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Verndale Elementary

Q: Is Verndale Elementary a good school?

Verndale Elementary ranks 501 st of 872 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

501^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 872 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 43% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Verndale Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in Verndale, Minnesota, with 262 students. The school is part of the Verndale Public School District, which is ranked 321 out of 446 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Verndale Elementary's academic performance, as measured by MCA-III proficiency rates, is generally below the state averages across all grades and subjects. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates in math and reading for all grades were 40.82% and 48.98%, respectively, compared to the state averages of 45.21% and 49.59%. However, the school performs better than the district average, indicating it is one of the stronger schools within the Verndale Public School District. Verndale Elementary's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with female students and students with low socioeconomic status performing better than the school's overall average, while students with special needs rank in the bottom 30-40% of Minnesota elementary schools.

Verndale Elementary's performance is lower than that of the nearby New York Mills Elementary, which consistently outperforms Verndale Elementary in both math and reading proficiency rates. Other nearby schools, such as Sebeka Elementary and Bertha Elementary, also tend to outperform Verndale Elementary in academic measures. Additionally, Verndale Elementary's performance has declined over the past several years, with the school's statewide ranking dropping from around the 550th position in 2016-2017 to the 626th position in 2021-2022.

253

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,713

Per pupil spending ?

41.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

411 SW Brown St
Verndale, MN 56481-3000

(218) 445-5184

District: Verndale Public School District

Students who attend Verndale Elementary usually attend:

High:

Verndale Secondary

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.5%

Two or more races:

2.0%

Hispanic:

1.6%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Verndale Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 43rd percentile in 2015 → 43rd in 2025

Strengths

✓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 (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg36%

Minnesota avg47%

501^st of 872

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 43%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

321^st of 446Verndale 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
2025	47.4	501 of 872	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.2	566 of 881	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.8	619 of 845	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.2	626 of 858	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.4	597 of 869	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.3	584 of 870	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.6	557 of 847	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	45.2	550 of 853	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	43.3	579 of 848	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	53.3	478 of 840	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	40.9	584 of 826	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	34.7	635 of 824	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	60.7	390 of 820	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	48.4	528 of 814	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	70.9	216 of 803	73.1%	★★★★☆
2008	52.4	453 of 781	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	40.8	590 of 777	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	43.9	536 of 756	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	40.7	497 of 685	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	61.1	287 of 676	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2003	43.9	469 of 674	30.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	67.8	255 of 799	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.1	404 of 809	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.8	489 of 787	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.0	460 of 799	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.0	566 of 783	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.7	549 of 787	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.1	517 of 774	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	52.8	351 of 764	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.5	508 of 793	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.7	433 of 774	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.5	414 of 663	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.3	408 of 683	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.7	295 of 740	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.6	364 of 728	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	29.2	619 of 812	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.3	634 of 826	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.7	656 of 799	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.1	655 of 808	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.4	575 of 784	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.5	500 of 798	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.3	502 of 779	35.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	29.3	429 of 562	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.0	348 of 572	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.4	362 of 524	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.1	393 of 500	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.0	414 of 515	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.9	396 of 463	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	28.4	580 of 714	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.1	627 of 730	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.7	675 of 712	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.7	662 of 725	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.0	655 of 710	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.4	645 of 722	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.6	574 of 712	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)68th percentile+26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)54th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2025)24th percentile-19 vs school

Special Education (2025)24th percentile-19 vs school

White (2025)19th percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2024-2025) ?

Reading49%~ state avg

Math41%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Verndale 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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCA-III Math (2025)					MCA-III Reading (2025)					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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	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	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	Total
Verndale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	411 SW Brown St	Verndale	56481	Wadena County	Verndale Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 445-5184	253	21	11.8	41.5%	239 (94.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	2 (0.8%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	47.4	501^st of 872 public elementary schools	42.5%		42.2	566^th of 881 public elementary schools	35.8%	65	56.8	57.6	31.6	12.5	40.8	38.6	57.6	50.0	53.1	49.0	$10,713
Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	215 Colfax Ave SW	Wadena	56482	Wadena County	Wadena-Deer Creek School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 632-2400	450	40	11.1	52.2%	387 (86.0%)	9 (2.0%)	21 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.1%)	31.1	634^th of 872 public elementary schools	27.3%		30.4	650^th of 881 public elementary schools	26.2%	16	52.3	40.3			46.6	33.7	27.6			30.9	$12,842
Bertha Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	310 Central Ave S	Bertha	56437	Todd County	Bertha-Hewitt Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 924-2500	293	16	17.9	51.2%	279 (95.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.4%)	57.4	400^th of 872 public elementary schools	54.1%		59	385^th of 881 public elementary schools	56.3%	15	81.4	66.7	36.6	38.7	55.9	50.0	28.6	46.3	53.1	46.4	$12,003
Staples-Motley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1025 4th St NE	Staples	56479	Todd County	Staples-Motley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 894-5400	308	24	13.1	55.8%	282 (91.6%)	4 (1.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.9%)	33.8	609^th of 872 public elementary schools	30.2%		42.8	559^th of 881 public elementary schools	36.5%	50	48.9	44.3			46.3	34.0	34.4			34.3	$12,285
Sebeka Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	200 1st St NW	Sebeka	56477	Wadena County	Sebeka Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 837-5101	218	22	9.9	61.9%	205 (94.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.1%)	59.4	378^th of 872 public elementary schools	56.7%		65.6	306^th of 881 public elementary schools	65.3%	72	75.9	87.5	22.2	32.0	54.1	51.7	62.5	40.0	54.2	51.7	$12,778
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%)	79.9	149^th of 872 public elementary schools	82.9%		78	162^nd of 881 public elementary schools	81.6%	13	74.6	78.4	52.0	63.0	66.9	52.2	56.8	64.9	69.8	60.5	$9,458

Frequently Asked Questions about Verndale Elementary

What district is Verndale Elementary in?

Verndale Public School District

What is the racial makeup of Verndale Elementary?

Students at Verndale Elementary are 94% White, 2% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic, 1% American Indian.

Is Verndale Elementary a good school?

Verndale Elementary ranks 501^st of 872 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Verndale Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 253 students attended Verndale Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Verndale Elementary attend?

Students who attend Verndale Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Verndale Secondary

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Schools in Verndale, MN

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025

2022–23 graduation ratesDec 2, 2024

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.