Summary:
Elementary schools in zip code 55398 consist of two schools serving a combined 1,084 students in a K–2 and 3–5 pairing — Zimmerman Elementary (grades K–2, 522 students) and Westwood Elementary (grades 3–5, 562 students) — both part of the Elk River Public School District, which ranks 37th of 458 Minnesota districts, at the 92nd percentile with 5 stars.
Westwood Elementary is the only one of the two with test results. Its all-grade math score of 56.6% is 11.7 points above the state (44.9%), and reading at 53.6% is 5.0 points above the state (48.6%). However, Westwood trails its own high-performing district in every subject (district math 60.5%, reading 59.3%). Science is the clear weak spot at 21.4% — below both the state (25.5%) and district (30.1%) — and down sharply from 32.22% the prior year. Fifth grade is the weakest grade level, falling below the state in math, reading, and science, while 3rd and 4th grades are above state in both math and reading. Westwood's statewide rank improved from 356th of 881 to 326th of 869, and reading rose 2.25 points while state reading declined. It remains a 3-star school at the 62nd percentile.
Zimmerman Elementary has no MCA test scores or rank history, which is expected for a K–2 school since state testing begins in grade 3 — this should be read as unknown, not weak. On resource measures, it compares favorably: a lower free/reduced lunch rate (28.74% vs Westwood's 31.14%) and a lower student-teacher ratio (17.5 vs 20.6). Families comparing these two schools should treat them as a grade-level pair rather than academic competitors, and note that Westwood's strengths are above-state math and reading and improving rank, while its concerns are science and 5th grade.
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