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Climax Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

807^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 7% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Climax Elementary is a PK–5 school serving 65 students in the small rural town of Climax, Minnesota (population roughly 250), part of Climax-Shelly Public Schools.

Over the past five years, this school's statewide elementary rank has fallen sharply — from the 67th percentile in 2020-2021 to the 4th percentile in 2024-2025, then the 7th percentile in 2025-2026. That is a 60-percentile-point drop, and the last two years look like flattening at the bottom rather than a recovery. In 2025-2026, math proficiency was 20.0, reading 17.1, and fifth-grade science 9.1, against state marks of 44.9, 48.6, and 25.5. About 73.85% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch in 2024-2025, up 17 points in a single year. Staffing is a strength, though: 8.8 students per teacher, the smallest ratio among its neighbors.

Compared with its closest peer, Fisher Elementary, Climax trails by 11 points in math, 19 in reading, and 27 in science — even though Fisher operates at a similar scale and class size with 23 points less poverty. Highland Elementary also outperforms Climax. Grade-level results thin out in the upper grades: fifth-grade math was 0%, and fifth-grade science 9.1% against Fisher's 36.4%. One caveat: with only about 9–13 students per grade, a swing of 10–20 points can reflect just three or four children, and the state suppressed the 2024-2025 science result (it is unknown, not zero). Context worth knowing: Climax's elementary performs about the same as its district overall (7th vs. 9th percentile), so the weakness runs district-wide, while Fisher Elementary sits 21 points below Fisher Public School District and Highland Elementary sits below Crookston Public School District in districts that do better overall.

Students ?

8.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,177

Per pupil spending ?

73.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

Not published

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

111 E Broadway
Climax, MN 56523-0067

(218) 857-2385

District: Climax-Shelly Public Schools

Students who attend Climax Elementary usually attend:

High:

Climax Secondary

Racial breakdown:

White:

72.3%

Hispanic:

15.4%

African American:

6.2%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 33rd percentile in 2016 → 7th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (17% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 26 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school17%

District avg16%

Minnesota avg43%

807^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 26 pts since 2016

From bottom 33% (2016) to bottom 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

419^th of 458Climax-Shelly Public 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	8.7	807 of 869	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	5.5	833 of 872	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.5	673 of 881	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	51.2	471 of 845	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	58.3	387 of 858	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.7	284 of 869	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.8	610 of 870	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.8	685 of 847	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	37.1	620 of 853	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	44.4	567 of 848	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	31.5	657 of 840	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	48.9	519 of 826	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	33.7	641 of 824	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	28.1	688 of 820	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	22.4	706 of 814	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	18.4	387 of 434	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	44.2	534 of 756	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	31.4	548 of 676	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	18.0	600 of 674	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2022	52.7	425 of 799	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.7	624 of 787	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.2	607 of 774	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	53.9	359 of 740	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.2	540 of 728	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2022	46.2	419 of 725	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	17.2	669 of 722	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	13.8	686 of 712	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

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 (2019)51st percentile+22 vs school

Female (2022)47th percentile-8 vs school

White (2022)42nd percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math20%-25 vs state

Reading17%-31 vs state

Science9%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Climax 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
Climax Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 E Broadway	Climax	56523	Polk County	Climax-Shelly Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 857-2385	65	7	8.8	73.8%	47 (72.3%)	4 (6.2%)	10 (15.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8.7	807^th of 869 public elementary schools	7.1%		5.5	833^rd of 872 public elementary schools	4.5%	26	18.2	15.4	18.2		17.1	9.1	9.1	36.4	23.1	0.0		20.0			$11,177
Fisher Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	313 Park Ave	Fisher	56723	Polk County	Fisher Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 891-4105	123	10	12.6	50.4%	95 (77.2%)	1 (0.8%)	22 (17.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.1%)	32.7	621^st of 869 public elementary schools	28.5%		29.8	651^st of 872 public elementary schools	25.3%	30	17.6	27.3	50.0	60.0	36.4	36.4	36.4	47.1	36.4	20.0	13.3	31.3	76.5%	0%	$12,852
Highland Elementary	Public	K-5	801 N Central Ave	Crookston	56716	Polk County	Crookston Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 281-5600	474	38	12.6	57.8%	273 (57.6%)	18 (3.8%)	137 (28.9%)	2 (0.4%)	22 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.6%)	43.9	529^th of 869 public elementary schools	39.1%		61.1	359^th of 872 public elementary schools	58.8%	170	38.1	48.8	48.7		45.0	22.4	22.4	48.8	48.1	32.9		43.6	91.2%	8.8%	$12,289

Frequently Asked Questions about Climax Elementary

How many students attend Climax Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 65 students attended Climax Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Climax Elementary attend?

Students who attend Climax Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Climax Secondary

What is the racial makeup of Climax Elementary?

Students at Climax Elementary are 72% White, 15% Hispanic, 6% African American, 6% American Indian.

Is Climax Elementary a good school?

Climax Elementary ranks in the bottom 7.1% of Minnesota elementary schools.

What district is Climax Elementary in?

Climax-Shelly Public Schools

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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.