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Discovery Woods

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-6

797^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 8% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Discovery Woods is a small PK–6 public elementary school in Brainerd, MN, serving 101 students and operating as its own district. In 2025–2026, it ranked 797th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools—the 8th percentile—with 0 stars, while its district ranked 430th of 458 districts, the 6th percentile. Its recent history has generally been low-ranked, with a brief high of 38th percentile in 2016–2017 before falling to 8th percentile.

Academically, 2025–2026 results show Discovery Woods at 11.8% math proficiency vs 44.9% statewide and 30.3% reading vs 48.6% statewide; science was suppressed by the state, so it is unknown, not zero. It is lowest in both subjects among nearby schools: math is 26.9 points below the lowest nearby school (Garfield Elementary, 38.7%) and 59.9 points below the highest (Lowell Elementary, 71.7%); reading is 6.7 points below the lowest nearby and 32.0 points below the highest. Visible grade-level scores are also below state: 3rd grade math 20% vs 57.9%, 4th grade math 20% vs 55.2%, and 4th grade reading 30% vs 48.8%. It has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (64.36%) and lowest student–teacher ratio (8.9) in the comparison group, yet the weakest outcomes. Other high-poverty Brainerd schools—Riverside Elementary, Harrison Elementary, and Garfield Elementary—still score higher, suggesting poverty alone does not fully explain the gap.

Math is the most persistent weakness: 12.24% in 2022–23, 15.22% in 2023–24, 25.0% in 2024–25, and 11.8% in 2025–26, all far below state. Reading reached 50.0% in 2023–24—essentially the state average of 49.85%—but fell to 41.67% and then 30.3%. Science has swung widely and is currently suppressed. At the district level, Discovery Woods is in the bottom decile, while nearby Pequot Lakes Public Schools (93rd percentile), Pillager Public School District (68th), Crosby-Ironton Public School District (66th), and Brainerd Public School District (46th) rank much higher. Because enrollment is only 101, year-to-year swings and suppressed values should be interpreted cautiously, but low math and bottom-decile rankings across multiple years remain meaningful signals.

101

Students ?

8.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,692

Per pupil spending ?

64.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

604 N 7th St
Brainerd, MN 56401-8888

(218) 828-8200

District: Discovery Woods

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.2%

Two or more races:

17.8%

Hispanic:

5.0%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 22nd percentile in 2014 → 8th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (21% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (8th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 14 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school21%

District avg21%

Minnesota avg43%

797^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 8%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From bottom 16% (2016) to bottom 8% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

430^th of 458Discovery Woods 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	10.3	797 of 869	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	29.0	658 of 872	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.4	658 of 881	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.8	679 of 845	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.9	674 of 869	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.5	724 of 870	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.5	725 of 847	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	48.6	526 of 853	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	22.5	709 of 848	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	31.2	645 of 826	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	32.9	596 of 787	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	30.0	575 of 740	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.5	527 of 728	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	24.2	615 of 730	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.1	679 of 712	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.5	675 of 710	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.2	709 of 722	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.5	710 of 712	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2019)24th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2019)22nd percentile+6 vs school

White (2024)16th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading30%-18 vs state

Math12%-33 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Excellent, I strongly recommend this school. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, September 6, 2017

A wonderful caring and enriching environment for our two children. Cool old building, and their teacher, Crystal, is incredible. Close Quote

Schools Near Discovery Woods

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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 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	Vaccination: Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Discovery Woods	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	604 N 7th St	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Discovery Woods	Yes	No	No	Yes	(218) 828-8200	101	11	8.9	64.4%	77 (76.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (17.8%)	10.3	797^th of 869 public elementary schools	8.3%		29	658^th of 872 public elementary schools	24.5%	139		30.0			30.3			20.0	20.0			11.8			$9,692
Lowell Elementary	Public	K-4	704 3rd Ave NE	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 454-6550	355	26	13.9	39.7%	314 (88.5%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (3.4%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.5%)	82.4	122^nd of 869 public elementary schools	86.0%		84.4	100^th of 872 public elementary schools	88.5%	22	62.1	62.5			62.3			69.2	73.8			71.7	83%	5.7%	$11,809
Riverside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	220 3rd St NW	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 454-6800	407	40	10.2	57.5%	344 (84.5%)	4 (1.0%)	15 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.5%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (8.1%)	36.6	589^th of 869 public elementary schools	32.2%		44.4	525^th of 872 public elementary schools	39.8%	64	36.8	45.2			41.4			45.6	39.6			42.3	82.7%	6.7%	$15,397
Harrison Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1515 Oak St	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 454-6500	230	19	12.1	59.1%	200 (87.0%)	2 (0.9%)	7 (3.0%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.4%)	17 (7.4%)	48.3	486^th of 869 public elementary schools	44.1%		45.3	518^th of 872 public elementary schools	40.6%	32	49.0	37.8			43.8			60.8	42.2			52.1	69%	11.9%	$14,382
Garfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1120 10th Ave NE	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 454-6450	250	21	12.1	52.4%	203 (81.2%)	2 (0.8%)	8 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (10.0%)	33.3	618^th of 869 public elementary schools	28.9%		26.9	674^th of 872 public elementary schools	22.7%	56	45.5	29.7			37.0			60.0	20.3			38.7	69.4%	0%	$12,674
Baxter Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	12191 Jasperwood Drive	Baxter	56425	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 454-6400	506	34	14.9	31.8%	462 (91.3%)	9 (1.8%)	11 (2.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.8%)	75.4	198^th of 869 public elementary schools	77.2%		68.8	282^nd of 872 public elementary schools	67.7%	84	59.1	64.9			62.0			70.0	55.9			62.9	82.9%	4.9%	$11,504
Nisswa Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5533 Lakers Lane	Nisswa	56468	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 961-6860	249	18	13.8	27.3%	233 (93.6%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.6%)	76.9	182^nd of 869 public elementary schools	79.1%		75.4	203^rd of 872 public elementary schools	76.7%	21	61.4	53.6	63.6		58.5	31.8	31.8	64.3	74.1	63.6		68.4	70.6%	7.8%	$12,324
Pillager Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	323 E 2nd St S	Pillager	56473	Cass County	Pillager Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 746-2110	521	40	12.9	41.5%	488 (93.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.6%)	57.1	383^rd of 869 public elementary schools	55.9%		65.8	315^th of 872 public elementary schools	63.9%	68	46.7	49.5			48.1			54.3	58.8			56.5	81.7%	18.3%	$11,169
Cuyuna Range Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	509 6th Ave NE	Crosby	56441	Crow Wing County	Crosby-Ironton Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 545-8803	533	40	13.4	47.7%	492 (92.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.5%)	43.1	538^th of 869 public elementary schools	38.1%		46.5	506^th of 872 public elementary schools	42.0%	32	30.2	46.1	44.1	46.3	42.2	22.2	22.2	49.2	35.6	35.8	45.1	41.4	85.7%	7.1%	$12,452
Eagle View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	6539 County Rd 11	Breezy Point	56472	Crow Wing County	Pequot Lakes Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 562-6100	557	44	12.5	36.6%	530 (95.2%)	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.3%)	3 (0.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.1%)	77.2	177^th of 869 public elementary schools	79.6%		80.2	147^th of 872 public elementary schools	83.1%	30	62.6	55.0			58.7			72.0	64.9			68.3	55.5%	10%	$10,458

Frequently Asked Questions about Discovery Woods

What district is Discovery Woods in?

Discovery Woods

How many students attend Discovery Woods?

In the 2024-25 school year, 101 students attended Discovery Woods.

What is the racial makeup of Discovery Woods?

Students at Discovery Woods are 76% White, 18% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic.

Is Discovery Woods a good school?

Discovery Woods ranks in the bottom 8.3% of Minnesota elementary schools.

Rate Discovery Woods!

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MNMinnesota Elementary School Rankings

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Schools in Brainerd, MN

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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.