	56017	Le Sueur County	Cleveland Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 931-5953	390	26	14.9	23.3%	349 (89.5%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.1%)	59.8	346^th of 869 public elementary schools	60.2%		70.9	258^th of 872 public elementary schools	70.4%	88	63.3	48.3	53.4	76.0			59.4	20.3		20.3	77.6	44.3	13.6	60.0			47.0	9.8%	0%	$10,475

Frequently Asked Questions about Waterville Elementary

How many students attend Waterville Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 264 students attended Waterville Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Waterville Elementary?

Students at Waterville Elementary are 91% White, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Waterville Elementary in?

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown

Is Waterville Elementary a good school?

Waterville Elementary ranks 469^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Waterville Elementary attend?

Students who attend Waterville Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Morristown Elementary
Middle : Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Junior
High : Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Senior

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2019–20 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

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

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 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.