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East Central Elementary

Q: Is East Central Elementary a good school?

East Central Elementary ranks 586 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

586^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 33% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

East Central Elementary is a PK–6 school in Finlayson, a small town in east-central Minnesota, serving 391 students as part of the East Central School District. The school ranks 586th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools in 2025–2026 (33rd percentile, 2 stars), while its district ranks 313th of 458 districts (32nd percentile, 2 stars). Roughly 49.36% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025, and the student-teacher ratio was 14:1.

Academically, 2025–2026 all-grade proficiency was 39.8% in math and 39.8% in reading — both below the state (44.9% and 48.6%) but above district averages. Science was 7.5%, well below the state's 25.5%. Among nearby schools, reading is a relative strength: East Central's 39.8% trails only Willow River Elementary (49.1%) and edges out Hinckley Elementary (35.3%) and Moose Lake Elementary (36.6%). Math and science each rank fourth of the five nearby schools — only Moose Lake Elementary is lower in science, at 2.3%. Grade-level results vary widely: 3rd grade reading is 20.4%, the lowest among nearby reporting schools, while 5th grade reading is 55.0% and 6th grade reading is 50.0%. Fourth grade math (56.6%) is above the state and a bright spot.

The school's rank has slid from the 54th percentile in 2021–2022 to the 33rd in 2025–2026, with math, reading, and science all declining over that stretch. Nearby Willow River Elementary (56th percentile) and Finlayson Elementary (60th percentile) now rank higher. Subgroup results are uneven: low-income students rank near the state median (49th percentile), while special education students (30th) and female students (27th) rank below the school overall. East Central also has the highest student-teacher ratio of the nearby schools; Hinckley Elementary, with nearly identical enrollment, reports 11.4:1. Note that suppressed grade-level figures are unknown, not zero, and 5th grade science reflects a single cohort.

391

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,261

Per pupil spending ?

49.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

84.8%

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

Exemptions: 0% (MMR)

61085 State Highway 23
Finlayson, MN 55735-8888

(320) 245-6013

District: East Central School District

Students who attend East Central Elementary usually attend:

High:

East Central Senior Secondary

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.7%

American Indian:

10.0%

Two or more races:

8.2%

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Compare East Central Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 54th percentile in 2022 → 33rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (37% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 54th-percentile peak (2022) to 33rd (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg31%

Minnesota avg43%

586^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 33%▲ up 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to bottom 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

313^th of 458East Central 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	36.9	586 of 869	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.4	500 of 872	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.7	437 of 881	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.4	408 of 845	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.9	395 of 858	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.7	557 of 869	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.1	555 of 870	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.3	478 of 847	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	47.3	536 of 853	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	34.7	635 of 848	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	17.6	721 of 840	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	14.7	739 of 826	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	24.9	682 of 824	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	25.4	705 of 820	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	33.3	653 of 814	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	33.2	658 of 803	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	25.6	679 of 781	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	35.8	630 of 777	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	35.2	615 of 756	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	39.0	510 of 685	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	27.8	563 of 676	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	26.2	566 of 674	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	32.1	578 of 790	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	42.6	505 of 799	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.3	415 of 809	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.8	359 of 787	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.1	354 of 799	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.6	467 of 783	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.7	461 of 787	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.0	462 of 774	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	49.3	390 of 764	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	68.5	176 of 764	77.0%	★★★★☆
2024	64.7	253 of 793	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.6	251 of 774	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.1	219 of 663	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.1	455 of 683	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.1	364 of 740	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.8	349 of 728	52.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	40.1	524 of 807	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.3	463 of 812	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.8	429 of 826	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.8	422 of 799	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.1	435 of 808	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.4	555 of 784	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.0	587 of 798	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	50.7	453 of 779	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	46.9	17 of 39	56.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	33.1	408 of 579	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.1	318 of 562	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.2	267 of 572	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	28.1	414 of 524	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.0	392 of 515	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	20.1	627 of 710	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.9	584 of 714	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.7	523 of 730	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.2	521 of 712	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	39.1	485 of 725	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.6	612 of 710	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.4	602 of 722	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.4	552 of 712	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Native American (2026)56th percentile+24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)49th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2026)35th percentile+3 vs school

Special Education (2026)30th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)27th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)12th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math40%-5 vs state

Reading40%-9 vs state

Science8%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near East Central 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
East Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	61085 State Highway 23	Finlayson	55735	Pine County	East Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 245-6013	391	28	14.0	49.4%	296 (75.7%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.1%)	4 (1.0%)	39 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.2%)	36.9	586^th of 869 public elementary schools	32.6%		47.4	500^th of 872 public elementary schools	42.7%	86	20.4	35.8	55.0	50.0	39.8	7.5	7.5	36.7	56.6	32.5	31.5	39.8	84.8%	0%	$12,261
East Central Early Childhood	Public	PK-K	61085 State Highway 23	Finlayson	55735	Pine County	East Central School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 245-6013	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Finlayson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2159 Hwy 18	Finlayson	55735	Pine County	Hinckley-Finlayson School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 233-7611	58	6	10.1	51.7%	47 (81.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.2%)	2 (3.4%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (8.6%)	59.6	350^th of 869 public elementary schools	59.7%					(n/a)			40.0		39.3	30.0	30.0			60.0		57.1			$12,831
Willow River Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	8142 Pine St	Willow River	55795	Pine County	Willow River Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 372-3131	231	20	11.5	44.2%	207 (89.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	57.5	379^th of 869 public elementary schools	56.4%		53.5	442^nd of 872 public elementary schools	49.3%	63	53.6	31.8	53.8	53.3	49.1	26.9	26.9	53.6	59.1	38.5	46.7	49.1	≥ 95%	0%	$12,165
Hinckley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	111 Blair Ave S	Hinckley	55037	Pine County	Hinckley-Finlayson School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 384-6443	395	34	11.4	63.3%	249 (63.0%)	5 (1.3%)	23 (5.8%)	5 (1.3%)	53 (13.4%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (15.2%)	33.1	620^th of 869 public elementary schools	28.7%		34	605^th of 872 public elementary schools	30.6%	15	34.9	37.2	38.3	32.3	35.3	15.2	15.2	50.8	55.8	38.3	20.0	39.9	88.6%	8.6%	$10,344
Moose Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4812 County Rd 10	Moose Lake	55767	Carlton County	Moose Lake Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 485-4435	285	24	12.0	39.3%	252 (88.4%)	5 (1.8%)	8 (2.8%)	3 (1.1%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.2%)	30	642^nd of 869 public elementary schools	26.1%		47.3	502^nd of 872 public elementary schools	42.4%	140	26.3	36.5	32.6	50.0	36.6	2.3	2.3	39.5	43.1	25.6	38.1	36.8	87.8%	4.9%	$11,820

Frequently Asked Questions about East Central Elementary

Is East Central Elementary a good school?

East Central Elementary ranks 586^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of East Central Elementary?

Students at East Central Elementary are 76% White, 10% American Indian, 8% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What district is East Central Elementary in?

East Central School District

What schools do graduates of East Central Elementary attend?

Students who attend East Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : East Central Senior Secondary

How many students attend East Central Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 391 students attended East Central Elementary.

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MNMinnesota Elementary School Rankings

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Schools in Finlayson, MN

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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.