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Robert J. Elkington Middle School

Q: Is Robert J. Elkington Middle School a good school?

Robert J. Elkington Middle School ranks 185 th of 546 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

185^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 546 Minnesota Middle Schools

Better than 66% of Minnesota middle schools

Summary

Robert J. Elkington Middle School (RJEMS) is a grades 6–8 school with 764 students in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and is the largest traditional middle school in its immediate area, operating within the Grand Rapids Public School District. In 2025–26, RJEMS ranked 185 of 546 middle schools statewide — 66th percentile with 3 stars — above its district's 56th percentile and well ahead of nearby middle schools. Greenway Middle ranked 33rd percentile with 2 stars, Hill City Middle ranked 8th percentile with 0 stars, and Middle Area Learning Center received no 2025–26 rank.

Reading is the clearest strength: 52.8% of students were proficient, above the state's 48.6%. Math, at 39.7%, is below the state's 44.9%, and science, at 12.9%, is a bigger concern against a statewide 25.5% — though compared with 8th-grade-only state results of 16.7%, that gap narrows. A striking pattern is the drop between grades: 6th graders posted 55.7% in math and 68.0% in reading, far above state averages, but by 8th grade math fell to 28.3% and reading to 46.1%, both below state. RJEMS outperforms Greenway and Hill City in nearly every shared grade and subject comparison, with 6th-grade math the single exception.

The school's effectiveness rankings vary by student group. Native American students ranked in the 77th percentile (4 stars), and low-socioeconomic students in the 66th percentile (3 stars). Special education students ranked in the 31st percentile (2 stars). RJEMS peaked at the 83rd percentile in 2021–22 and has since slipped to 66th, moving from 4 stars to 3 stars, so the recent downward trend is worth monitoring. Its free/reduced lunch rate of 34.16% is the lowest among local middle schools, and its student-teacher ratio of 17.2 is better than Hill City's 20.6, though Greenway's is lower at 15.7.

764

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,531

Per pupil spending ?

34.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

1000 NE 8th Ave
Grand Rapids, MN 55744-2354

(218) 327-5800

District: Grand Rapids Public School District

Students who attend Robert J. Elkington Middle School usually attend:

High:

Grand Rapids Senior High

Feeder schools for Robert J. Elkington Middle School:

Elementary:	Cohasset Elementary
	East Rapids Elementary
	West Rapids Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.0%

American Indian:

5.8%

Two or more races:

5.0%

See top rated Minnesota middle schools

Compare Robert J. Elkington Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 76th percentile in 2016 → 66th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Minnesota median (66th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2016

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

!Science scores 13 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg46%

Minnesota avg43%

185^th of 546

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Top 34%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From top 24% (2016) to top 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

202^nd of 458Grand Rapids 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	61.9	185 of 546	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.0	145 of 519	72.1%	★★★★☆
2024	65.6	163 of 545	70.1%	★★★★☆
2023	69.3	136 of 529	74.3%	★★★★☆
2022	75.8	90 of 520	82.7%	★★★★☆
2021	74.6	103 of 521	80.2%	★★★★☆
2019	67.0	158 of 533	70.4%	★★★★☆
2018	65.1	173 of 518	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	70.3	133 of 523	74.6%	★★★★☆
2016	72.3	121 of 508	76.2%	★★★★☆
2015	68.2	149 of 516	71.1%	★★★★☆
2014	62.7	186 of 490	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	60.9	183 of 488	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.6	189 of 469	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	49.1	279 of 478	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	57.9	210 of 454	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	57.0	113 of 230	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	52.1	234 of 409	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	62.2	151 of 403	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	70.8	101 of 406	75.1%	★★★★☆
2005	70.6	118 of 396	70.2%	★★★★☆
2004	71.1	118 of 387	69.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	63.3	159 of 467	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.6	144 of 450	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.8	155 of 474	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.1	117 of 455	74.3%	★★★★☆
2022	68.7	113 of 467	75.8%	★★★★☆
2021	73.3	77 of 443	82.6%	★★★★☆
2019	64.3	148 of 439	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.2	193 of 436	55.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	59.1	156 of 458	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.0	87 of 432	79.9%	★★★★☆
2024	68.9	111 of 473	76.5%	★★★★☆
2023	72.6	83 of 459	81.9%	★★★★☆
2022	77.1	38 of 404	90.6%	★★★★★
2021	80.0	28 of 399	93.0%	★★★★★
2019	63.9	128 of 415	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.6	145 of 401	63.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	54.6	205 of 483	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.6	142 of 452	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.0	153 of 479	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.6	142 of 464	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.9	87 of 476	81.7%	★★★★☆
2021	69.7	109 of 437	75.1%	★★★★☆
2019	63.8	161 of 454	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.4	147 of 438	66.4%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	61.8	47 of 120	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.9	81 of 114	28.9%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	65.8	14 of 62	77.4%	★★★★☆
2025	78.8	6 of 50	88.0%	★★★★☆
2024	79.6	4 of 55	92.7%	★★★★★
2023	91.4	2 of 49	95.9%	★★★★★
2022	87.8	1 of 22	95.5%	★★★★★
2021	95.3	1 of 18	94.4%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	32.9	205 of 296	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.5	173 of 265	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.4	219 of 307	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.1	138 of 298	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.7	163 of 288	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	73.5	33 of 260	87.3%	★★★★☆
2019	83.8	24 of 282	91.5%	★★★★★
2018	71.0	47 of 253	81.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	47.3	227 of 435	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.4	195 of 415	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.6	219 of 440	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.2	199 of 436	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.7	120 of 438	72.6%	★★★★☆
2021	61.2	136 of 422	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.0	218 of 428	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.3	213 of 428	50.2%	★★★☆☆

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)77th percentile+11 vs school

Female (2026)66th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)66th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2019)61st percentile-10 vs school

Male (2026)58th percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)48th percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2026)31st percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading53%+4 vs state

Math40%-5 vs state

Science13%-13 vs state

★

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Schools Near Robert J. Elkington Middle School

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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 5th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
Robert J. Elkington Middle School	Public	6-8	1000 NE 8th Ave	Grand Rapids	55744	Itasca County	Grand Rapids Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 327-5800	764	44	17.2	34.2%	657 (86.0%)	4 (0.5%)	20 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (5.8%)	1 (0.1%)	38 (5.0%)	61.9	185^th of 546 public middle schools	66.1%		68	145^th of 519 public middle schools	72.1%	40		68.0	45.3	46.1	52.8		12.9	12.9		55.7	35.9	28.3	39.7	$11,531
Middle Area Learning Center	Public	5-8	1000 NE 8th Ave	Grand Rapids	55744	Itasca County	Grand Rapids Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 327-5800	54	0		44.4%	43 (79.6%)	1 (1.9%)	1 (1.9%)	1 (1.9%)	4 (7.4%)	1 (1.9%)	3 (5.6%)								(n/a)
Greenway Middle	Public	5-8	308 Roosevelt St	Coleraine	55722	Itasca County	Greenway Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 245-1287	244	16	15.7	51.6%	193 (79.1%)	3 (1.2%)	7 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (12.7%)	35	367^th of 546 public middle schools	32.8%		40.8	317^th of 519 public middle schools	38.9%	50	50.6	59.1	21.4	30.5	40.3	31.2	1.7	18.5	57.1	56.8	25.0	22.0	40.7	$11,974
Hill City Middle School	Public	5-8	500 Ione Ave	Hill City	55748	Aitkin County	Hill City Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 697-2394	83	4	20.6	55.4%	70 (84.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (13.3%)	9.3	503^rd of 546 public middle schools	7.9%		22	422^nd of 519 public middle schools	18.7%	81	42.9	21.4	26.7	21.7	26.3	14.3	0.0	5.4	7.7	7.1	13.3	0.0	6.3	$14,215

Frequently Asked Questions about Robert J. Elkington Middle School

What district is Robert J. Elkington Middle School in?

Grand Rapids Public School District

How many students attend Robert J. Elkington Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 764 students attended Robert J. Elkington Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Robert J. Elkington Middle School?

Students at Robert J. Elkington Middle School are 86% White, 6% American Indian, 5% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

Is Robert J. Elkington Middle School a good school?

Robert J. Elkington Middle School ranks 185^th of 546 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Robert J. Elkington Middle School attend?

Students who attend Robert J. Elkington Middle School usually go on to attend Grand Rapids Senior High

Rate Robert J. Elkington Middle School!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2022–23 dropout ratesNewNov 13, 2026

2019–20 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

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.