Lester Prairie Elementary

Summary:

Lester Prairie Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in the small town of Lester Prairie, Minnesota, with a student population of 248. The school faces several key challenges, including a high percentage of Hispanic and low-income students, below-average academic performance, and a declining statewide ranking.

Lester Prairie Elementary's academic performance, as measured by MCA-III test scores, is generally below the state average across all grades and subjects. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's proficiency rates in math (38.46%) and reading (41.54%) for all grades were lower than the state averages of 45.47% and 49.85%, respectively. The school's Hispanic students and male students perform particularly poorly, ranking in the bottom 25% of Minnesota elementary schools in those categories. Lester Prairie Elementary's performance lags behind nearby high-performing schools, such as Laketown Elementary in Waconia Public School District, which had proficiency rates of 78.88% in math and 68.13% in reading for all grades in 2023-2024.

Lester Prairie Elementary also faces challenges related to its student population and socioeconomic status. The school has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (25%) compared to the state average of around 10%, and 39.92% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is significantly higher than the state average. These factors, combined with the school's declining enrollment and funding, suggest that Lester Prairie Elementary may need to implement targeted interventions and strategies to improve student outcomes and address the unique needs of its diverse student population.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 131 Hickory St N
       Lester Prairie, MN  55354-8888


(320) 395-2521

District: Lester Prairie Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
619th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,504 Help


Students who attend Lester Prairie Elementary usually attend:

High:    Lester Prairie Secondary

Student/teacher ratio:  14.0 Help
Number of students:  248

Racial breakdown:

White:
69.4%
Hispanic:
25.0%
Two or more races:
5.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  39.9% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Lester Prairie Elementary ranks worse than 70.3% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 35.06. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (69.4%), Hispanic (25%), two or more races (5.2%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 39.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lester Prairie Elementary is 14. (See more...)
Help
Compare Lester Prairie Elementary employs 17.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lester Prairie Elementary is $9,504.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lester Prairie Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Lester Prairie Elementary 619th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Lester Prairie Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Lester Prairie Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Lester Prairie Public School District 310th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Lester Prairie Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Lester Prairie Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 54.92 363rd 674 46.1%
2004 45.43 453rd 676 33.0%
2005 57.61 342nd 685 50.1%
2006 59.37 350th 756 53.7%
2007 51.73 460th 777 40.8%
2008 45.64 531st 781 32.0%
2009 31.39 360th 434 17.1%
2010 49.35 531st 803 33.9%
2011 50.41 504th 814 38.1%
2012 62.54 358th 820 56.3%
2013 43.23 559th 824 32.2%
2014 43.83 558th 826 32.4%
2015 53.93 470th 840 44.0%
2016 60.47 381st 848 55.1%
2017 56.52 436th 853 48.9%
2018 59.24 394th 847 53.5%
2019 61.17 386th 870 55.6%
2021 46.83 548th 869 36.9%
2022 55.13 435th 858 49.3%
2023 40.77 569th 845 32.7%
2024 35.06 619th 881 29.7%
See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Lester Prairie Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 64.57 242nd 728 66.8%
2019 50.52 389th 740 47.4%
2021 17.91 595th 683 12.9%
2023 30.62 580th 774 25.1%
2024 25.47 643rd 793 18.9%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Lester Prairie Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 68.97 240th 774 69.0%
2019 67.23 266th 787 66.2%
2021 46.75 488th 783 37.7%
2022 45.57 487th 799 39.0%
2023 39.52 533rd 787 32.3%
2024 36.93 554th 809 31.5%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Lester Prairie Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.17 503rd 779 35.4%
2019 49.79 470th 798 41.1%
2021 40.01 545th 784 30.5%
2022 58.32 353rd 808 56.3%
2023 39.12 545th 799 31.8%
2024 34.24 592nd 826 28.3%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Lester Prairie Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 25.14 128th 153 16.3%
2022 36.15 142nd 209 32.1%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Lester Prairie Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.20 433rd 712 39.2%
2019 52.89 351st 722 51.4%
2021 33.84 537th 710 24.4%
2022 46.02 422nd 725 41.8%
2023 28.71 573rd 712 19.5%
2024 21.63 637th 730 12.7%
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.

Lester Prairie Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 







Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Lester Prairie Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 253 2 0 0 1 n/a n/a 0 256
1989 259 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 261
1990 269 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 269
1991 262 0 0 0 1 n/a n/a 0 263
1992 277 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 277
1993 295 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 295
1994 302 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 302
1995 287 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 287
1996 287 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 287
1997 290 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 290
1998 302 0 0 2 0 n/a n/a 3 307
1999 287 0 0 6 0 n/a n/a 0 293
2000 274 0 0 4 0 n/a n/a 0 278
2001 255 0 0 10 0 n/a n/a 0 265
2002 240 0 0 11 0 n/a n/a 0 251
2003 240 0 0 11 0 n/a n/a 0 251
2004 210 0 0 14 0 n/a n/a 0 224
2005 189 0 0 10 0 n/a n/a 0 199
2006 212 5 0 12 0 n/a n/a 0 229
2007 209 9 2 25 0 n/a n/a 0 245
2008 205 2 2 29 0 n/a n/a 0 238
2009 204 0 3 30 0 n/a n/a 0 237
2010 180 0 0 31 0 n/a n/a 0 211
2011 180 0 0 33 0 0 0 0 213
2012 178 0 0 36 0 0 4 0 218
2013 176 0 0 32 0 0 3 0 211
2014 186 2 0 35 0 0 2 0 225
2015 211 2 0 35 0 0 1 0 249
2016 188 1 0 40 0 0 2 0 231
2017 190 0 0 41 0 0 4 0 235
2018 182 0 0 53 1 0 5 0 241
2019 163 0 3 45 1 0 3 0 215
2020 185 0 0 54 0 0 3 0 242
2021 184 0 0 54 1 0 3 0 242
2022 166 0 0 58 1 1 9 0 235
2023 172 0 0 62 0 1 13 0 248

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 Lester Prairie Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 256 17.7 14.4 3.9
1989 261 17.5 14.9 3.4
1990 269 17.7 15.1 4.1
1991 263 19.6 13.4 1.1
1992 277 19.7 14.0 4
1993 295 19.2 15.4 7.1
1994 302 20.3 14.9 4
1995 287 19.8 14.5 7
1996 287 19.8 14.5 7
1997 290 16.2 17.9 11.4
1998 307 n/a 0.0 13.2
1999 293 21.2 13.8 12.6
2000 278 18.0 15.4 18.3
2001 265 17.3 15.3 17.7
2002 251 17.8 14.1 25.5
2003 251 17.8 14.1 25.5
2004 224 17.1 13.1 20.5
2005 199 15.7 12.7 22.1
2006 229 13.7 16.7 26.6
2007 245 14.7 16.7 28.6
2008 238 14.6 16.3 27.7
2009 237 15.9 14.9 28.7
2010 211 15.7 13.3 35.5
2011 213 15.4 13.7 31.5
2012 218 15.4 14.1 24.8
2013 211 15.6 13.4 37
2014 225 16.3 13.7 32.9
2015 249 18.0 13.8 31.7
2016 231 17.0 13.5 31.6
2017 235 18.2 12.8 31.1
2018 241 18.3 13.1 32.8
2019 215 18.2 11.8 32.6
2020 242 18.4 13.1 27.7
2021 242 17.3 13.9 25.2
2022 235 19.9 11.7 23.4
2023 248 17.6 14.0 39.9

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 Lester Prairie Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 256 17.7 14.4 3.9
1989 261 17.5 14.9 3.4
1990 269 17.7 15.1 4.1
1991 263 19.6 13.4 1.1
1992 277 19.7 14.0 4
1993 295 19.2 15.4 7.1
1994 302 20.3 14.9 4
1995 287 19.8 14.5 7
1996 287 19.8 14.5 7
1997 290 16.2 17.9 11.4
1998 307 n/a 0.0 13.2
1999 293 21.2 13.8 12.6
2000 278 18.0 15.4 18.3
2001 265 17.3 15.3 17.7
2002 251 17.8 14.1 25.5
2003 251 17.8 14.1 25.5
2004 224 17.1 13.1 20.5
2005 199 15.7 12.7 22.1
2006 229 13.7 16.7 26.6
2007 245 14.7 16.7 28.6
2008 238 14.6 16.3 27.7
2009 237 15.9 14.9 28.7
2010 211 15.7 13.3 35.5
2011 213 15.4 13.7 31.5
2012 218 15.4 14.1 24.8
2013 211 15.6 13.4 37
2014 225 16.3 13.7 32.9
2015 249 18.0 13.8 31.7
2016 231 17.0 13.5 31.6
2017 235 18.2 12.8 31.1
2018 241 18.3 13.1 32.8
2019 215 18.2 11.8 32.6
2020 242 18.4 13.1 27.7
2021 242 17.3 13.9 25.2
2022 235 19.9 11.7 23.4
2023 248 17.6 14.0 39.9

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 Lester Prairie Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $9,504

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Lester Prairie Elementary

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 386th of 870 Elementary schoolsRanks 569th of 845 Elementary schools
 23%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Lester Prairie Elementary)57.136.8
 20.3%
   3rd Grade Math (Lester Prairie Public School District)57.136.8
 20.3%
   3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)65.659.1
 6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Lester Prairie Elementary)57.118.4
 38.7%
   3rd Grade Reading (Lester Prairie Public School District)57.118.4
 38.7%
   3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)54.647.4
 7.2%
4th Grade Math (Lester Prairie Elementary)77.871.8
 6%
   4th Grade Math (Lester Prairie Public School District)77.871.8
 6%
   4th Grade Math (Minnesota)63.957.1
 6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Lester Prairie Elementary)44.441
 3.4%
   4th Grade Reading (Lester Prairie Public School District)44.441
 3.4%
   4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)55.448.4
 7.1%
5th Grade Math (Lester Prairie Elementary)7333.3
 39.6%
   5th Grade Math (Lester Prairie Public School District)7333.3
 39.6%
   5th Grade Math (Minnesota)5244.4
 7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Lester Prairie Elementary)70.353.3
 16.9%
   5th Grade Reading (Lester Prairie Public School District)70.353.3
 16.9%
   5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)65.858.7
 7%
5th Grade Science (Lester Prairie Elementary)61.133.3
 27.8%
   5th Grade Science (Lester Prairie Public School District)61.133.3
 27.8%
   5th Grade Science (Minnesota)54.948.4
 6.5%
6th Grade Math (Lester Prairie Elementary)46.346
 0.4%
   6th Grade Math (Lester Prairie Public School District)46.346
 0.4%
   6th Grade Math (Minnesota)50.539.7
 10.8%
6th Grade Reading (Lester Prairie Elementary)63.440.5
 22.9%
   6th Grade Reading (Lester Prairie Public School District)63.440.5
 22.9%
   6th Grade Reading (Minnesota)62.853.4
 9.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students215248
 15.3%
African American00
American Indian10
 100%
Asian30
 100%
Hispanic4562
 37.8%
Pacific Islander01
White163172
 5.5%
Two or More Races313
 333.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients32.6%39.9%
 7.4%


Schools Near Lester Prairie Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Lester Prairie Elementary

Lester Prairie Elementary ranks 619th of 881 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Students who attend Lester Prairie Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Lester Prairie Secondary

Students at Lester Prairie Elementary are 69% White, 25% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 248 students attended Lester Prairie Elementary.


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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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