Summary:
The 11 schools in zip code 56537 (Fergus Falls, MN) serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with the vast majority belonging to the Fergus Falls Public School District, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 55th percentile statewide.
The standout performer is Kennedy High School, a 4-star school ranking in the top 13% of Minnesota high schools with a 94.6% graduation rate and reading proficiency (64.8%) well above the state average. Its feeder, Kennedy Middle School, has historically earned 5-star ratings but recently dropped to the 87th percentile, though its math proficiency (53.01%) still exceeds the state. At the elementary level, Cleveland Elementary is a model of consistency with three consecutive 4-star ratings and exceptional 4th-grade math scores (76.43%), while Adams Elementary and McKinley Elementary also significantly outperform state math averages. In stark contrast, the district's online programs—iQ Academy K-5, iQ Academy 6-8, and iQ Academy 9-12—struggle with low proficiency rates (e.g., 19.12% math at iQ Academy 6-8) and high poverty levels (up to 69.23%). The Fergus Falls Area Learning Center faces the most critical challenges, ranking in the bottom 7% of high schools with a 0% math proficiency rate and a 25.6% dropout rate.
A key takeaway is the clear performance gap between traditional brick-and-mortar schools and alternative/online programs, which serve higher-needs populations. The district's elementary math instruction is a notable strength, with all three traditional elementary schools beating state averages. Lakes Country Academy, under the Region 4-Lakes Country Service Coop, is a unique outlier with only 14 students, an 85.71% poverty rate, and a 2.1:1 student-teacher ratio, suggesting intensive individualized support despite lacking test score data.
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