Summary:
ZIP code 56714 covers the community of Badger, Minnesota, and contains exactly one elementary school: Badger Elementary, a PK–6 building with 124 students that belongs to the Badger Public School District. Because there is only one school here, its results are also the story of elementary education in this area. The district as a whole is ranked 161st of 458 in Minnesota (65th percentile, 3 stars), while Badger Elementary itself sits in the 46th percentile with 2 stars — improved from the 38th percentile the year before, and its best showing in the three years available.
Reading and science are the bright spots. In 2025–2026, 52.2% of Badger Elementary students were proficient in reading, above Minnesota's 48.6%, and 33.3% were proficient in science, above both the state's 25.5% and the district's 30.2%. Fifth grade reading was the strongest single result at 61.1% (state: 54.5%), and 5th grade science was also above the state mark. Reading gained about 7 points year over year and science about 5.6 points, though the reading comparison deserves mild caution because the state labels that test differently between the two years.
Math is the clear concern. Only 33.3% of students were proficient — nearly 12 points below the state's 44.9% and below the district's 35.8% as well — and the district trails the state in math too, so this looks systemic rather than unique to this building. Math also weakens steadily as students move up: 57.1% in 3rd grade (essentially at the state's 57.9%) drops to 30% in 4th, 22.2% in 5th, and 20% in 6th. Reading shows no similar slide. With just 124 students across PK–6, grade-level cohorts are very small, so year-to-year changes can reflect only a student or two. About 58% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
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