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Garfield Elementary

Q: Is Garfield Elementary a good school?

Garfield Elementary ranks 192 nd of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

192^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 78% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Garfield Elementary is a small K–5 school serving 117 students in the rural Douglas County community of Garfield, Minnesota, and is part of the Alexandria Public School District. In 2025–2026 it ranked 192nd of 869 Minnesota elementary schools — the 78th percentile, 4 stars. After a low of 46th percentile (2 stars) in 2017–2018, the school spent five straight years in the 84th–93rd percentile range, peaking at 93rd percentile and 5 stars in 2024–2025 before easing this year.

Proficiency is above both district and state in all three subjects: math 66.7% (district 54.8%, state 44.9%), reading 60.3% (55.3%, 48.6%), and science 38.9% (31.1%, 25.5%). Garfield also has the lowest free/reduced-lunch rate in its peer group, at 17.09%. Among Alexandria's smaller elementaries it sits between Miltona Elementary (98th percentile) and Carlos Elementary (89th), but ahead of the much larger Voyager Elementary (78th), Lincoln Elementary (72nd), and Woodland Elementary School (42nd). Voyager posts nearly identical math and reading results, yet Garfield's science score is far higher — with fewer students and the same 12.8 student–teacher ratio.

Some trends are worth watching. Scores dipped in all three subjects in 2025–2026, and science has fallen two years running (55.6% → 42.1% → 38.9%). By grade, Garfield beats its district on 4 of 7 measures and the state on 6 of 7; its 5th-grade math result of 83.3% is the best in the peer group and roughly double the state's 41.9%, while 3rd- and 4th-grade math and 5th-grade reading trail district norms. With 117 students spread across six grades, each cohort is only about 16–29 children, so a single year's movement can be driven by a handful of students and isn't a reliable trend by itself.

117

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,682

Per pupil spending ?

17.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

303 Sanstead St E
Garfield, MN 56332-0158

(320) 762-3350

District: Alexandria Public School District

Students who attend Garfield Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Discovery Middle School
High:	Alexandria Area High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

97.4%

Two or more races:

1.7%

Hispanic:

0.9%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Garfield Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 93rd percentile in 2025 → 78th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (60% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of Minnesota elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 93rd-percentile peak (2025) to 78th (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school60%

District avg51%

Minnesota avg43%

192^nd of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 7 pts since 2016

From top 29% (2016) to top 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd 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	76.0	192 of 869	77.9%	★★★★☆
2025	88.4	57 of 872	93.5%	★★★★★
2024	82.6	116 of 881	86.8%	★★★★☆
2023	80.6	131 of 845	84.5%	★★★★☆
2022	83.6	102 of 858	88.1%	★★★★☆
2021	82.9	101 of 869	88.4%	★★★★☆
2019	69.2	270 of 870	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.3	461 of 847	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	64.9	328 of 853	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	70.8	248 of 848	70.8%	★★★★☆
2015	67.5	290 of 840	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	73.6	192 of 826	76.8%	★★★★☆
2013	80.5	105 of 824	87.3%	★★★★☆
2012	83.1	61 of 820	92.6%	★★★★★
2011	66.2	289 of 814	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	79.0	83 of 803	89.7%	★★★★☆
2009	72.8	102 of 434	76.5%	★★★★☆
2008	77.6	109 of 781	86.0%	★★★★☆
2007	70.9	187 of 777	75.9%	★★★★☆
2006	74.3	144 of 756	81.0%	★★★★☆
2005	79.8	75 of 685	89.1%	★★★★☆
2004	80.6	70 of 676	89.6%	★★★★☆
2003	81.4	70 of 674	89.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2023	59.0	347 of 787	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	84.7	68 of 799	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	83.1	74 of 783	90.5%	★★★★★
2018	45.6	505 of 774	34.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	87.1	59 of 826	92.9%	★★★★★
2023	81.5	113 of 799	85.9%	★★★★☆
2018	58.5	369 of 779	52.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	59.1	281 of 710	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	80.5	91 of 714	87.3%	★★★★☆
2024	66.0	216 of 730	70.4%	★★★★☆
2023	68.9	182 of 712	74.4%	★★★★☆
2022	73.1	159 of 725	78.1%	★★★★☆
2021	75.4	127 of 710	82.1%	★★★★☆
2019	45.3	439 of 722	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.6	499 of 712	29.9%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2024)93rd percentile+6 vs school

White (2026)60th percentile-17 vs school

Female (2023)56th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math67%+22 vs state

Reading60%+12 vs state

Science39%+13 vs state

★

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Schools Near Garfield 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 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
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	$12,682
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
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	$11,254
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	$11,098
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	$11,322
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	$11,599
Evansville Elementary	Public	2-5	123 2nd Ave W	Evansville	56326	Douglas County	Brandon-Evansville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 834-4084	163	8	19.4	32.5%	149 (91.4%)	2 (1.2%)	3 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.5%)	75.4	202^nd of 869 public elementary schools	76.8%		76.5	188^th of 872 public elementary schools	78.4%	14	55.0	44.0	75.0		55.7	50.0	50.0	67.5	64.0	68.8		66.4	$11,068
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	$11,394
West Central Area South Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	31 N Central	Kensington	56343	Douglas County	West Central Area	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 965-7600	138	12	11.1	39.9%	123 (89.1%)	3 (2.2%)	7 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	83.1	118^th of 869 public elementary schools	86.4%		59.9	370^th of 872 public elementary schools	57.6%	252	65.0	72.2			68.4			61.9	77.8			69.2	$14,376

Frequently Asked Questions about Garfield Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Garfield Elementary?

Students at Garfield Elementary are 97% White, 2% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Garfield Elementary attend?

Students who attend Garfield Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Discovery Middle School
High : Alexandria Area High School

How many students attend Garfield Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 117 students attended Garfield Elementary.

What district is Garfield Elementary in?

Alexandria Public School District

Is Garfield Elementary a good school?

Garfield Elementary ranks 192^nd of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Garfield Elementary!

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Schools in Garfield, 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.