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Armstrong Elementary

Q: Is Armstrong Elementary a good school?

Armstrong Elementary ranks 340 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

340^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Armstrong Elementary is a PK–5 school in Cottage Grove, a Twin Cities suburb in Washington County, Minnesota, serving about 325 students as part of South Washington County Schools, a district ranked 144th of 458 in the state.

Armstrong's statewide standing improved sharply in 2025–2026: it ranked 340th of 869 ranked Minnesota elementary schools (61st percentile, 3 stars), up from 480th the year before and its best showing since 2018–2019. Among the nine same-district elementary schools nearby, Armstrong ranks third, behind Cottage Grove Elementary (194th) and Grey Cloud Elementary (287th), and ahead of Newport Elementary, Nuevas Fronteras Spanish Immersion, Hillside Elementary, Crestview Elementary, Pine Hill Elementary and Pullman Elementary. Its all-grade math (55.4%) and reading (53.3%) proficiency rates are above both district and state averages, and third-highest in that local group.

Science is the clear weak spot: 20.4% proficiency in 2025–2026, below district and state and lower than most nearby schools, following an extreme low of 4.55% in 2024–2025. Fifth grade is the pressure point, with the weakest math of the tested grades and science far below district and state, though 5th-grade reading (57.7%) is above the state average. The school's results look stronger than its demographics alone would predict: it has a higher free/reduced lunch rate (37.23%) than Nuevas Fronteras, Hillside and Pine Hill yet outperforms them in math and reading. Armstrong also has a low student/teacher ratio (11.5), and its low-income and special-education students rank around the 62nd percentile, above the state median.

325

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,934

Per pupil spending ?

37.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

8855 Inwood Ave S
Cottage Grove, MN 55016-3300

(651) 425-4101

District: South Washington County Schools

Students who attend Armstrong Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Cottage Grove Middle School
High:	Park High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

53.2%

Asian:

13.2%

Hispanic:

12.0%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Armstrong Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 59th percentile in 2016 → 61st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (50% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Above the Minnesota median (61st percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg48%

Minnesota avg43%

340^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 16Elementary Schools in the South Washington County Schools

144^th of 458South Washington County Schools 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	60.6	340 of 869	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.3	480 of 872	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.6	451 of 881	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.4	526 of 845	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.0	509 of 858	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.5	568 of 869	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	68.4	285 of 870	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.6	270 of 847	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	62.8	367 of 853	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.3	344 of 848	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.2	384 of 840	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	62.1	352 of 826	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.9	320 of 824	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	49.3	530 of 820	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	64.6	319 of 814	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	58.0	414 of 803	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	44.5	551 of 781	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	41.1	587 of 777	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	60.7	328 of 756	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	35.4	534 of 685	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	36.7	514 of 676	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	40.3	492 of 674	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	48.4	71 of 136	47.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	51.0	403 of 790	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.8	494 of 799	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.4	376 of 809	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.4	494 of 787	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.6	542 of 799	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.6	541 of 783	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.3	369 of 787	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.1	401 of 774	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	58.9	291 of 764	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.4	229 of 764	70.0%	★★★★☆
2024	45.1	464 of 793	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.5	553 of 774	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.2	488 of 663	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	44.5	406 of 683	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	81.9	64 of 740	91.4%	★★★★★
2018	70.7	171 of 728	76.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	63.7	280 of 807	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.5	412 of 812	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.7	483 of 826	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.7	495 of 799	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.7	368 of 808	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.9	500 of 784	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	72.9	192 of 798	75.9%	★★★★☆
2018	76.6	152 of 779	80.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	55.4	222 of 579	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.9	171 of 562	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.3	340 of 572	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.6	293 of 524	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.2	312 of 500	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.7	319 of 417	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	76.8	72 of 515	86.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	44.1	416 of 710	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.4	558 of 714	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.0	491 of 730	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.2	557 of 712	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	39.8	476 of 725	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.2	495 of 710	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.9	260 of 722	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.8	230 of 712	67.7%	★★★☆☆

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)

Male (2026)65th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)62nd percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)62nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)49th percentile-12 vs school

Asian (2019)48th percentile-19 vs school

White (2026)41st percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math55%+10 vs state

Reading53%+5 vs state

Science20%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Armstrong 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 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 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 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	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
Armstrong Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8855 Inwood Ave S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-4101	325	28	11.5	37.2%	173 (53.2%)	33 (10.2%)	39 (12.0%)	43 (13.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (11.1%)	60.6	340^th of 869 public elementary schools	60.9%		49.3	480^th of 872 public elementary schools	45.0%	140	49.1	53.6	57.7				53.3	20.4		20.4	59.6	60.7	45.5				55.4	$15,934
Hillside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8177 Hillside Tr S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-4001	417	36	11.5	31.7%	244 (58.5%)	40 (9.6%)	48 (11.5%)	46 (11.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (9.1%)	49.6	465^th of 869 public elementary schools	46.5%		52.9	448^th of 872 public elementary schools	48.6%	17	45.3	39.1	48.8				44.7	27.5		27.5	56.4	54.7	33.8				47.7	$13,590
Crestview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7830 80th St S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 425-3801	425	36	11.8	48.0%	218 (51.3%)	47 (11.1%)	59 (13.9%)	51 (12.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (11.5%)	43.3	533^rd of 869 public elementary schools	38.7%		30.5	641^st of 872 public elementary schools	26.5%	108	38.8	40.5	42.9				40.7	20.3		20.3	52.2	51.9	41.4				48.6	$14,724
Pine Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	9015 Hadley Ave S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-3901	502	38	13.0	27.3%	297 (59.2%)	48 (9.6%)	50 (10.0%)	69 (13.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (7.2%)	37.6	580^th of 869 public elementary schools	33.3%		34.4	602^nd of 872 public elementary schools	31.0%	22	42.1	34.6	44.2				40.7	13.8		13.8	60.6	42.3	29.8				44.4	$13,370
Grey Cloud Elementary	Public	K-5	9525 Indian Blvd S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-4201	797	50	15.8	16.4%	527 (66.1%)	78 (9.8%)	52 (6.5%)	83 (10.4%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (6.6%)	66.4	287^th of 869 public elementary schools	67.0%		67	301^st of 872 public elementary schools	65.5%	14	49.2	54.2	63.4				55.5	28.2		28.2	56.8	59.5	54.0				57.0	$12,798
Cottage Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7447 65th St S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-5801	432	31	14.1	22.0%	240 (55.6%)	49 (11.3%)	17 (3.9%)	83 (19.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.7%)	75.6	194^th of 869 public elementary schools	77.7%		81.1	136^th of 872 public elementary schools	84.4%	58	53.0	56.5	66.2				58.3	27.0		27.0	67.5	70.6	69.9				69.3	$14,065
Pullman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1260 Selby Ave	Saint Paul Park	55071	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 425-3601	420	35	11.8	39.8%	215 (51.2%)	33 (7.9%)	50 (11.9%)	65 (15.5%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	53 (12.6%)	27.5	660^th of 869 public elementary schools	24.1%		32	624^th of 872 public elementary schools	28.4%	36	33.8	29.3	43.3				35.7	13.6		13.6	52.0	35.0	19.4				36.1	$14,778
Nuevas Fronteras Spanish Immersion	Public	K-5	1020 Third Street	Saint Paul Park	55071	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-3101	561	30	18.6	18.4%	309 (55.1%)	16 (2.9%)	180 (32.1%)	6 (1.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (8.4%)	51	447^th of 869 public elementary schools	48.6%		60.6	363^rd of 872 public elementary schools	58.4%	84	34.8	48.9	52.3				45.1	26.7		26.7	50.0	68.9	31.4				50.4	$11,755
Newport Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	851 6th Ave	Newport	55055	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 425-4301	264	28	9.5	54.5%	111 (42.0%)	48 (18.2%)	28 (10.6%)	49 (18.6%)	2 (0.8%)	3 (1.1%)	23 (8.7%)	54.5	407^th of 869 public elementary schools	53.2%		54.8	426^th of 872 public elementary schools	51.1%	19	40.8	34.2	55.3				43.2	37.8		37.8	50.0	52.6	57.9				53.2	$16,288
Discovery Charter Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-8	4100 66th St E	Inver Grove Heights	55076	Dakota County	Discovery Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 444-8464	166	18	9.0	39.8%	89 (53.6%)	18 (10.8%)	28 (16.9%)	6 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	24 (14.5%)	61.5	330^th of 869 public elementary schools	62.0%		54.8	424^th of 872 public elementary schools	51.4%	94	55.6	25.0	80.0	50.0		35.7	52.4	50.0	18.8	34.4	83.3	35.7	50.0	20.0		23.1	43.8	$9,911

Frequently Asked Questions about Armstrong Elementary

How many students attend Armstrong Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 325 students attended Armstrong Elementary.

Is Armstrong Elementary a good school?

Armstrong Elementary ranks 340^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Armstrong Elementary in?

South Washington County Schools

What schools do graduates of Armstrong Elementary attend?

Students who attend Armstrong Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cottage Grove Middle School
High : Park High School

What is the racial makeup of Armstrong Elementary?

Students at Armstrong Elementary are 53% White, 13% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 10% African American.

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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.