Summary:
ZIP code 56097 in Wells, Minnesota, has one elementary school: United South Central Elementary, a PK–6 school with 420 students in the United South Central Schools district. Because it is the only elementary school in the ZIP code, there are no other local public elementary schools to compare it with; the most useful comparisons are to its own past results, its district, and Minnesota averages. The school’s record includes three years of state rank history, two years of proficiency data, a 45.24% free/reduced lunch rate for 2024–2025, and a student-teacher ratio of 12.3.
United South Central Elementary has been improving. Its state rank rose from 253rd of 881 in 2023–2024 to 159th of 869 in 2025–2026, moving from the 71st to the 82nd percentile and holding 4 stars each year. In 2025–2026, it outperformed both the district and the state in all three tested subjects: math 66.8% vs district 49.1% and state 44.9%; reading 60.8% vs 49.6% and 48.6%; and science 32.8% vs 29.0% and 25.5%. Math is a clear strength, especially in grades 3–5: 3rd grade 74.6%, 4th grade 75.0%, and 5th grade 75.9%, with 5th grade 34.0 points above the state. Reading was above the state in every reported grade.
For parents, the main academic concern is 6th-grade math, the only reported grade-level result below the state average: 37.5% proficient vs 39.5% statewide. Science also declined from 41.3% in 2024–2025 to 32.8% in 2025–2026, an 8.5-point drop, though it remained above the district and state. The school’s 45.24% free/reduced lunch rate suggests many students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, yet the school still exceeded state proficiency in math, reading, and science in 2025–2026. These are percentages, not student counts, and small grade-level cohorts can make year-to-year changes volatile, so families should consider the trends alongside enrollment and student needs.
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