Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

Summary:

Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. is a public high school located in Fairmont, Minnesota, serving grades 8-12 with a total enrollment of 59 students. This school is part of the Fairmont Area School District, which is ranked 463 out of 463 districts in Minnesota and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. consistently ranks among the lowest-performing high schools in Minnesota, with 0% of students proficient or better in Math and Reading across all grades, significantly lower than the state averages. The school has a very high dropout rate, ranging from 10% to 28.5%, and a correspondingly low four-year graduation rate, ranging from 28.5% to 59.3%, well below the state average. Additionally, the school has a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 68.42% to 88.14%, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

When compared to nearby high schools, such as Blue Earth Area Secondary, Martin County West Senior High, Truman Secondary, Granada Huntley East Chain High School, and Fairmont Junior/Senior High School, Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. significantly underperforms in academic metrics, graduation rates, and socioeconomic indicators. However, the school's small size and specialized focus as an area learning center may present opportunities for targeted interventions and personalized learning approaches to address these issues.

Detail:

Public 8-12

1200 North Park Street
Fairmont, MN 56031-8888

(507) 238-1472

District: Southern Plains Education Coop.

SchoolDigger Rank:
478^th of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 11.1

Number of students: 59

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.3%

Hispanic:

16.9%

African American:

5.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 88.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. ranks worse than 99.6% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 3.09. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (76.3%), Hispanic (16.9%), African American (5.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 88.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. is 11.1. (See more...)

Compare Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. employs 5.2 full-time teachers.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. 478^th of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. in the ranking list.)

Southern Plains Education Coop.:

SchoolDigger ranks Southern Plains Education Coop. 463^rd of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

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Rank History for all students at Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2006	10.87	397^th	450	11.8%
2010	29.46	381^st	540	29.4%
2011	4.93	511^th	545	6.2%
2012	4.72	499^th	539	7.4%
2014	3.42	471^st	483	2.5%
2018	7.49	444^th	494	10.1%
2021	3.47	416^th	428	2.8%
2022	6.97	444^th	472	5.9%
2023	6.89	443^rd	476	6.9%
2024	3.09	478^th	480	0.4%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	13.84	359^th	393	8.7%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for White students at Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	2.43	393^rd	401	2.0%
2023	1.66	395^th	398	0.8%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1995	74	0	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	79
1996	74	0	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	79
1997	65	0	1	6	0	n/a	n/a	72
1998	86	0	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	92
1999	78	0	0	9	0	n/a	n/a	87
2000	80	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	84
2001	57	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	59
2002	53	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	54
2003	53	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	54
2004	46	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	48
2005	47	0	0	7	0	n/a	n/a	54
2006	53	0	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	58
2007	44	0	0	8	2	n/a	n/a	54
2008	38	2	0	6	1	n/a	n/a	47
2009	37	0	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	42
2010	38	1	0	6	1	n/a	n/a	46
2011	33	0	0	5	1	0	0	39
2012	39	0	0	6	0	0	3	48
2013	39	1	0	4	0	0	1	45
2014	29	0	0	7	0	0	0	36
2015	28	0	0	5	0	0	0	33
2016	28	0	0	10	0	0	0	38
2017	27	1	0	5	0	0	2	35
2018	30	4	0	7	0	0	1	42
2019	29	0	0	8	1	0	1	39
2020	34	1	0	8	1	0	3	47
2021	25	1	1	4	1	0	4	36
2022	43	0	0	12	1	0	1	57
2023	45	3	0	10	0	0	1	59

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1995	79	0.0	0.0	24.1
1996	79	0.0	0.0	24.1
1997	72	0.0	0.0	36.1
1998	92	n/a	0.0	28.3
1999	87	5.0	17.4	29.9
2000	84	5.2	16.2	41.7
2001	59	4.5	13.1	52.5
2002	54	4.7	11.5	42.6
2003	54	4.7	11.5	42.6
2004	48	4.6	10.4	52.1
2005	54	5.0	10.8	44.4
2006	58	4.5	12.9	48.3
2007	54	4.5	12.0	55.6
2008	47	4.5	10.4	55.3
2009	42	4.5	9.3	42.9
2010	46	3.5	13.1	69.6
2011	39	3.5	11.1	71.8
2012	48	3.5	13.6	66.7
2013	45	3.4	13.2	68.9
2014	36	3.2	11.2	63.9
2015	33	4.0	8.2	72.7
2016	38	3.0	12.6	84.2
2017	35	4.0	8.7	82.9
2018	42	4.0	10.5	76.2
2019	39	4.0	9.7	69.2
2020	47	3.2	14.6	66
2021	36	4.3	8.2	75
2022	57	4.3	13.1	68.4
2023	59	5.2	11.1	88.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1995	79	0.0	0.0	24.1
1996	79	0.0	0.0	24.1
1997	72	0.0	0.0	36.1
1998	92	n/a	0.0	28.3
1999	87	5.0	17.4	29.9
2000	84	5.2	16.2	41.7
2001	59	4.5	13.1	52.5
2002	54	4.7	11.5	42.6
2003	54	4.7	11.5	42.6
2004	48	4.6	10.4	52.1
2005	54	5.0	10.8	44.4
2006	58	4.5	12.9	48.3
2007	54	4.5	12.0	55.6
2008	47	4.5	10.4	55.3
2009	42	4.5	9.3	42.9
2010	46	3.5	13.1	69.6
2011	39	3.5	11.1	71.8
2012	48	3.5	13.6	66.7
2013	45	3.4	13.2	68.9
2014	36	3.2	11.2	63.9
2015	33	4.0	8.2	72.7
2016	38	3.0	12.6	84.2
2017	35	4.0	8.7	82.9
2018	42	4.0	10.5	76.2
2019	39	4.0	9.7	69.2
2020	47	3.2	14.6	66
2021	36	4.3	8.2	75
2022	57	4.3	13.1	68.4
2023	59	5.2	11.1	88.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Math (Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.)	0	0
11th Grade Math (Southern Plains Education Coop.)	0	0
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36	9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	39	59	51.3%
African American	0	3
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	8	10	25%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	29	45	55.2%
Two or More Races	1	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	69.2%	88.1%	18.9%

Schools Near Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)				MCA-III Reading (2024)				MCA-III Science (2024)			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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science End of Course	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.	Public	8-12	1200 North Park Street	Fairmont	56031	Martin County	Southern Plains Education Coop.	No	No	No	No	(507) 238-1472	59	5	11.1	88.1%	45 (76.3%)	3 (5.1%)	10 (16.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)	3.1	478^th of 480 public high schools	0.4%		6.9	443^rd of 476 public high schools	6.9%	35			0.0	0.0			0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0
Fairmont Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	900 Johnson St	Fairmont	56031	Martin County	Fairmont Area School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 238-4411	859	45	19.0	49.2%	652 (75.9%)	6 (0.7%)	165 (19.2%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (3.3%)	61.6	198^th of 480 public high schools	58.8%		60.8	190^th of 476 public high schools	60.1%	8	31.2	37.2	37.8	35.5	35.8	33.9	47.3	39.7	22.5	42.1	33.3	$13,184
Granada Huntley East Chain High School	Public	9-12	300 Reynolds St	Granada	56039	Martin County	Granada Huntley East Chain	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 447-2211	97	6	15.9	49.5%	94 (96.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	46.6	278^th of 480 public high schools	42.1%		37.5	326^th of 476 public high schools	31.5%	48			11.8	11.8			56.0	56.0		33.3	33.3	$29,025
Truman Secondary	Public	7-12	401 E 1st St S	Truman	56088	Martin County	Truman Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 776-2111	88	8	11.4	63.6%	79 (89.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (6.8%)	41.4	305^th of 480 public high schools	36.5%		20.5	394^th of 476 public high schools	17.2%	89	37.5	27.8	6.3	24.0	37.5	55.6	64.3	52.1	44.4	30.0	35.4	$15,751
Martin County West Senior High	Public	9-12	16 W 5th St	Sherburn	56171	Martin County	Martin County West School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 764-4671	224	13	16.8	47.8%	205 (91.5%)	3 (1.3%)	8 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.2%)	40.4	312^th of 480 public high schools	35.0%		69.7	129^th of 476 public high schools	72.9%	183			20.7	20.7			50.0	50.0		26.2	26.2	$16,005
Blue Earth Area Secondary	Public	8-12	1125 N Grove Street	Blue Earth	56013	Faribault County	Blue Earth Area School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 526-3201	418	24	17.6	46.2%	338 (80.9%)	1 (0.2%)	65 (15.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.9%)	51.8	247^th of 480 public high schools	48.5%		42.3	296^th of 476 public high schools	37.8%	49		20.0	26.3	23.1		41.3	49.4	45.2	14.8	36.4	25.3	$13,556

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.

What district is Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. in?

Southern Plains Education Coop.

What is the racial makeup of Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.?

Students at Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. are 76% White, 17% Hispanic, 5% African American, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.?

In the 2022-23 school year, 59 students attended Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr..

Is Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. a good school?

Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr. ranks in the bottom 0.4% of Minnesota high schools.

Rate Southern Plains Area Learning Cntr.!

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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.