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Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary

Q: Is Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary a good school?

Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary ranks 291 st of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

291^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 67% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary is a small PK–6 rural school at 321 Stearns Ave in Heron Lake, Minnesota, serving 123 students in the Heron Lake-Okabena School District in the southwestern corner of the state.

In 2025–2026, 53.3% of students were proficient in math, 51.7% in reading, and 40.0% in science — all above state averages and roughly 17 to 24 points above the district's own figures. That is a steep change: three years ago, math proficiency was just 24.6%. The school has climbed from the bottom quarter of Minnesota elementary schools to the 67th percentile (3 stars), and its low-income students now rank at the 88th percentile statewide (4 stars). Science is a particular bright spot, more than double the district's 15.8%. Classes are small, with roughly 10.5 students per teacher — the lowest ratio among the nearby schools compared here.

Among local schools, Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary is 3rd of 8 in math and 2nd in science, ahead of Windom Area Elementary, Pleasantview Elementary, and Intermediate School in Worthington, and close behind Fulda Elementary and Riverside Elementary in reading. The main caveat is size: with about 13–19 students per grade, one student can move a grade's score by 5–8 points, so results can swing from year to year. Reading in 4th and 6th grades still trails the state, making reading the clearest next step. It is also worth knowing that the district overall ranks in the 26th percentile with 1 star, so this elementary building is currently the strongest part of its system.

123

Students ?

10.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,646

Per pupil spending ?

50.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

90.9%

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

Exemptions: 0% (MMR)

321 Stearns Ave
Heron Lake, MN 56137-4061

(507) 793-2307

District: Heron Lake-Okabena School District

Students who attend Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary usually attend:

High:

Heron Lake-Okabena Secondary

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.7%

Hispanic:

13.0%

American Indian:

2.4%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 21st percentile in 2016 → 67th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (51% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 46 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Minnesota median (67th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school51%

District avg31%

Minnesota avg43%

291^st of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 33%▲ up 45 pts since 2016

From bottom 21% (2016) to top 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

338^th of 458Heron Lake-Okabena 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	66.0	291 of 869	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.2	548 of 872	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.3	615 of 881	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	21.2	682 of 845	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.2	687 of 858	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.6	616 of 869	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.7	625 of 870	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.7	615 of 847	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	35.7	634 of 853	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	30.3	666 of 848	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	39.9	597 of 840	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	33.1	630 of 826	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	23.7	694 of 824	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	23.3	712 of 820	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.5	668 of 814	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	56.0	444 of 803	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	49.6	266 of 434	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	54.7	425 of 781	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	24.2	680 of 777	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	47.8	490 of 756	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	49.1	433 of 685	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	49.5	410 of 676	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2003	23.7	578 of 674	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	19.2	678 of 809	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	6.5	737 of 787	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	78.6	91 of 764	88.1%	★★★★☆
2024	34.3	565 of 793	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.3	601 of 774	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.0	538 of 683	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.3	625 of 740	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.1	588 of 728	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	37.1	564 of 826	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	12.2	715 of 808	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.3	607 of 784	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	66.5	285 of 798	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.7	555 of 779	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	58.5	289 of 710	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	31.4	555 of 714	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.6	581 of 730	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.7	662 of 712	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.0	682 of 725	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	42.0	454 of 710	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.4	615 of 722	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.2	650 of 712	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

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 (2026)88th percentile+22 vs school

White (2026)59th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2024)32nd percentile~ school

Female (2024)16th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math53%+8 vs state

Reading52%+3 vs state

Science40%+14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Heron Lake-Okabena 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
Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	321 Stearns Ave	Heron Lake	56137	Jackson County	Heron Lake-Okabena School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 793-2307	123	12	10.5	50.4%	98 (79.7%)	2 (1.6%)	16 (13.0%)	1 (0.8%)	3 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.4%)	66	291^st of 869 public elementary schools	66.5%		42.2	548^th of 872 public elementary schools	37.2%	257	53.8	38.5	66.7	47.4	51.7	40.0	40.0	76.9	46.2	46.7	47.4	53.3	90.9%	0%	$12,646
Round Lake-Brewster Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	915 4th Ave	Brewster	56119	Nobles County	Round Lake-Brewster Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 842-5951	377	26	14.2	73.2%	81 (21.5%)	5 (1.3%)	275 (72.9%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	8 (2.1%)	42.7	540^th of 869 public elementary schools	37.9%		32.8	619^th of 872 public elementary schools	29.0%	79	42.6	35.4	57.8		44.9	20.0	20.0	50.0	35.4	42.2		42.9	93.8%	1.6%	$10,027
Windom Area Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1200 17th St	Windom	56101	Cottonwood County	Windom Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 831-6925	493	37	13.2	49.3%	277 (56.2%)	12 (2.4%)	136 (27.6%)	23 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.2%)	29 (5.9%)	40.7	557^th of 869 public elementary schools	35.9%		52.9	450^th of 872 public elementary schools	48.4%	107	30.5	42.6			37.2			50.0	52.5			51.4	93.8%	1.3%
Pleasantview Elementary	Public	4-5	703 Mill Road E	Lakefield	56150	Jackson County	Jackson County Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 662-6625	170	11	14.8	39.4%	156 (91.8%)	3 (1.8%)	5 (2.9%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.4%)	53.4	418^th of 869 public elementary schools	51.9%		58.6	387^th of 872 public elementary schools	55.6%	31		44.8	49.3		46.8	26.4	26.4		55.2	43.1		49.7			$13,741
STARSS Online Academy Elementary	Public	K-5	1454 6th Ave N	Windom	56101	Cottonwood County	Region 6 and 8-SW/Wc Service Coop	No	No	No	No	(507) 360-1876	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Fulda Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	303 N Lafayette Ave	Fulda	56131	Murray County	Fulda Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 425-2581	179	16	11.3	54.7%	134 (74.9%)	1 (0.6%)	26 (14.5%)	14 (7.8%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.7%)	73.1	227^th of 869 public elementary schools	73.9%		70.5	263^rd of 872 public elementary schools	69.8%	36	87.0	62.1	60.0	50.0	63.6	44.0	44.0	78.3	75.9	48.0	23.3	55.1	≥ 95%	0%	$14,392
Riverside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-3	820 Park St	Jackson	56143	Jackson County	Jackson County Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 847-5963	350	27	13.0	40.0%	283 (80.9%)	11 (3.1%)	35 (10.0%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.9%)								(n/a)	55.4				55.4			55.4				55.4	89%	8.2%	$11,464
Virtual Instruction by Excellence E	Public, Virtual	K-6	825 N Crailsheim Rd	Worthington	56187	Nobles County	Worthington Public School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(507) 372-1322	518	10	49.8	37.5%	454 (87.6%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (7.7%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.5%)	47.9	489^th of 869 public elementary schools	43.7%		84.8	96^th of 872 public elementary schools	89.0%	393	75.0	30.8			52.8			66.7	23.1			36.1	41.9%	51.2%

Frequently Asked Questions about Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary

Is Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary a good school?

Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary ranks 291^st of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 123 students attended Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary attend?

Students who attend Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Heron Lake-Okabena Secondary

What is the racial makeup of Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary?

Students at Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary are 80% White, 13% Hispanic, 2% American Indian, 2% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What district is Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary in?

Heron Lake-Okabena School District

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Schools in Heron Lake, 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.