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Carlos Elementary

Q: Is Carlos Elementary a good school?

Carlos Elementary ranks 93 rd of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

93^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Carlos Elementary is a small, rural PK–5 school serving 108 students in the town of Carlos, Minnesota (population roughly 500), part of the Alexandria Public School District.

By the numbers, Carlos is one of Minnesota's strongest elementary schools. In 2025–2026 it ranked 93rd of 869 elementary schools statewide — the 89th percentile, 4 stars — essentially holding the prior year's 63rd of 872 (93rd percentile, 5 stars). Those are the two best years in the decade of history provided; the school sat at the 53rd percentile as recently as 2018–2019. Math is the signature: 83% of students were proficient in 2025–2026, versus 54.8% district-wide and 44.9% statewide, with 5th-grade math at 81.3% — nearly double the state's 41.9%. Among the six district elementaries, Carlos ranks second in all three tested subjects, behind only Miltona Elementary; the district's two smallest rural schools lead the group. Against the larger in-town schools, the gap is wide — Carlos is 35.7 points ahead of Woodland Elementary School in math.

Reading and science are more mixed. Reading (59.6%) is solid but only 4.3 points above the district, and 3rd-grade reading (44.4%) is the one 2025–2026 result below both its district (51.7%) and state (46.8%) benchmarks; 4th- and 5th-grade reading are strong. Science swings sharply year to year — 20.0% one year, 43.8% the next — because it reflects a single small 5th-grade class, so treat it as noisy rather than a trend. Class sizes are small: a 10.8 student-teacher ratio, the best among comparable schools, and about 26% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, down from 41% two years earlier.

108

Students ?

10.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,599

Per pupil spending ?

25.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

≥ 95%

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

Exemptions: 0% (MMR)

20 N Douglas Ave
Carlos, MN 56319-8171

(320) 852-7181

District: Alexandria Public School District

Students who attend Carlos Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Discovery Middle School
High:	Alexandria Area High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.9%

Hispanic:

4.6%

Two or more races:

4.6%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Carlos Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 75th percentile in 2016 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (67% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Minnesota elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg51%

Minnesota avg43%

93^rd of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 14 pts since 2016

From top 25% (2016) to top 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 6Elementary Schools in the Alexandria Public School District

55^th of 458Alexandria Public School District 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	85.0	93 of 869	89.3%	★★★★☆
2025	87.9	63 of 872	92.8%	★★★★★
2024	68.8	269 of 881	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.2	296 of 845	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.7	197 of 858	77.0%	★★★★☆
2021	74.1	204 of 869	76.5%	★★★★☆
2019	59.8	407 of 870	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	78.1	143 of 847	83.1%	★★★★☆
2017	69.7	270 of 853	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	73.3	210 of 848	75.2%	★★★★☆
2015	68.3	276 of 840	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	76.2	154 of 826	81.4%	★★★★☆
2013	83.5	68 of 824	91.7%	★★★★★
2012	78.9	109 of 820	86.7%	★★★★☆
2011	65.5	299 of 814	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	55.9	447 of 803	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.8	238 of 434	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	60.2	353 of 781	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	72.1	175 of 777	77.5%	★★★★☆
2006	68.1	219 of 756	71.0%	★★★★☆
2005	80.6	64 of 685	90.7%	★★★★★
2004	51.3	392 of 676	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2003	57.3	335 of 674	50.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2023	67.8	261 of 787	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.1	290 of 783	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.7	420 of 787	46.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	67.3	268 of 812	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	33.6	595 of 826	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.2	533 of 799	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	80.9	111 of 808	86.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	66.7	210 of 710	70.4%	★★★★☆
2025	76.3	125 of 714	82.5%	★★★★☆
2024	56.6	304 of 730	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.5	425 of 712	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.5	352 of 725	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.7	265 of 710	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.9	443 of 722	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.9	229 of 712	67.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

White (2026)70th percentile-19 vs school

Male (2025)67th percentile-26 vs school

Female (2023)67th percentile~ school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math83%+38 vs state

Reading60%+11 vs state

Science44%+18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Carlos 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 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
Carlos Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	20 N Douglas Ave	Carlos	56319	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 852-7181	108	10	10.8	25.9%	96 (88.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.6%)	85	93^rd of 869 public elementary schools	89.3%		87.9	63^rd of 872 public elementary schools	92.8%	30	44.4	69.2	68.8		59.6	43.8	43.8	88.9	76.9	81.3		83.0	≥ 95%	0%	$11,599
Miltona Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-5	271 Dale St	Miltona	56354	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	Yes	No	No	(877) 736-1419	126	8	15.5	17.5%	121 (96.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.2%)	94.9	19^th of 869 public elementary schools	97.8%		83.6	106^th of 872 public elementary schools	87.8%	87	79.2	72.0	76.2		75.7	57.1	57.1	79.2	92.0	81.0		84.3	90.9%	9.1%	$11,394
Voyager Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	203 Voyager Drive	Alexandria	56308	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 762-3325	446	35	12.8	27.8%	410 (91.9%)	4 (0.9%)	16 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.9%)	75.6	195^th of 869 public elementary schools	77.6%		74.7	211^th of 872 public elementary schools	75.8%	16	58.6	58.1	61.1		59.3	26.4	26.4	69.0	71.9	60.3		67.3	91.5%	8.5%	$11,254
Woodland Elementary School	Public	K-5	1410 McKay Ave S Ste #101	Alexandria	56308	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 762-3300	410	37	11.1	41.7%	328 (80.0%)	8 (2.0%)	40 (9.8%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (7.1%)	46.7	501^st of 869 public elementary schools	42.3%		48.2	493^rd of 872 public elementary schools	43.5%	8	35.4	49.2	44.8		43.1	25.9	25.9	46.9	58.5	35.6		47.3	88.9%	9.7%	$11,322
Lakes Country Academy - ALEX	Public	K-6	524 Willow Drive	Alexandria	56537	Otter Tail County	Region 4-Lakes Country Service Coop	No	No	No	No	(218) 739-3273	7	3	2.2	—	3 (42.9%)	1 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (28.6%)								(n/a)
Lincoln Elementary	Public	K-5	1120 Lark St	Alexandria	56308	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 762-3320	481	31	15.3	37.8%	402 (83.6%)	10 (2.1%)	33 (6.9%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.4%)	72	243^rd of 869 public elementary schools	72.0%		66.4	305^th of 872 public elementary schools	65.0%	62	50.7	52.0	55.4		52.7	32.4	32.4	63.9	71.0	67.6		67.9	91.4%	5.2%	$11,098
Garfield Elementary	Public	K-5	303 Sanstead St E	Garfield	56332	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 762-3350	117	9	12.8	17.1%	114 (97.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.7%)	76	192^nd of 869 public elementary schools	77.9%		88.4	57^th of 872 public elementary schools	93.5%	135	58.6	68.8	55.6		60.3	38.9	38.9	58.6	62.5	83.3		66.7	≥ 95%		$12,682
Osakis Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	500 1st Ave E	Osakis	56360	Douglas County	Osakis Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 859-2191	472	32	14.6	35.8%	445 (94.3%)	2 (0.4%)	17 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	80.8	139^th of 869 public elementary schools	84.0%		77.5	172^nd of 872 public elementary schools	80.3%	33	38.6	74.0	64.5	70.6	62.6	29.0	29.0	80.4	71.2	67.7	69.2	72.0	85.5%	14.5%	$10,425
Parkers Prairie Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	518 S McCornell	Parkers Prairie	56361	Otter Tail County	Parkers Prairie Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 338-4079	251	15	16.4	35.5%	243 (96.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	65.8	294^th of 869 public elementary schools	66.2%		64.3	330^th of 872 public elementary schools	62.2%	36	55.6	51.2	62.5	62.5	57.4	12.5	12.5	77.8	68.3	38.7	37.5	57.1	81%	14.3%	$13,211
Brandon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-1	206 3rd St W	Brandon	56135	Douglas County	Brandon-Evansville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 834-4084	107	12	9.2	40.2%	101 (94.4%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.7%)								(n/a)															$10,500

Frequently Asked Questions about Carlos Elementary

What schools do graduates of Carlos Elementary attend?

Students who attend Carlos Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Discovery Middle School
High : Alexandria Area High School

How many students attend Carlos Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 108 students attended Carlos Elementary.

Is Carlos Elementary a good school?

Carlos Elementary ranks 93^rd of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Carlos Elementary?

Students at Carlos Elementary are 89% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

What district is Carlos Elementary in?

Alexandria Public School District

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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.