Nerstrand Charter School

Q: Is Nerstrand Charter School a good school?

Nerstrand Charter School ranks 258 th of 881 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Nerstrand Charter School is a small public charter elementary school in Nerstrand, Minnesota, serving around 101 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. This school stands out for its consistently strong academic performance, low student-teacher ratio, and unique student demographics compared to nearby public schools.

Nerstrand Charter School has a significantly higher percentage of white students at 96.04%, compared to the more diverse student populations at nearby schools like Lincoln Elementary (20.52% white), Jefferson Elementary (69.15% white), and Roosevelt Elementary (45.52% white). Despite its homogeneous student body, Nerstrand Charter School outperforms the nearby public schools on state assessments in math, reading, and science, with proficiency rates well above the state averages. The school also maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 9.6 to 13 students per teacher, lower than the nearby public schools.

These factors suggest that the success of Nerstrand Charter School may be attributed to a combination of factors, such as school culture, teaching methods, and parental involvement. In contrast, the nearby public schools, which serve more diverse and economically disadvantaged student populations, face greater challenges in achieving high academic outcomes. The unique profile of Nerstrand Charter School provides valuable insights into the factors that contribute to effective education in a small, homogeneous setting, which could inform practices at other schools in the Faribault Public School District, Northfield Public School District, and the Cannon River Stem School district.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-5

205 S 2nd St
Nerstrand, MN 55053-4404

(507) 333-6850

District: Nerstrand Charter School

SchoolDigger Rank:
258^th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,869

Student/teacher ratio: 13.0

Number of students: 98

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.9%

Two or more races:

4.1%

African American:

3.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 28.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Nerstrand Charter School ranks better than 70.7% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.71. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (92.9%), two or more races (4.1%), African American (3.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 28.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Nerstrand Charter School is 13. (See more...)

Compare Nerstrand Charter School employs 7.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Nerstrand Charter School is $12,869.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Nerstrand Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Nerstrand Charter School 258^th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Nerstrand Charter School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

Nerstrand Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Nerstrand Charter School 102^nd of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Nerstrand Charter School

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Rank History for all students at Nerstrand Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2003	66.70	220^th	674	67.4%
2004	57.12	333^rd	676	50.7%
2005	66.51	218^th	685	68.2%
2006	56.98	384^th	756	49.2%
2007	65.25	266^th	777	65.8%
2008	56.69	404^th	781	48.3%
2010	55.79	449^th	803	44.1%
2011	56.98	426^th	814	47.7%
2012	70.29	226^th	820	72.4%
2013	68.95	253^rd	824	69.3%
2014	65.53	313^th	826	62.1%
2015	56.38	445^th	840	47.0%
2016	68.75	273^rd	848	67.8%
2017	45.00	552^nd	853	35.3%
2018	46.72	537^th	847	36.6%
2019	44.55	575^th	870	33.9%
2021	71.86	231^st	869	73.4%
2022	48.59	512^th	858	40.3%
2023	53.75	432^nd	845	48.9%
2024	69.71	258^th	881	70.7%

See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Nerstrand Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	64.67	238^th	728	67.3%
2019	1.68	739^th	740	0.1%

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

Rank History for Female students at Nerstrand Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	51.77	442^nd	774	42.9%
2019	46.13	511^th	787	35.1%
2022	63.52	313^th	799	60.8%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Nerstrand Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	40.28	551^st	779	29.3%
2019	38.40	567^th	798	28.9%
2021	43.70	519^th	784	33.8%
2022	8.02	742^nd	808	8.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Nerstrand Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	26.98	601^st	712	15.6%
2019	40.61	495^th	722	31.4%
2021	55.64	298^th	710	58.0%
2022	28.04	594^th	725	18.1%
2023	29.80	561^st	712	21.2%
2024	54.23	324^th	730	55.6%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary 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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Tuesday, May 14, 2019

My daughters both went to this school. It is such a special place. Small, but with high academic expectations. Wonderful progressive school! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Nerstrand Charter School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2000	145	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	148
2001	147	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	152
2002	148	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	153
2003	148	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	153
2004	148	3	3	0	n/a	n/a	154
2005	150	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	154
2006	151	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	153
2007	153	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	153
2008	154	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	156
2009	151	0	1	2	n/a	n/a	154
2010	149	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	153
2011	147	0	2	1	1	2	153
2012	151	0	2	1	0	1	155
2013	151	0	2	0	0	0	153
2014	149	0	1	5	0	0	155
2015	146	0	1	5	0	0	152
2016	142	3	1	5	0	0	151
2017	139	3	2	7	0	2	153
2018	131	1	1	7	0	9	149
2019	133	1	1	6	0	8	149
2020	137	0	2	4	0	9	152
2021	114	2	1	3	0	4	124
2022	114	3	1	0	0	3	121
2023	97	1	0	0	0	3	101
2024	91	3	0	0	0	4	98

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 Nerstrand Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2000	148	7.7	19.2	13.5
2001	152	8.8	17.3	15.1
2002	153	8.3	18.4	15.7
2003	153	8.3	18.4	15.7
2004	154	8.6	17.9	18.2
2005	154	8.2	18.8	11.7
2006	153	8.2	18.7	8.5
2007	153	8.4	18.2	6.5
2008	156	8.3	18.8	14.7
2009	154	8.5	18.1	14.3
2010	153	8.2	18.5	17.6
2011	153	8.3	18.4	16.3
2012	155	8.3	18.6	14.2
2013	153	8.3	18.4	12.4
2014	155	8.3	18.6	13.5
2015	152	8.0	19.0	16.4
2016	151	8.0	18.8	17.9
2017	153	8.5	18.0	26.1
2018	149	7.5	19.8	38.3
2019	149	9.5	15.6	34.9
2020	152	9.4	16.0	25.7
2021	124	9.4	13.0	16.1
2022	121	9.5	12.6	9.9
2023	101	10.4	9.6	26.7
2024	98	7.5	13.0	28.6

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 Nerstrand Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2000	148	7.7	19.2	13.5
2001	152	8.8	17.3	15.1
2002	153	8.3	18.4	15.7
2003	153	8.3	18.4	15.7
2004	154	8.6	17.9	18.2
2005	154	8.2	18.8	11.7
2006	153	8.2	18.7	8.5
2007	153	8.4	18.2	6.5
2008	156	8.3	18.8	14.7
2009	154	8.5	18.1	14.3
2010	153	8.2	18.5	17.6
2011	153	8.3	18.4	16.3
2012	155	8.3	18.6	14.2
2013	153	8.3	18.4	12.4
2014	155	8.3	18.6	13.5
2015	152	8.0	19.0	16.4
2016	151	8.0	18.8	17.9
2017	153	8.5	18.0	26.1
2018	149	7.5	19.8	38.3
2019	149	9.5	15.6	34.9
2020	152	9.4	16.0	25.7
2021	124	9.4	13.0	16.1
2022	121	9.5	12.6	9.9
2023	101	10.4	9.6	26.7
2024	98	7.5	13.0	28.6

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.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Nerstrand Charter School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$12,869

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Nerstrand Charter School

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.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 575^th of 870 Elementary schools	Ranks 432^nd of 845 Elementary schools	15%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Nerstrand Charter School)	84.6	76.5	8.2%
3rd Grade Math (Nerstrand Charter School)	84.6	76.5	8.2%
3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)	65.6	59.1	6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Nerstrand Charter School)	69.2	47.1	22.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Nerstrand Charter School)	69.2	47.1	22.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)	54.6	47.4	7.2%
4th Grade Math (Nerstrand Charter School)	75	64.3	10.7%
4th Grade Math (Nerstrand Charter School)	75	64.3	10.7%
4th Grade Math (Minnesota)	63.9	57.1	6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Nerstrand Charter School)	54.2	21.4	32.7%
4th Grade Reading (Nerstrand Charter School)	54.2	21.4	32.7%
4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	55.4	48.4	7.1%
5th Grade Math (Nerstrand Charter School)	16	30.8	14.8%
5th Grade Math (Nerstrand Charter School)	16	30.8	14.8%
5th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52	44.4	7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Nerstrand Charter School)	28	61.5	33.5%
5th Grade Reading (Nerstrand Charter School)	28	61.5	33.5%
5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	65.8	58.7	7%
5th Grade Science (Nerstrand Charter School)	16	46.2	30.2%
5th Grade Science (Nerstrand Charter School)	16	46.2	30.2%
5th Grade Science (Minnesota)	54.9	48.4	6.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	149	101	32.2%
African American	1	1
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	6	0	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	133	97	27.1%
Two or More Races	8	3	62.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	34.9%	26.7%	8.2%

Schools Near Nerstrand Charter School

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 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 5th Grade	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Nerstrand Charter School	Public, Charter	K-5	205 S 2nd St	Nerstrand	55053	Rice County	Nerstrand Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(507) 333-6850	98	8	13.0	28.6%	91 (92.9%)	3 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.1%)	69.7	258^th of 881 public elementary schools	70.7%		53.8	432^nd of 845 public elementary schools	48.9%	174	85.7	82.4	46.2				72.7	57.1	58.8	46.2				54.6	38.5		38.5	$12,869
Spring Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	1400 Maple St	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 645-3470	462	36	12.8	31.0%	374 (81.0%)	6 (1.3%)	57 (12.3%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.3%)	83	112^th of 881 public elementary schools	87.3%		78.2	161^st of 845 public elementary schools	80.9%	49	83.1	76.5	60.9				72.3	67.7	66.3	69.6				67.9	51.1		51.1	$13,516
Bridgewater Elementary	Public	K-5	401 Jefferson Pkwy	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 664-3300	563	39	14.4	30.6%	436 (77.4%)	9 (1.6%)	85 (15.1%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.0%)	76.4	179^th of 881 public elementary schools	79.7%		74.3	213^th of 845 public elementary schools	74.8%	34	79.0	61.7	51.6				64.3	67.7	56.4	69.1				64.5	50.5		50.5	$12,586
Roosevelt Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	925 Parshall St	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Faribault Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 333-6700	418	36	11.6	78.9%	135 (32.3%)	98 (23.4%)	162 (38.8%)	5 (1.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.8%)	34.7	623^rd of 881 public elementary schools	29.3%		23.3	672^nd of 845 public elementary schools	20.5%	49	51.2	32.8	19.5				34.3	41.5	49.2	51.2				47.6	19.5		19.5	$16,544
Big 9 Online Elementary	Public	K-5	201 Orchard St S	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 645-1201	0	2	6.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Cannon River Stem School	Public, Charter	K-8	1800 14th St NE	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Cannon River Stem School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(507) 331-7836	234	19	12.3	60.3%	154 (65.8%)	2 (0.9%)	56 (23.9%)	5 (2.1%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.0%)	19.1	727^th of 881 public elementary schools	17.5%		20.7	683^rd of 845 public elementary schools	19.2%	44	23.3	31.0	7.9	26.1	0.0	35.0	20.9	16.7	31.0	39.5	39.1	46.2	35.0	33.3	34.2	20.0	29.3	$10,834
Greenvale Park Elementary	Public	K-5	500 Lincoln Pkwy	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 645-3500	482	40	12.0	34.6%	305 (63.3%)	17 (3.5%)	116 (24.1%)	10 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.8%)	76.5	174^th of 881 public elementary schools	80.2%		81.8	118^th of 845 public elementary schools	86.0%	56	58.0	70.9	69.9				66.3	54.3	61.6	74.0				62.9	52.1		52.1	$16,548
School Readiness Plus	Public	PK-K	700 Lincoln Parkway	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 645-1232	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																		$3,325
Northfield Community Education Center	Public	PK	700 Lincoln Parkway	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 664-3649	92	17	5.3	48.9%	66 (71.7%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (23.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.3%)								(n/a)																		$66,594
McKinley PreK	Public	PK	930 4th Ave NW	Faribault	55021	Rice County	Faribault Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 333-6460	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																		$4,561

Frequently Asked Questions about Nerstrand Charter School

How many students attend Nerstrand Charter School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 98 students attended Nerstrand Charter School.

Is Nerstrand Charter School a good school?

Nerstrand Charter School ranks 258^th of 881 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Nerstrand Charter School in?

Nerstrand Charter School

What is the racial makeup of Nerstrand Charter School?

Students at Nerstrand Charter School are 93% White, 4% Two or more races, 3% African American.

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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.