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Medford Elementary

Q: Is Medford Elementary a good school?

Medford Elementary ranks in the bottom 24.4% of Minnesota elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Medford Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 466 students attended Medford Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Medford Elementary?

Students at Medford Elementary are 79% White, 18% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Q: What schools do graduates of Medford Elementary attend?

Students who attend Medford Elementary usually go on to attend: High : Medford Secondary

Public Grades PK, KG-6

657^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 24% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Medford Elementary in Medford, MN is a PK–6 neighborhood school of 466 students in the Medford Public School District, serving a small town between Owatonna and Faribault. In 2025–2026 it ranked 657th of 869 ranked Minnesota elementary schools — the 24th percentile, 1 star — slightly below its own district, which sits at the 30th percentile with 2 stars. About 35.6% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025, and the student-teacher ratio is 14:1. For roughly a decade the school hovered near the middle of the state pack (29th–50th percentile), then fell 17 percentile points in a single year to its lowest mark in the available record.

In 2025–2026, 30.5% of students met standards in math (state: 44.9%), 39.3% in reading (state: 48.6%), and 7.2% in science (state: 25.5%). Reading is the relative strength — above the district's 36.6% — while science is the sharpest weakness: Medford's 7.2% is lower than every nearby comparison school, including schools with far higher low-income enrollment. The most telling comparison is Lincoln Elementary in Owatonna, about 7 miles away, with nearly identical size (505 students), poverty rate (36.6% vs 35.6%) and staffing ratio (13.6 vs 14.0). Lincoln outperforms Medford by 20.8 points in math, 11.6 in reading and 17.5 in science, and ranks at the 55th percentile with 3 stars.

The decline isn't uniform across grades. Fourth grade reading (46.4%) is essentially at the state average (48.8%), but fifth grade math (10.6% vs 41.9% state) and fifth grade science (7.2% vs 25.9%) dropped sharply, and third grade reading (21.5% vs 46.8%) is also far behind — pointing to grade-level issues rather than one school-wide problem. Science has fallen four years running, from 46.9% in 2022–2023 to 7.2%. Meanwhile, poverty rates and class sizes both improved, so neither explains the drop. Parents may want to ask what changed in the 2025–2026 fifth-grade math and science instruction.

466

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,456

Per pupil spending ?

35.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

80.9%

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

Exemptions: 12.8% (MMR)

750 2nd Ave SE
Medford, MN 55049-0038

(507) 214-6312

District: Medford Public School District

Students who attend Medford Elementary usually attend:

High:

Medford Secondary

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.4%

Hispanic:

18.2%

Two or more races:

1.9%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Medford Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 49th percentile in 2016 → 24th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (32% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 25 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg30%

Minnesota avg43%

657^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 24%▼ down 25 pts since 2016

From bottom 49% (2016) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

321^st of 458Medford 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	28.3	657 of 869	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	45.6	515 of 872	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.0	503 of 881	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.3	493 of 845	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.3	430 of 858	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.6	497 of 869	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.4	590 of 870	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.4	600 of 847	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	55.7	443 of 853	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	57.4	430 of 848	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	59.0	401 of 840	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	64.5	328 of 826	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	61.8	348 of 824	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	52.5	492 of 820	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	41.8	600 of 814	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	45.1	575 of 803	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	42.7	565 of 781	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	47.0	516 of 777	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	37.3	597 of 756	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	53.7	392 of 685	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	55.5	352 of 676	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2003	50.0	419 of 674	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	25.6	626 of 790	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	48.2	451 of 799	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.7	446 of 809	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.1	442 of 787	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	58.5	370 of 799	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.6	449 of 783	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.9	561 of 787	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.6	550 of 774	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	9.5	256 of 256	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	51.0	101 of 238	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.1	73 of 249	70.7%	★★★★☆
2023	51.0	87 of 214	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.0	85 of 209	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.7	90 of 153	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.3	137 of 219	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.4	134 of 220	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	25.1	615 of 764	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	57.2	307 of 764	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.0	390 of 793	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.2	322 of 774	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.5	294 of 663	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.5	375 of 683	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.9	413 of 740	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.1	454 of 728	37.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	29.9	600 of 807	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	40.0	545 of 812	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.0	513 of 826	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.4	500 of 799	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.7	491 of 808	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.3	484 of 784	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.3	522 of 798	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.2	574 of 779	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	22.8	488 of 579	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	48.9	278 of 562	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.9	356 of 572	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.6	397 of 524	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.2	387 of 500	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	53.6	183 of 417	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.2	268 of 515	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.0	294 of 463	36.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	12.4	672 of 710	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	26.7	591 of 714	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.2	594 of 730	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.4	566 of 712	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.6	467 of 725	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.8	510 of 710	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.2	595 of 722	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.8	616 of 712	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2026)26th percentile~ school

Female (2026)21st percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)20th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)16th percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)5th percentile-19 vs school

Hispanic (2026)<1st percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading39%-9 vs state

Math30%-14 vs state

Science7%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Medford 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
Medford Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	750 2nd Ave SE	Medford	55049	Steele County	Medford Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 214-6312	466	33	14.0	35.6%	370 (79.4%)	2 (0.4%)	85 (18.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	28.3	657^th of 869 public elementary schools	24.4%		45.6	515^th of 872 public elementary schools	40.9%	142	21.5	46.4	49.3	39.0	39.3	7.2	7.2	38.5	47.1	10.6	24.1	30.5	80.9%	12.8%	$9,456
McKinley Elementary	Public	K-5	1050 22nd St. NE	Owatonna	55060	Steele County	Owatonna Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 444-8200	510	39	13.1	48.2%	301 (59.0%)	88 (17.3%)	99 (19.4%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.1%)	43.2	536^th of 869 public elementary schools	38.3%		41.9	553^rd of 872 public elementary schools	36.6%	17	45.5	45.7	46.6		45.9	19.2	19.2	46.5	47.8	32.9		43.2	90.9%	6.1%	$11,896
Washington Elementary	Public	K-5	423 14th St. NE	Owatonna	55060	Steele County	Owatonna Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 444-8300	468	37	12.8	39.3%	357 (76.3%)	12 (2.6%)	75 (16.0%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.8%)	49.6	466^th of 869 public elementary schools	46.4%		56	415^th of 872 public elementary schools	52.4%	51	58.3	48.8	43.8		49.6	17.9	17.9	69.4	47.6	32.3		48.0	96.6%	3.4%	$12,662
Wilson Elementary	Public	K-5	325 Meadow Ln	Owatonna	55060	Steele County	Owatonna Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 444-8400	454	35	13.0	58.8%	243 (53.5%)	29 (6.4%)	143 (31.5%)	9 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (6.4%)	25.8	676^th of 869 public elementary schools	22.2%		31	636^th of 872 public elementary schools	27.1%	40	31.2	36.8	40.5		36.1	11.0	11.0	42.9	32.9	28.4		34.8	86.3%	13.7%	$13,994
Lincoln Elementary	Public	K-5	747 Havana Rd	Owatonna	55060	Steele County	Owatonna Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 444-8100	505	37	13.6	36.6%	409 (81.0%)	13 (2.6%)	64 (12.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.6%)	56.4	388^th of 869 public elementary schools	55.4%		56.4	408^th of 872 public elementary schools	53.2%	20	45.2	45.5	62.0		50.9	24.7	24.7	48.8	52.5	52.2		51.3	83.8%	11.8%	$11,280
Jefferson Elementary	Public	1-5	922 SW Home Place	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Faribault Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 333-6500	389	31	12.7	82.5%	75 (19.3%)	148 (38.0%)	134 (34.4%)	8 (2.1%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.4%)	14	756^th of 869 public elementary schools	13.0%		8.8	802^nd of 872 public elementary schools	8.0%	46	16.3	26.1	40.3		26.8	13.2	13.2	29.3	18.0	16.9		21.7			$15,329
Surad Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	128 8th Ave NW	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Surad Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(507) 805-2335	77	9	8.3	—	0 (0.0%)	77 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33.7	615^th of 869 public elementary schools	29.2%		22.9	693^rd of 872 public elementary schools	20.5%	78	6.7	15.4	27.3	40.0	20.4	27.3	27.3	53.3	57.1	27.3	40.0	46.0	25.9%	3.7%
Roosevelt Early Learning Center	Public	PK-K	925 Parshall St	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Faribault Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 333-6700	473	34	13.8	72.9%	145 (30.7%)	89 (18.8%)	211 (44.6%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.1%)								(n/a)													69.5%	3.4%	$16,544
Lincoln Elementary	Public	1-5	510 Lincoln Ave NW	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Faribault Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 333-6600	391	32	12.1	75.2%	122 (31.2%)	81 (20.7%)	146 (37.3%)	9 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.2%)	18.6	732^nd of 869 public elementary schools	15.8%		10.5	791^st of 872 public elementary schools	9.3%	59	35.0	32.0	36.0		34.3	11.4	11.4	33.1	19.2	16.9		23.8			$15,689
Nerstrand Charter School	Public, Charter	K-5	205 S 2nd St	Nerstrand	55053	Rice County	Nerstrand Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(507) 333-6850	102	8	13.6	23.5%	88 (86.3%)	4 (3.9%)	3 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.9%)	75	207^th of 869 public elementary schools	76.2%		66.8	302^nd of 872 public elementary schools	65.4%	95	68.2	57.1	60.0		61.7	30.0	30.0	77.3	57.1	50.0		63.3	81.8%	9.1%	$12,869

Frequently Asked Questions about Medford Elementary

What district is Medford Elementary in?

Medford Public School District

How many students attend Medford Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 466 students attended Medford Elementary.

Is Medford Elementary a good school?

Medford Elementary ranks in the bottom 24.4% of Minnesota elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Medford Elementary attend?

Students who attend Medford Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Medford Secondary

What is the racial makeup of Medford Elementary?

Students at Medford Elementary are 79% White, 18% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Rate Medford Elementary!

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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.