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Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element

Q: Is Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element a good school?

Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element ranks 258 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

258^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 70% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element is a small, rural PK–5 school in Hector, Minnesota, serving 186 students as part of the Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart district. In 2025–2026, it ranked 258th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools (70th percentile, 4 stars), well above its district's 53rd percentile, 3-star ranking. About half its students (50.54% in 2024–2025) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

In 2025–2026, the school outperformed both its district and the state in every tested subject: Math 58.1% proficient versus 38% district and 44.9% state; Reading 54.8% versus 49.2% and 48.6%; and Science 38.5% versus 19.4% and 25.5%. Science is its standout — the highest among nearby schools with reported data. Hutchinson Park Elementary and Hutchinson Tiger Elementary post higher Math and Reading scores, but they serve much lower-poverty populations (36.12% and 31.73% free/reduced lunch), and Tiger covers only grades 2–3. Against similar-poverty rural peers — Cedar Mountain Elementary (54.97%), GFW Elementary School (53.33%), and BOLD-Bird Island Elementary (49.62%) — Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart leads in all three subjects. Its student-teacher ratio of 11.4 is lower than Hutchinson Park, Hutchinson West Elementary, Tiger, and GFW.

The biggest thing to watch is a recent decline: the school ranked in the 95th percentile in 2023–2024 and 92nd in 2024–2025 — 5 stars both years — before falling to the 70th percentile. Proficiency dropped from 78.13% to 58.1% in Math, 69.79% to 54.8% in Reading, and 67.74% to 38.5% in Science. It remains above state averages, but by a narrower margin. Within the school, low-income students (78th percentile) and male students (84th percentile) rank above the overall school, while female students ranked 45th percentile, down sharply from 88th percentile. With only 186 students, grade-level results swing easily: 5th grade Reading (68%) and Science (38.5%) are strong, as is 4th grade Math (69.6%), while 3rd grade Math (52%) and 4th grade Reading (43.5%) fall below state.

186

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,748

Per pupil spending ?

50.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

220 3rd St W
Hector, MN 55342-8888

(320) 848-2233

District: Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart

Students who attend Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element usually attend:

High:

Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Seconda

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.9%

Hispanic:

16.1%

Two or more races:

5.9%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 94th percentile in 2016 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (54% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Above the Minnesota median (70th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 24 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school54%

District avg39%

Minnesota avg43%

258^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 30%▼ down 23 pts since 2016

From top 6% (2016) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

217^th of 458Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 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	69.6	258 of 869	70.3%	★★★★☆
2025	87.0	72 of 872	91.7%	★★★★★
2024	89.5	48 of 881	94.6%	★★★★★
2023	79.0	155 of 845	81.7%	★★★★☆
2022	74.7	198 of 858	76.9%	★★★★☆
2021	73.5	210 of 869	75.8%	★★★★☆
2019	81.7	116 of 870	86.7%	★★★★☆
2018	81.1	113 of 847	86.7%	★★★★☆
2017	89.8	14 of 853	98.4%	★★★★★
2016	84.7	54 of 848	93.6%	★★★★★
2015	79.2	120 of 840	85.7%	★★★★☆
2014	61.2	371 of 826	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	51.6	479 of 824	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	82.0	67 of 820	91.8%	★★★★★
2011	80.0	90 of 814	88.9%	★★★★☆
2010	63.1	330 of 803	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	48.1	504 of 781	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	66.1	256 of 777	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	76.7	123 of 756	83.7%	★★★★☆
2005	69.7	192 of 685	72.0%	★★★★☆
2004	47.5	427 of 676	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2003	56.8	343 of 674	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	48.5	432 of 790	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	83.2	97 of 799	87.9%	★★★★☆
2024	75.9	164 of 809	79.7%	★★★★☆
2023	67.3	266 of 787	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.2	331 of 799	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.5	299 of 783	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.7	98 of 787	87.5%	★★★★☆
2018	78.3	124 of 774	84.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	69.7	168 of 764	78.0%	★★★★☆
2025	90.6	27 of 764	96.5%	★★★★★
2024	97.5	3 of 793	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	91.4	21 of 774	97.3%	★★★★★
2022	66.4	185 of 663	72.1%	★★★★☆
2021	87.8	38 of 683	94.4%	★★★★★
2019	84.5	45 of 740	93.9%	★★★★★
2018	83.2	53 of 728	92.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	79.7	133 of 807	83.5%	★★★★☆
2025	86.3	60 of 812	92.6%	★★★★★
2024	95.8	6 of 826	99.3%	★★★★★
2023	83.1	95 of 799	88.1%	★★★★☆
2022	79.0	130 of 808	83.9%	★★★★☆
2021	74.5	165 of 784	79.0%	★★★★☆
2019	79.0	119 of 798	85.1%	★★★★☆
2018	80.7	103 of 779	86.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	61.8	252 of 710	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	84.8	63 of 714	91.2%	★★★★★
2024	84.6	55 of 730	92.5%	★★★★★
2023	69.5	178 of 712	75.0%	★★★★☆
2022	64.4	235 of 725	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.5	253 of 710	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.5	139 of 722	80.7%	★★★★☆
2018	74.6	136 of 712	80.9%	★★★★☆

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)

Male (2026)84th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)78th percentile+8 vs school

White (2026)65th percentile-6 vs school

Female (2026)45th percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math58%+13 vs state

Reading55%+6 vs state

Science38%+13 vs state

★

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Schools Near Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element

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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
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element	Public	PK, KG-5	220 3rd St W	Hector	55342	Renville County	Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 848-2233	186	16	11.4	50.5%	143 (76.9%)	2 (1.1%)	30 (16.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.9%)	69.6	258^th of 869 public elementary schools	70.3%		87	72^nd of 872 public elementary schools	91.7%	186	52.0	43.5	68.0		54.8	38.5	38.5	52.0	69.6	53.8		58.1	$14,748
Bold-Bird Island Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	701 S. 9th St	Olivia	56277	Renville County	Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 523-1031	260	24	10.9	49.6%	209 (80.4%)	1 (0.4%)	46 (17.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	42.2	544^th of 869 public elementary schools	37.4%		65.4	321^st of 872 public elementary schools	63.2%	223	36.4	29.1	42.4	46.9	37.2	29.4	29.4	43.2	65.5	33.3	28.1	45.7	$12,355
Cedar Mountain Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	231 4th Ave E	Franklin	55333	Renville County	Cedar Mountain School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 557-2251	171	18	9.6	55.0%	127 (74.3%)	1 (0.6%)	14 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.4%)	49.4	471^st of 869 public elementary schools	45.8%		70.8	260^th of 872 public elementary schools	70.2%	211	46.4	36.7	50.0		43.9	17.4	17.4	57.1	56.7	45.8		53.7	$14,595
GFW Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1157 E 13th St	Gibbon	55335	Sibley County	GFW Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 207-2216	240	17	13.7	53.3%	174 (72.5%)	1 (0.4%)	54 (22.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.2%)	49.6	467^th of 869 public elementary schools	46.3%		53.6	441^st of 872 public elementary schools	49.4%	26	28.6	50.0	54.5		44.2	34.4	34.4	45.7	52.8	37.5		45.6	$13,422
Hutchinson West Elementary	Public	PK, KG-1	875 School Rd	Hutchinson	55350	McLeod County	Hutchinson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 587-4470	431	35	12.1	39.9%	353 (81.9%)	4 (0.9%)	47 (10.9%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.6%)								(n/a)													$12,733
Hutchinson Tiger Elementary	Public	2-3	805 School Road SW	Hutchinson	55350	McLeod County	Hutchinson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 587-1122	375	27	13.6	31.7%	308 (82.1%)	3 (0.8%)	45 (12.0%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.0%)								(n/a)	63.0				63.0			72.8				72.8
Hutchinson Park Elementary	Public	4-5	100 Glen St S	Hutchinson	55350	McLeod County	Hutchinson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 587-2837	371	27	13.6	36.1%	292 (78.7%)	3 (0.8%)	57 (15.4%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (4.0%)	75.3	203^rd of 869 public elementary schools	76.6%		78.9	157^th of 872 public elementary schools	82.0%	46		58.9	58.0		58.5	32.2	32.2		67.5	58.9		63.5	$10,698

Frequently Asked Questions about Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element

How many students attend Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element?

In the 2024-25 school year, 186 students attended Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element.

Is Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element a good school?

Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element ranks 258^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element in?

Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart

What schools do graduates of Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element attend?

Students who attend Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element usually go on to attend:

High : Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Seconda

What is the racial makeup of Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element?

Students at Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element are 77% White, 16% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 1% African American.

Rate Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element!

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MNMinnesota Elementary School Rankings

MNMinnesota District Rankings

Schools in Hector, 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.