Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its Minnesota rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Magelssen Elementary

Q: Is Magelssen Elementary a good school?

Magelssen Elementary ranks 396 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

396^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 54% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Magelssen Elementary is the PK–6 school for the Fosston Public School District in northwest Minnesota, serving 340 students in the town of Fosston (population about 1,500). For 2025-2026 it ranks 396th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools — 54th percentile, 3 stars — modestly above the state median. About 58.53% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, roughly 13 points above the state average, and that share has risen three years running. Class sizes have shrunk (student-teacher ratio 14.2 → 12.6). The school has stayed at or above the state median for a decade, but the current 54th percentile is its lowest since 2017-2018, after a slide from 72 to 62 to 54.

Among nearby schools, reading is the clearest strength: at 52.9% proficient, Magelssen leads its rural peer group by about 4 points over the state, roughly 9 points over Win-E-Mac Elementary, 10 over Clearbrook-Gonvick Elementary and 20 over Bagley Elementary — while serving a higher-poverty population than Win-E-Mac. Math (53.3%) also beats the state. Science is the outlier weakness: at 10% proficient the school trails the state (25.5%), its own district (17.9%) and every school in the group. Since the same 5th graders who read above the state (57.1%) scored 10% in science, and science proficiency has fallen 66.67% → 23.68% → 10% across three years, this points to a science-specific issue; science cohorts are small, though.

Grade-level results are uneven. Fourth grade is exceptional (math 79.2%, reading 70.8% — the strongest in the comparison set), while 3rd grade is below state in both subjects and 6th grade trails state too, a possible early signal of rank pressure ahead. Female students rank in the 70th percentile versus 36th for males, the largest internal gap in the data — and a reversal from two years ago. The school's low-income students rank in the 71st percentile with 4 stars, above its own overall standing, showing strong results for its neediest learners. The Fosston Public School District ranks 153rd of 458 (67th percentile, 3 stars).

340

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,462

Per pupil spending ?

58.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

700 1st St E
Fosston, MN 56542-1399

(218) 435-6036

District: Fosston Public School District

Students who attend Magelssen Elementary usually attend:

High:

Fosston Secondary

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.5%

American Indian:

8.5%

Two or more races:

5.6%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Magelssen Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 59th percentile in 2016 → 54th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (49% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Above the Minnesota median (54th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2016

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

!Science scores 16 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg43%

Minnesota avg43%

396^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 46%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 41% (2016) to top 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

153^rd of 458Fosston 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	55.7	396 of 869	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.4	327 of 872	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.5	251 of 881	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	59.9	369 of 845	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	73.0	233 of 858	72.8%	★★★★☆
2021	67.9	281 of 869	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.0	275 of 870	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.2	407 of 847	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.4	424 of 853	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.2	349 of 848	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.1	329 of 840	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	67.0	290 of 826	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	72.1	211 of 824	74.4%	★★★★☆
2012	75.1	158 of 820	80.7%	★★★★☆
2011	71.3	207 of 814	74.6%	★★★★☆
2010	71.4	204 of 803	74.6%	★★★★☆
2009	69.2	125 of 434	71.2%	★★★★☆
2008	65.0	281 of 781	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.5	303 of 777	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	53.6	423 of 756	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	45.7	464 of 685	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	80.4	71 of 676	89.5%	★★★★☆
2003	55.3	359 of 674	46.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	68.8	238 of 790	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.7	243 of 799	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.6	304 of 809	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.0	385 of 787	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.3	329 of 799	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.2	396 of 783	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.9	301 of 787	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.8	423 of 774	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	64.4	223 of 764	70.8%	★★★★☆
2025	68.5	178 of 764	76.7%	★★★★☆
2024	74.2	145 of 793	81.7%	★★★★☆
2023	64.1	256 of 774	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	90.3	19 of 663	97.1%	★★★★★
2021	69.6	166 of 683	75.7%	★★★★☆
2019	75.6	122 of 740	83.5%	★★★★☆
2018	65.7	225 of 728	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	41.1	514 of 807	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.1	397 of 812	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.8	206 of 826	75.1%	★★★★☆
2023	58.8	343 of 799	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.9	165 of 808	79.6%	★★★★☆
2021	70.9	205 of 784	73.9%	★★★★☆
2019	67.6	266 of 798	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.4	387 of 779	50.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2022	43.7	298 of 500	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.4	168 of 515	67.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	42.8	430 of 710	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.9	431 of 714	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.2	314 of 730	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.1	457 of 712	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.2	305 of 725	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.7	380 of 710	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.3	258 of 722	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.4	409 of 712	42.6%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2026)71st percentile+16 vs school

Female (2026)70th percentile+15 vs school

Special Education (2022)40th percentile-32 vs school

White (2026)39th percentile-15 vs school

Male (2026)36th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math53%+8 vs state

Reading53%+4 vs state

Science10%-16 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Magelssen Elementary and help other families decide.

Rate Magelssen Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Magelssen Elementary

Load more schools when map is moved

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
Magelssen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	700 1st St E	Fosston	56542	Polk County	Fosston Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 435-6036	340	27	12.6	58.5%	277 (81.5%)	2 (0.6%)	13 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.6%)	55.7	396^th of 869 public elementary schools	54.4%		64.4	327^th of 872 public elementary schools	62.5%	69	36.4	70.8	57.1	44.4	52.9	10.0	10.0	50.0	79.2	40.0	37.1	53.3	$12,462
Win-E-Mac Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	23130 345th St SE	Erskine	56535	Polk County	Win-E-Mac School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 563-2900	247	16	15.2	33.6%	224 (90.7%)	2 (0.8%)	8 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.9%)	57.8	376^th of 869 public elementary schools	56.7%		70.8	261^st of 872 public elementary schools	70.1%	115	32.1	33.3	56.3	51.4	44.0	21.2	21.2	75.9	64.3	46.9	50.0	58.4	$9,745
Bagley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	202 Bagley Ave NW	Bagley	56621	Clearwater County	Bagley Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 694-6528	482	43	11.2	59.1%	333 (69.1%)	2 (0.4%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	89 (18.5%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (10.6%)	23.8	692^nd of 869 public elementary schools	20.4%		28.1	663^rd of 872 public elementary schools	24.0%	29	35.1	28.8	32.7	35.5	32.9	11.8	11.8	42.9	22.4	30.6	27.4	30.3	$13,007
Clearbrook-Gonvick Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	16770 Clearwater Lake Rd	Clearbrook	56634	Clearwater County	Clearbrook-Gonvick School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 776-3112	254	24	10.7	51.6%	192 (75.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (13.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (9.4%)	35.4	603^rd of 869 public elementary schools	30.6%		55	422^nd of 872 public elementary schools	51.6%	181	39.5	40.5	48.4	44.4	42.9	18.8	18.8	55.3	29.7	25.8	18.5	33.8	$12,123

Frequently Asked Questions about Magelssen Elementary

Is Magelssen Elementary a good school?

Magelssen Elementary ranks 396^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Magelssen Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 340 students attended Magelssen Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Magelssen Elementary attend?

Students who attend Magelssen Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Fosston Secondary

What is the racial makeup of Magelssen Elementary?

Students at Magelssen Elementary are 81% White, 9% American Indian, 6% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

What district is Magelssen Elementary in?

Fosston Public School District

Rate Magelssen Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MNMinnesota Elementary School Rankings

MNMinnesota District Rankings

Schools in Fosston, MN

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Magelssen Elementary!

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.