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Heart Of The Lake Elementary

Q: Is Heart Of The Lake Elementary a good school?

Heart Of The Lake Elementary ranks 318 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

318^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 63% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Heart of The Lake Elementary is a PK–4 school serving 578 students in Perham, MN, part of the Perham-Dent Public School District.

In 2025–26, the school ranked 318th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools, in the 63rd percentile, while its district ranked in the 84th percentile. Math is a clear strength: 63.1% of students met proficiency, above the district (49.3%) and state (44.9%). Reading is the main gap: 48.2%, below the district (52.7%) and last among nearby schools. New York Mills Elementary (79th percentile), Frazee Elementary (69th), and Henning Elementary (67th) all outrank the school in 2025–26, though the gaps are modest. The reading weakness is concentrated in 4th grade: 4th-grade reading was 38.2%, below the state and far behind nearby schools, while 3rd-grade reading (58.2%) and 3rd-grade math (69.7%) are competitive.

The school is trending upward: it rose from the 43rd percentile in 2022–23 to 63rd in 2025–26, even as some nearby schools flattened or declined. It also has the lowest free/reduced-lunch rate in the comparison group (41.0%), so its reading lag is not simply a poverty story. The student/teacher ratio has risen from 12.9 to 14.3. Some groups do well—low-income students ranked 64th percentile and male students 66th—and female students improved to 57th. Special education students are the clearest concern, dropping to 24th percentile from 47th in 2023–24. Going forward, watch 4th-grade reading, the rising student/teacher ratio, and special education support.

578

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,045

Per pupil spending ?

41.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

82.6%

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

Exemptions: 6.4% (MMR)

810 2nd Ave SW
Perham, MN 56573-1628

(218) 346-5437

District: Perham-Dent Public School District

Students who attend Heart Of The Lake Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Prairie Wind Middle
High:	Perham Senior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.9%

Hispanic:

12.3%

Two or more races:

5.9%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Heart Of The Lake Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 63rd percentile in 2016 → 63rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (56% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Above the Minnesota median (63rd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school56%

District avg51%

Minnesota avg47%

318^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

74^th of 458Perham-Dent 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	62.3	318 of 869	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.2	380 of 872	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.7	448 of 881	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.6	478 of 845	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.5	462 of 858	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	59.9	379 of 869	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.0	348 of 870	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.4	391 of 847	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	56.8	432 of 853	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	65.3	315 of 848	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	71.7	236 of 840	71.9%	★★★★☆
2014	69.8	249 of 826	69.9%	★★★★☆
2013	49.3	500 of 824	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	61.0	384 of 820	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	31.0	663 of 814	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	55.3	458 of 803	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2009	42.9	307 of 434	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	55.6	418 of 781	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	65.0	268 of 777	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	73.8	151 of 756	80.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	57.1	341 of 790	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.0	520 of 799	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.0	506 of 809	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.7	482 of 787	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.5	453 of 799	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.5	378 of 783	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.0	253 of 787	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.2	411 of 774	46.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	23.0	195 of 238	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	44.0	142 of 249	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.8	178 of 209	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.6	141 of 220	35.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	60.6	276 of 764	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.5	390 of 764	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.9	375 of 793	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	38.7	509 of 774	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.0	394 of 663	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	73.9	125 of 683	81.7%	★★★★☆
2019	65.7	237 of 740	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.0	305 of 728	58.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	64.4	276 of 807	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	74.0	199 of 812	75.5%	★★★★☆
2024	59.2	357 of 826	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.2	414 of 799	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.9	439 of 808	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	58.6	346 of 784	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.2	393 of 798	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.1	341 of 779	56.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	28.6	442 of 579	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.7	442 of 562	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	46.8	301 of 572	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	17.0	472 of 524	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.9	394 of 500	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.5	362 of 417	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.3	469 of 515	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.0	375 of 463	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	49.5	368 of 710	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.7	371 of 714	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.7	533 of 730	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.1	580 of 712	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	44.2	444 of 725	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.7	351 of 710	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.9	385 of 722	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.1	414 of 712	41.9%	★★☆☆☆

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)66th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)64th percentile~ school

Female (2026)57th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)48th percentile-15 vs school

Special Education (2026)24th percentile-40 vs school

Hispanic (2025)18th percentile-38 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math63%+18 vs state

Reading48%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Heart Of The Lake 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
Heart Of The Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	810 2nd Ave SW	Perham	56573	Otter Tail County	Perham-Dent Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 346-5437	578	40	14.3	41.0%	456 (78.9%)	8 (1.4%)	71 (12.3%)	3 (0.5%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.9%)	62.3	318^th of 869 public elementary schools	63.4%		59.2	380^th of 872 public elementary schools	56.4%	62	58.2	38.2			48.2			69.7	56.6			63.1	82.6%	6.4%	$12,045
New York Mills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	209 N Hayes Ave	New York Mills	56567	Otter Tail County	New York Mills Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 385-4201	460	29	15.7	43.9%	422 (91.7%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.3%)	76.9	181^st of 869 public elementary schools	79.2%		79.9	149^th of 872 public elementary schools	82.9%	32	45.3	53.3	60.3	75.3	59.3	28.8	28.8	64.6	75.0	67.1	63.0	67.2	83.3%	0%	$9,458
Frazee Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	300 Hickory Ave W	Frazee	56544	Becker County	Frazee-Vergas Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 334-3951	453	34	13.2	47.9%	361 (79.7%)	17 (3.8%)	13 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.5%)	68.1	270^th of 869 public elementary schools	68.9%		58.1	393^rd of 872 public elementary schools	54.9%	123	58.3	59.0	71.2	46.7	58.8	32.8	32.8	71.9	57.4	55.0	23.0	52.0	97.3%	0%	$12,293
Henning Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	500 School Ave	Henning	56551	Otter Tail County	Henning Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 583-2927	210	16	13.4	50.5%	198 (94.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.3%)	66.7	286^th of 869 public elementary schools	67.1%		75.7	200^th of 872 public elementary schools	77.1%	86	65.6	50.0	58.1	53.1	57.1	19.4	19.4	71.9	79.2	48.4	34.4	57.1	≥ 95%	0%	$11,751

Frequently Asked Questions about Heart Of The Lake Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Heart Of The Lake Elementary?

Students at Heart Of The Lake Elementary are 79% White, 12% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% American Indian.

Is Heart Of The Lake Elementary a good school?

Heart Of The Lake Elementary ranks 318^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Heart Of The Lake Elementary attend?

Students who attend Heart Of The Lake Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Prairie Wind Middle
High : Perham Senior High

How many students attend Heart Of The Lake Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 578 students attended Heart Of The Lake Elementary.

What district is Heart Of The Lake Elementary in?

Perham-Dent Public School District

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

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

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.