Comfrey Public School District

The Comfrey Public School District in Minnesota operates two schools: Comfrey Secondary and Comfrey Elementary. While both schools serve a predominantly white student population, the data reveals a significant performance gap between the two, with Comfrey Elementary outshining its secondary counterpart.

Comfrey Elementary stands out as the higher-performing school, with significantly higher proficiency rates in both math and reading compared to Comfrey Secondary. In contrast, Comfrey Secondary has seen a concerning decline in its statewide ranking and SchoolDigger rating over the past few years, dropping from 230th out of 472 Minnesota high schools in 2021-2022 to 392nd out of 480 in 2023-2024. This trend suggests that the academic challenges may be more pronounced at the secondary level.

Both schools have a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a need to address socioeconomic challenges that may be impacting student learning and achievement. Additionally, the lower student-teacher ratio at Comfrey Elementary compared to Comfrey Secondary may be a contributing factor to the elementary school's stronger academic performance. The Comfrey Public School District should closely examine the factors driving the performance differences between the two schools and implement targeted strategies to support student success at all grade levels.