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Discovery Middle School

Q: Is Discovery Middle School a good school?

Discovery Middle School ranks 100 th of 519 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

100^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 519 Minnesota Middle Schools

Better than 81% of Minnesota middle schools

Summary

Discovery Middle School is a public middle school located in Alexandria, Minnesota, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 874 students. The school is part of the Alexandria Public School District, which is ranked 63 out of 446 districts in Minnesota and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Discovery Middle School has consistently ranked in the top 25% of Minnesota middle schools over the past 10 years, with a ranking between 63 and 138 out of over 500 schools. This places it among the top-performing middle schools in the state. The school's proficiency rates in Math and Reading on the MCA-III assessments are consistently higher than the state averages. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates were 51.69% in Math and 53.08% in Reading, compared to the state averages of 45.21% and 49.59%, respectively. Additionally, the school ranks in the top 100 middle schools in Minnesota for female students and Hispanic students, indicating strong academic outcomes for these groups.

When compared to the nearby Minnewaska Area Intermediate School and Minnewaska Area Junior High, Discovery Middle School performs slightly lower in Math and Reading proficiency rates. However, it still outperforms the state averages, indicating a strong academic program. The school has also seen an increase in its free and reduced lunch rates, from 23% in 2021-2022 to 34.55% in 2023-2024, suggesting a growing population of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, which may require additional support and resources to ensure their academic success.

898

Students ?

15.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,711

Per pupil spending ?

28.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

510 N McKay Ave
Alexandria, MN 56308-8888

(320) 762-7900

District: Alexandria Public School District

Students who attend Discovery Middle School usually attend:

High:

Alexandria Area High School

Feeder schools for Discovery Middle School:

Elementary:	Carlos Elementary
	Garfield Elementary
	Lincoln Elementary
	Miltona Elementary
	More...
	Voyager Elementary
	Woodland Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.0%

Hispanic:

5.8%

Two or more races:

5.0%

See top rated Minnesota middle schools

Compare Discovery Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 74th percentile in 2023 → 81st in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 19% of Minnesota middle schools

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 81st (2025) from a 74th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school52%

District avg54%

Minnesota avg47%

100^th of 519

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Top 19%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From top 13% (2015) to top 19% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

63^rd of 446Alexandria 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
2025	75.7	100 of 519	80.7%	★★★★☆
2024	73.4	119 of 545	78.2%	★★★★☆
2023	69.1	138 of 529	73.9%	★★★★☆
2022	69.8	129 of 520	75.2%	★★★★☆
2021	79.8	76 of 521	85.4%	★★★★☆
2019	79.9	72 of 533	86.5%	★★★★☆
2018	79.0	78 of 518	84.9%	★★★★☆
2017	82.2	63 of 523	88.0%	★★★★☆
2016	80.3	64 of 508	87.4%	★★★★☆
2015	80.2	67 of 516	87.0%	★★★★☆
2014	81.9	57 of 490	88.4%	★★★★☆
2013	83.3	46 of 488	90.6%	★★★★★
2012	77.2	70 of 469	85.1%	★★★★☆
2011	74.2	96 of 478	79.9%	★★★★☆
2010	73.6	89 of 454	80.4%	★★★★☆
2009	74.1	42 of 230	81.7%	★★★★☆
2008	79.4	50 of 409	87.8%	★★★★☆
2007	80.2	53 of 403	86.8%	★★★★☆
2006	83.1	39 of 406	90.4%	★★★★★
2005	81.0	50 of 396	87.4%	★★★★☆
2004	89.1	16 of 387	95.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	74.3	92 of 450	79.6%	★★★★☆
2024	72.4	102 of 474	78.5%	★★★★☆
2023	69.0	113 of 455	75.2%	★★★★☆
2022	67.8	119 of 467	74.5%	★★★★☆
2021	75.7	70 of 443	84.2%	★★★★☆
2019	80.4	58 of 439	86.8%	★★★★☆
2018	76.3	79 of 436	81.9%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	47.0	85 of 175	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.9	115 of 186	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.1	107 of 178	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.7	69 of 188	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.1	95 of 171	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.2	54 of 163	66.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	55.2	173 of 432	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.4	184 of 473	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.7	145 of 459	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.9	175 of 404	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	78.0	35 of 399	91.2%	★★★★★
2019	79.3	49 of 415	88.2%	★★★★☆
2018	77.5	54 of 401	86.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	70.8	108 of 452	76.1%	★★★★☆
2024	68.6	124 of 479	74.1%	★★★★☆
2023	64.2	145 of 464	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.1	142 of 476	70.2%	★★★★☆
2021	76.8	81 of 437	81.5%	★★★★☆
2019	75.0	98 of 454	78.4%	★★★★☆
2018	77.5	68 of 438	84.5%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	37.9	76 of 113	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	62.1	30 of 97	69.1%	★★★★☆
2018	31.9	89 of 114	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	33.7	186 of 265	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.6	239 of 307	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.1	220 of 298	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.5	238 of 288	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	46.1	133 of 260	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.7	148 of 282	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.0	100 of 253	60.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	62.9	131 of 415	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.6	149 of 440	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.8	189 of 436	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.6	180 of 438	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.6	107 of 422	74.6%	★★★★☆
2019	69.3	101 of 428	76.4%	★★★★☆
2018	69.5	102 of 428	76.2%	★★★★☆

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 (2025)80th percentile~ school

Male (2025)76th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)68th percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)60th percentile-21 vs school

Hispanic (2025)51st percentile-29 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)33rd percentile-48 vs school

Special Education (2025)30th percentile-51 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2024-2025) ?

Reading53%+3 vs state

Math52%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Discovery Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCA-III Math (2025)						MCA-III Reading (2025)						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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	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	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	Total
Discovery Middle School	Public	6-8	510 N McKay Ave	Alexandria	56308	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 762-7900	898	57	15.8	28.1%	781 (87.0%)	9 (1.0%)	52 (5.8%)	9 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	45 (5.0%)	75.7	100^th of 519 public middle schools	80.7%		73.4	119^th of 545 public middle schools	78.2%	19			47.9	56.9	50.3	51.7			54.5	57.4	47.6	53.1	$10,711
Middle Level Learning Center	Public	7-8	700 Northside Drive NE	Alexandria	56308	Douglas County	Runestone Area Education District	No	No	No	No	(320) 762-0627	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Brandon-Evansville Middle School	Public	6-8	206 3rd St W	Brandon	56315	Douglas County	Brandon-Evansville Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(218) 948-2241	124	7	18.3	30.6%	118 (95.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.0%)	69.8	135^th of 519 public middle schools	74.0%		79.9	74^th of 545 public middle schools	86.4%	61			48.7	54.6	55.0	52.9			50.0	46.5	42.5	46.2	$8,416
Minnewaska Area Intermediate School	Public	4-6	25122 State Highway 28	Glenwood	56334	Pope County	Minnewaska School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 239-4800	295	12	25.2	27.5%	274 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (3.1%)								(n/a)	80.0	64.7	67.3			70.1	65.9	77.8	73.6			72.8	$8,440
Minnewaska Area Junior High	Public	7-8	25122 State Highway 28	Glenwood	56334	Pope County	Minnewaska School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 239-4800	212	12	17.5	28.3%	198 (93.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.7%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (0.9%)	71.1	130^th of 519 public middle schools	75.0%		65.5	166^th of 545 public middle schools	69.5%	36				49.1	60.8	54.8				50.0	38.8	44.4	$3,060

Frequently Asked Questions about Discovery Middle School

What high school do graduates of Discovery Middle School attend?

Students who attend Discovery Middle School usually go on to attend Alexandria Area High School

What district is Discovery Middle School in?

Alexandria Public School District

How many students attend Discovery Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 898 students attended Discovery Middle School.

Is Discovery Middle School a good school?

Discovery Middle School ranks 100^th of 519 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Discovery Middle School?

Students at Discovery Middle School are 87% White, 6% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Asian.

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Schools in Alexandria, MN

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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.