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Discovery Elementary

Q: Is Discovery Elementary a good school?

Discovery Elementary ranks 480 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

480^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 45% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Discovery Elementary is a K–5 school in Buffalo, Minnesota, serving 257 students as part of the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools district — the smallest of the Buffalo elementary schools in this comparison.

The school is currently rated 2 stars, ranked 480 of 869 Minnesota schools (45th percentile) for 2025–2026, down from 3 stars and the 58th percentile in 2022–2023. Its district overall ranks in the 71st percentile with 4 stars. On 2025–2026 tests, Discovery’s math proficiency was 48.7% (above the state’s 44.9% but below the district’s 52.5%), reading was 47.9% (slightly below the state’s 48.6% and below the district’s 51.7%), and science was 17.1% — far below both the district (28.9%) and state (25.5%). Science is the clearest weakness, well under nearly every nearby school; only Tatanka Elementary STEM School scored lower at 14.8%. Fourth-grade math is a bright spot at 69% proficient, above the district and most nearby schools.

Notably, Discovery has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate in the comparison group at 15.95%, and its student–teacher ratio of 16.6 is the highest among Buffalo elementaries. Yet several higher-poverty schools — including Montrose Elementary School of Innov and Northwinds Elementary — outperform it, suggesting school-level factors are at play. Results are also uneven by grade: 3rd-grade math (43.9%) and 5th-grade math (30.6%) lag well behind district and state averages, and reading proficiency has slid from 64.41% in 2022–2023 to 47.9%. Parents should note the strengths — 4th-grade math, low poverty, and a prior track record with low-income students — alongside the concerns in science, early and upper-elementary math, and reading.

257

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,939

Per pupil spending ?

16.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

301 2nd Ave NE
Buffalo, MN 55313-1697

(763) 682-8400

District: Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

98.1%

African American:

0.8%

Two or more races:

0.8%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Discovery Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 52nd percentile in 2016 → 45th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg48%

Minnesota avg43%

480^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 45%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From top 48% (2016) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 6Elementary Schools in the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools

133^rd of 458Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools 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	48.6	480 of 869	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	51.4	464 of 872	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.5	541 of 881	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.5	353 of 845	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.0	533 of 858	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	64.1	321 of 869	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.1	335 of 870	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.7	448 of 847	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	64.6	332 of 853	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	59.2	405 of 848	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	72.3	229 of 840	72.7%	★★★★☆
2014	65.4	315 of 826	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	67.4	283 of 824	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	75.6	146 of 820	82.2%	★★★★☆
2011	73.0	181 of 814	77.8%	★★★★☆
2010	73.3	169 of 803	79.0%	★★★★☆
2008	67.1	252 of 781	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	69.8	209 of 777	73.1%	★★★★☆
2006	78.2	104 of 756	86.2%	★★★★☆
2005	74.6	131 of 685	80.9%	★★★★☆
2004	85.0	41 of 676	93.9%	★★★★★
2003	86.5	28 of 674	95.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	47.2	445 of 790	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.3	391 of 799	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	36.5	558 of 809	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.4	449 of 787	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.6	567 of 799	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	47.4	481 of 783	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.1	371 of 787	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.2	546 of 774	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2023	72.8	160 of 774	79.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	47.8	449 of 807	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.1	512 of 812	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.1	406 of 826	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.8	211 of 799	73.6%	★★★★☆
2022	57.1	372 of 808	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	75.3	157 of 784	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	66.7	276 of 798	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.3	290 of 779	62.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	23.1	604 of 710	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.8	608 of 714	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.7	647 of 730	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.8	419 of 712	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	23.8	627 of 725	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	47.3	388 of 710	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.0	502 of 722	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.9	571 of 712	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)79th percentile+21 vs school

Male (2026)44th percentile~ school

Female (2026)44th percentile~ school

White (2026)15th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math49%+4 vs state

Reading48%~ state avg

Science17%-8 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, September 11, 2020

Love this school! Both of our kids love going here and the staff is amazing. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, June 5, 2017

We love this school and how much their staff cares. Close Quote

Schools Near Discovery 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/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	Total
Discovery Elementary	Public	K-5	301 2nd Ave NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	No	(763) 682-8400	257	15	16.6	16.0%	252 (98.1%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	48.6	480^th of 869 public elementary schools	44.8%		51.4	464^th of 872 public elementary schools	46.8%	16	43.9	50.0	50.0		47.9	17.1	17.1	43.9	69.0	30.6		48.7	$12,939
Parkside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	207 3rd St NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 682-8500	348	27	12.8	42.8%	286 (82.2%)	7 (2.0%)	26 (7.5%)	6 (1.7%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.0%)	42.7	541^st of 869 public elementary schools	37.7%		44.3	527^th of 872 public elementary schools	39.6%	14	40.0	42.7	49.1		43.9	25.0	25.0	47.3	45.3	33.3		42.2	$13,171
Tatanka Elementary STEM School	Public	K-5	703 8th St NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 682-8600	393	26	14.8	35.1%	301 (76.6%)	32 (8.1%)	24 (6.1%)	7 (1.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.9%)	36.5	590^th of 869 public elementary schools	32.1%		42.5	544^th of 872 public elementary schools	37.6%	46	44.4	30.9	51.9		42.5	14.8	14.8	51.4	41.8	22.2		39.8	$10,828
Northwinds Elementary	Public	K-5	1111 7th Ave NW	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	No	(763) 682-8800	419	28	14.8	25.8%	394 (94.0%)	7 (1.7%)	10 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.4%)	74.9	208^th of 869 public elementary schools	76.1%		67.3	296^th of 872 public elementary schools	66.1%	88	58.7	54.9	59.0		57.6	35.5	35.5	77.3	70.0	44.3		63.4	$11,493
Maple Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	200 Highway 55 E	Maple Lake	55358	Wright County	Maple Lake Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 963-3024	404	33	12.2	27.2%	384 (95.0%)	1 (0.2%)	7 (1.7%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.2%)	72	240^th of 869 public elementary schools	72.4%		66	314^th of 872 public elementary schools	64.0%	74	42.6	56.9	65.9	64.8	56.7	34.1	34.1	59.0	67.7	52.3	50.9	58.3	$11,302
Montrose Elementary School of Innov	Public	PK, KG-5	100 2nd St S	Montrose	55363	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 682-8345	363	25	14.4	45.7%	307 (84.6%)	14 (3.9%)	29 (8.0%)	9 (2.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	68.9	263^rd of 869 public elementary schools	69.7%		59.6	376^th of 872 public elementary schools	56.9%	113	58.8	46.7	67.3		57.2	34.5	34.5	72.5	56.7	40.0		56.0	$13,186
Monticello Nature Based Education	Public	PK, KG-5	9842 Briarwood Avenue NE	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Monticello Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 272-2801	65	0		23.1%	59 (90.8%)	1 (1.5%)	3 (4.6%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.5%)	83.9	105^th of 869 public elementary schools	87.9%		80	148^th of 872 public elementary schools	83.0%	43		43.8	81.8		65.8	50.0	50.0		62.5	77.3		71.1
Little Mountain Elementary	Public	1-5	9350 Fallon Ave NE	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Monticello Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 272-2600	576	42	13.6	32.6%	414 (71.9%)	29 (5.0%)	61 (10.6%)	23 (4.0%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (7.6%)	67.9	272^nd of 869 public elementary schools	68.7%		66.2	310^th of 872 public elementary schools	64.4%	38	41.9	59.2	71.3		57.6	32.0	32.0	59.7	53.3	54.3		55.8	$12,686
Humphrey Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	803 Elm Ave	Waverly	55390	Wright County	Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 543-4680	243	19	12.7	29.6%	204 (84.0%)	4 (1.6%)	26 (10.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.3%)	44.4	521^st of 869 public elementary schools	40.0%		38.1	584^th of 872 public elementary schools	33.0%	63	36.5	42.0			39.2			50.9	56.0			53.4	$11,301
Eastview Education Center	Public	PK-K	9375 Fenning Ave NE	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Monticello Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 272-2801	301	43	7.0	38.5%	229 (76.1%)	14 (4.7%)	33 (11.0%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.0%)								(n/a)													$16,426

Frequently Asked Questions about Discovery Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Discovery Elementary?

Students at Discovery Elementary are 98% White.

How many students attend Discovery Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 257 students attended Discovery Elementary.

Is Discovery Elementary a good school?

Discovery Elementary ranks 480^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Discovery Elementary in?

Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

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

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.