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Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 56362

Coming soon: We're expecting this year's test scores from the Minnesota Department of Education any day now — new rankings will be posted the moment they're released!

Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the Minnesota Department of Education any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

At a glance

School

429

Students

Top rankedPaynesville Area Elementary257^th of 872 Minnesota elementary schools

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Summary:

The 56362 zip code is home to one standout elementary school, Paynesville Area Elementary, which serves students in grades K-6. This school consistently outperforms state and district averages on standardized tests, ranking in the top 30% of Minnesota elementary schools with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Paynesville Area Elementary boasts impressive academic achievements, with 57.69% of students proficient in MCA-III Math and 59.62% proficient in MCA-III Reading, compared to state averages of 45.21% and 49.59%, respectively. The school also has a relatively low free/reduced lunch rate of 29.13%, suggesting a more affluent student population. Additionally, Paynesville Area Elementary maintains a student-teacher ratio of 16.1, lower than the state average, indicating smaller class sizes and potentially more individualized attention for students.

Overall, Paynesville Area Schools is home to a standout elementary school that provides a quality education for its students. Paynesville Area Elementary's consistent academic performance, favorable student demographics, and efficient resource allocation make it a desirable option for families in the 56362 zip code area.

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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 All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	Total
Paynesville Area Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	205 W Mill St	Paynesville	56362	Stearns County	Paynesville Area Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 243-3725	429	30	14.4	29.6%	388 (90.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.1%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (2.8%)	71	257^th of 872 public elementary schools	70.5%		74	215^th of 881 public elementary schools	75.6%	42	62.3	56.6	54.0	57.7	53.6	55.3	71.4	59.6	$11,355

Cities Near Zip Code 56362

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Paynesville	2.19 mi	3	304^th
Richmond	9.43 mi	1	183^rd
Eden Valley	9.43 mi	3	69^th
Cold Spring	13.71 mi	6	179^th
New London	14.33 mi	5	65^th

See the top MN Minnesota cities

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.