Great Expectations

Q: Is Great Expectations a good school?

Great Expectations ranks 438 th of 881 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Great Expectations is a public charter elementary school located in Grand Marais, Minnesota, serving 136 students in grades K-8. The school has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup that is predominantly White, with smaller percentages of African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and multiracial students.

While Great Expectations has maintained a relatively low student-teacher ratio, the school has consistently underperformed the state average in both math and reading proficiency on the MCA-III assessments across all grade levels. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school's overall math proficiency rate was 40.24%, compared to the state average of 45.47%, and its overall reading proficiency rate was 58.33%, compared to the state average of 49.85%. The school's performance has declined over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 169 out of 824 Minnesota elementary schools in 2012-2013 to 438 out of 881 in 2023-2024. Additionally, the school's performance for specific student subgroups, such as White students and female students, has also been below the state average.

Interestingly, the nearby Sawtooth Mountain Elementary, a public school in the Cook County Public Schools district, has also underperformed the state average in both math and reading proficiency on the MCA-III assessments. However, Sawtooth Mountain Elementary has maintained a higher overall proficiency rate compared to Great Expectations, particularly in reading. This suggests that the challenges faced by Great Expectations may not be unique to the school, but rather reflect broader educational challenges in the region. Additionally, the growing percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at Great Expectations, from 26.13% in 2020-2021 to 38.97% in 2022-2023, indicates an increasing population of economically disadvantaged students, which may contribute to the school's academic challenges.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

550 E 5th St
Grand Marais, MN 55604-0310

(218) 387-9322

District: Great Expectations

SchoolDigger Rank:
438^th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,258

Student/teacher ratio: 9.8

Number of students: 120

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.5%

American Indian:

4.2%

Two or more races:

4.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 36.7%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Great Expectations to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Great Expectations ranks better than 50.3% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 54.41. (See more...)

Compare Details Great Expectations ranks better than 72.5% of middle schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 68.27. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (87.5%), American Indian (4.2%), two or more races (4.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 36.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Great Expectations is 9.8. (See more...)

Compare Great Expectations employs 12.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Great Expectations is $16,258.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Great Expectations:

SchoolDigger ranks Great Expectations 438^th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Great Expectations in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Great Expectations 150^th of 545 Minnesota public middle schools. (See Great Expectations in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

Great Expectations:

SchoolDigger ranks Great Expectations 145^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Great Expectations

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Great Expectations

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2011	62.82	348^th	814	57.2%
2012	76.13	136^th	820	83.4%
2013	75.43	169^th	824	79.5%
2014	43.55	563^rd	826	31.8%
2016	41.64	592^nd	848	30.2%
2017	51.80	493^rd	853	42.2%
2018	47.10	529^th	847	37.5%
2019	52.34	493^rd	870	43.3%
2021	36.91	619^th	869	28.8%
2022	33.02	632^nd	858	26.3%
2023	36.67	593^rd	845	29.8%
2024	54.41	438^th	881	50.3%

See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Great Expectations

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	52.97	457^th	787	41.9%

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

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Great Expectations

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	49.47	465^th	808	42.5%

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

Rank History for elementary school White students at Great Expectations

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	40.87	474^th	712	33.4%
2019	41.80	480^th	722	33.5%
2021	19.98	647^th	710	8.9%
2022	11.93	695^th	725	4.1%
2023	21.48	632^nd	712	11.2%
2024	41.94	456^th	730	37.5%

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

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

Rank History for Great Expectations

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Rank History for all middle school students at Great Expectations

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2014	68.11	141^st	490	71.2%
2018	64.42	182^nd	518	64.9%
2023	67.15	152^nd	529	71.3%
2024	68.27	150^th	545	72.5%

See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school White students at Great Expectations

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	56.22	183^rd	428	57.2%
2023	56.89	173^rd	436	60.3%
2024	52.02	191^st	440	56.6%

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

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Enrollment information for Great Expectations

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2004	33	0	1	1	7	n/a	n/a	42
2005	28	0	0	0	8	n/a	n/a	36
2006	27	0	0	0	9	n/a	n/a	36
2007	25	0	1	1	12	n/a	n/a	39
2008	36	0	1	1	9	n/a	n/a	47
2009	53	0	1	1	5	n/a	n/a	60
2010	53	0	2	1	4	n/a	n/a	60
2011	59	1	0	0	3	2	0	65
2012	64	1	0	0	3	2	0	70
2013	73	1	0	0	2	2	0	78
2014	80	0	0	0	3	3	0	86
2015	75	0	0	1	2	0	0	78
2016	78	0	0	1	2	0	0	81
2017	95	0	0	0	3	0	0	98
2018	100	0	0	0	5	0	0	105
2019	98	0	0	2	5	0	0	105
2020	96	1	0	3	6	0	0	106
2021	103	1	0	3	4	0	0	111
2022	117	1	0	3	5	0	1	127
2023	114	1	1	5	6	0	9	136
2024	105	1	1	3	5	0	5	120

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 Great Expectations

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	42	2.7	15.6	52.4
2005	36	4.1	8.8	52.8
2006	36	4.3	8.4	0
2007	39	4.1	9.5	46.2
2008	47	5.2	9.0	40.4
2009	60	5.2	11.5	50
2010	60	5.9	10.0	45
2011	65	5.9	10.8	46.2
2012	70	5.5	12.7	47.1
2013	78	6.7	11.6	43.6
2014	86	6.7	12.8	44.2
2015	78	7.0	11.1	42.3
2016	81	8.0	10.1	42
2017	98	8.0	12.2	42.9
2018	105	8.1	12.8	45.7
2019	105	6.5	16.1	39
2020	106	11.6	9.1	36.8
2021	111	8.5	13.0	26.1
2022	127	9.5	13.2	24.4
2023	136	11.9	11.3	39
2024	120	12.1	9.8	36.7

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 Great Expectations

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	42	2.7	15.6	52.4
2005	36	4.1	8.8	52.8
2006	36	4.3	8.4	0
2007	39	4.1	9.5	46.2
2008	47	5.2	9.0	40.4
2009	60	5.2	11.5	50
2010	60	5.9	10.0	45
2011	65	5.9	10.8	46.2
2012	70	5.5	12.7	47.1
2013	78	6.7	11.6	43.6
2014	86	6.7	12.8	44.2
2015	78	7.0	11.1	42.3
2016	81	8.0	10.1	42
2017	98	8.0	12.2	42.9
2018	105	8.1	12.8	45.7
2019	105	6.5	16.1	39
2020	106	11.6	9.1	36.8
2021	111	8.5	13.0	26.1
2022	127	9.5	13.2	24.4
2023	136	11.9	11.3	39
2024	120	12.1	9.8	36.7

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 Great Expectations

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$16,258

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Great Expectations

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 493^rd of 870 Elementary schools	Ranks 593^rd of 845 Elementary schools	13.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Great Expectations)	27.3	6.7	20.6%
3rd Grade Math (Great Expectations)	27.3	6.7	20.6%
3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)	65.6	59.1	6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Great Expectations)	54.6	20	34.6%
3rd Grade Reading (Great Expectations)	54.6	20	34.6%
3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)	54.6	47.4	7.2%
5th Grade Math (Great Expectations)	0	31.6	31.6%
5th Grade Math (Great Expectations)	0	31.6	31.6%
5th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52	44.4	7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Great Expectations)	90	63.2	26.8%
5th Grade Reading (Great Expectations)	90	63.2	26.8%
5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	65.8	58.7	7%
5th Grade Science (Great Expectations)	60	44.4	15.6%
5th Grade Science (Great Expectations)	60	44.4	15.6%
5th Grade Science (Minnesota)	54.9	48.4	6.5%
6th Grade Math (Great Expectations)	54.6	5.9	48.7%
6th Grade Math (Great Expectations)	54.6	5.9	48.7%
6th Grade Math (Minnesota)	50.5	39.7	10.8%
6th Grade Reading (Great Expectations)	72.7	52.9	19.8%
6th Grade Reading (Great Expectations)	72.7	52.9	19.8%
6th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	62.8	53.4	9.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	105	136	29.5%
African American	0	1
American Indian	5	6	20%
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	2	5	150%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	98	114	16.3%
Two or More Races	0	9
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	39%	39%	0.1%

Schools Near Great Expectations

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 All Grades	Total
Great Expectations	Public, Charter	K-8	550 E 5th St	Grand Marais	55604	Cook County	Great Expectations	Yes	No	No	Yes	(218) 387-9322	120	12	9.8	36.7%	105 (87.5%)	1 (0.8%)	3 (2.5%)	1 (0.8%)	5 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.2%)	54.4	438^th of 881 public elementary schools	50.3%		36.7	593^rd of 845 public elementary schools	29.8%	155	61.5	33.3	42.9	25.0	42.9	40.0	40.2	71.4	25.0	57.1	68.8	50.0	90.0	58.3	56.3	62.5	$16,258
Sawtooth Mountain Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	101 W 5th St	Grand Marais	55604	Cook County	Cook County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 387-2271	192	16	11.7	48.4%	134 (69.8%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (14.1%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (11.5%)	28.3	665^th of 881 public elementary schools	24.5%		48.3	503^rd of 845 public elementary schools	40.5%	162	30.8	28.0	15.4				24.7	38.5	44.0	44.4				42.3	38.5	38.5	$15,755

Frequently Asked Questions about Great Expectations

What district is Great Expectations in?

Great Expectations

How many students attend Great Expectations?

In the 2023-24 school year, 120 students attended Great Expectations.

Is Great Expectations a good school?

Great Expectations ranks 438^th of 881 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Great Expectations?

Students at Great Expectations are 88% White, 4% American Indian, 4% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

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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.

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