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Nisswa Elementary

Summary:

Nisswa Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-4 in the Brainerd Public School District, with a student population of 264. Located in Nisswa, Minnesota, the school has consistently been ranked among the top elementary schools in the state, with a current statewide ranking of 147 out of 881 schools and a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Nisswa Elementary stands out for its exceptional academic performance, consistently outperforming the Brainerd Public School District and the state of Minnesota in proficiency rates for both Math and Reading on the MCA-III assessments. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 71.57% of students proficient or better in Math, compared to 47.4% for the district and 45.47% for the state. In Reading, Nisswa Elementary had 59.8% of students proficient or better, compared to 55.26% for the district and 49.85% for the state. The school's performance is particularly strong in 3rd and 4th grade Math, with proficiency rates of 77.08% and 66.67%, respectively. Additionally, Nisswa Elementary has a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at 33.71%, compared to the district average of 72.49% at Harrison Elementary and 66.88% at Garfield Elementary.

Nisswa Elementary's success can also be attributed to its favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.8 in the 2022-2023 school year, compared to the district average of 11-13.6 at the other elementary schools. While the school has a relatively homogeneous student population, with over 92% of students identifying as White, it outperforms the nearby Pine River-Backus Elementary, Crosslake Community schools, and even the high-performing Eagle View Elementary in the Pequot Lakes Public Schools district.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-4

 5533 Lakers Lane
       Nisswa, MN  56468-8888

(218) 961-6860

District: Brainerd Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
147th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,324 Help


Students who attend Nisswa Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Forestview Middle
High:    Brainerd Senior High

Student/teacher ratio:  12.3 Help
Number of students:  255

Racial breakdown:

White:
92.2%
Two or more races:
5.1%
Hispanic:
2.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  29.8% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Nisswa Elementary ranks better than 83.3% of elementary schools in Minnesota. It also ranks 2nd among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Brainerd Public School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 79.74. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (92.2%), two or more races (5.1%), Hispanic (2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 29.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Brainerd Public School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Nisswa Elementary is 12.3. 4 elementary schools in the Brainerd Public School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Nisswa Elementary employs 20.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Nisswa Elementary is $12,324. 4 elementary schools in the Brainerd Public School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Nisswa Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Nisswa Elementary 147th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Nisswa Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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


Brainerd Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Brainerd Public School District 157th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Nisswa Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Nisswa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 74.91 130th 674 80.7%
2004 84.44 45th 676 93.3%
2005 74.99 124th 685 81.9%
2006 78.96 93rd 756 87.7%
2007 81.96 64th 777 91.8%
2008 87.47 23rd 781 97.1%
2009 68.52 133rd 434 69.4%
2010 64.56 320th 803 60.1%
2011 70.66 219th 814 73.1%
2012 64.98 321st 820 60.9%
2013 81.99 88th 824 89.3%
2014 86.11 41st 826 95.0%
2015 81.64 93rd 840 88.9%
2016 84.11 62nd 848 92.7%
2017 77.69 155th 853 81.8%
2018 65.89 310th 847 63.4%
2019 66.62 314th 870 63.9%
2021 73.77 207th 869 76.2%
2022 80.70 128th 858 85.1%
2023 74.17 215th 845 74.6%
2024 79.74 147th 881 83.3%
See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Nisswa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 67.02 212th 728 70.9%
2019 75.04 127th 740 82.8%
2021 89.16 31st 683 95.5%
2023 73.98 146th 774 81.1%
2024 87.04 47th 793 94.1%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Nisswa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 67.64 258th 774 66.7%
2019 63.50 320th 787 59.3%
2021 65.30 281st 783 64.1%
2022 79.72 112th 799 86.0%
2023 73.96 193rd 787 75.5%
2024 77.63 147th 809 81.8%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Nisswa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.06 342nd 779 56.1%
2019 65.53 299th 798 62.5%
2021 75.54 155th 784 80.2%
2022 77.85 140th 808 82.7%
2023 70.46 227th 799 71.6%
2024 77.72 152nd 826 81.6%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Nisswa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.33 467th 712 34.4%
2019 42.49 471st 722 34.8%
2021 57.54 283rd 710 60.1%
2022 65.39 224th 725 69.1%
2023 57.53 302nd 712 57.6%
2024 66.78 211th 730 71.1%
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.

Nisswa Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Nisswa Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 271 0 1 0 1 n/a n/a 0 273
1989 284 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 285
1990 283 0 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 285
1991 262 0 4 0 0 n/a n/a 0 266
1992 279 1 2 0 4 n/a n/a 0 286
1993 289 0 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 292
1994 300 0 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 302
1995 298 1 2 0 1 n/a n/a 0 302
1996 298 1 2 0 1 n/a n/a 0 302
1997 322 0 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 324
1998 317 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 318
1999 350 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 350
2000 328 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 329
2001 311 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 311
2002 336 0 0 4 4 n/a n/a 0 344
2003 336 0 0 4 4 n/a n/a 0 344
2004 276 1 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 278
2005 251 0 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 255
2006 202 0 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 204
2007 199 0 1 0 2 n/a n/a 0 202
2008 209 1 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 213
2009 255 2 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 259
2010 289 3 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 293
2011 275 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 281
2012 275 5 3 2 2 0 1 0 288
2013 263 2 2 2 3 0 3 0 275
2014 262 0 1 2 2 0 1 0 268
2015 268 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 270
2016 274 2 0 2 0 0 2 0 280
2017 291 1 0 3 0 0 5 0 300
2018 292 0 0 4 0 0 8 0 304
2019 288 0 0 3 0 0 8 0 299
2020 249 1 1 7 1 0 11 0 270
2021 238 0 0 7 1 0 14 0 260
2022 221 0 0 4 0 0 15 0 240
2023 243 1 0 6 1 0 13 0 264
2024 235 1 0 5 1 0 13 0 255

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 Nisswa Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 273 15.0 18.2 16.5
1989 285 14.7 19.3 17.2
1990 285 15.5 18.3 11.2
1991 266 17.9 14.8 12
1992 286 17.6 16.2 22
1993 292 16.0 18.3 16.4
1994 302 15.5 19.5 21.2
1995 302 10.3 29.3 18.5
1996 302 10.3 29.3 18.5
1997 324 18.4 17.6 18.2
1998 318 n/a 0.0 16
1999 350 19.6 17.9 12.6
2000 329 19.0 17.3 20.1
2001 311 18.9 16.5 18.6
2002 344 19.1 18.0 20.3
2003 344 19.1 18.0 20.3
2004 278 16.6 16.7 22.3
2005 255 17.1 14.9 21.6
2006 204 15.1 13.5 19.6
2007 202 13.6 14.9 26.7
2008 213 13.6 15.7 24.9
2009 259 15.4 16.8 31.3
2010 293 16.3 17.9 35.2
2011 281 18.8 14.8 33.1
2012 288 18.6 15.4 35.1
2013 275 18.4 14.9 35.3
2014 268 18.4 14.5 31.3
2015 270 17.0 15.8 30.4
2016 280 17.0 16.4 27.9
2017 300 18.6 16.1 28
2018 304 20.1 15.1 27
2019 299 19.1 15.6 29.4
2020 270 19.8 13.6 23
2021 260 19.1 13.5 26.5
2022 240 19.9 12.0 20.4
2023 264 20.6 12.8 33.7
2024 255 20.6 12.3 29.8

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 Nisswa Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 273 15.0 18.2 16.5
1989 285 14.7 19.3 17.2
1990 285 15.5 18.3 11.2
1991 266 17.9 14.8 12
1992 286 17.6 16.2 22
1993 292 16.0 18.3 16.4
1994 302 15.5 19.5 21.2
1995 302 10.3 29.3 18.5
1996 302 10.3 29.3 18.5
1997 324 18.4 17.6 18.2
1998 318 n/a 0.0 16
1999 350 19.6 17.9 12.6
2000 329 19.0 17.3 20.1
2001 311 18.9 16.5 18.6
2002 344 19.1 18.0 20.3
2003 344 19.1 18.0 20.3
2004 278 16.6 16.7 22.3
2005 255 17.1 14.9 21.6
2006 204 15.1 13.5 19.6
2007 202 13.6 14.9 26.7
2008 213 13.6 15.7 24.9
2009 259 15.4 16.8 31.3
2010 293 16.3 17.9 35.2
2011 281 18.8 14.8 33.1
2012 288 18.6 15.4 35.1
2013 275 18.4 14.9 35.3
2014 268 18.4 14.5 31.3
2015 270 17.0 15.8 30.4
2016 280 17.0 16.4 27.9
2017 300 18.6 16.1 28
2018 304 20.1 15.1 27
2019 299 19.1 15.6 29.4
2020 270 19.8 13.6 23
2021 260 19.1 13.5 26.5
2022 240 19.9 12.0 20.4
2023 264 20.6 12.8 33.7
2024 255 20.6 12.3 29.8

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 Nisswa Elementary

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $12,324

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Nisswa 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 314th of 870 Elementary schoolsRanks 215th of 845 Elementary schools
 10.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Nisswa Elementary)70.265.5
 4.7%
   3rd Grade Math (Brainerd Public School District)72.663.4
 9.2%
   3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)65.659.1
 6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Nisswa Elementary)61.744.8
 16.9%
   3rd Grade Reading (Brainerd Public School District)64.953
 11.9%
   3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)54.647.4
 7.2%
4th Grade Math (Nisswa Elementary)64.785.4
 20.7%
   4th Grade Math (Brainerd Public School District)71.762.1
 9.6%
   4th Grade Math (Minnesota)63.957.1
 6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Nisswa Elementary)64.770.8
 6.1%
   4th Grade Reading (Brainerd Public School District)61.853.1
 8.8%
   4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)55.448.4
 7.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students299264
 11.7%
African American01
American Indian01
Asian00
Hispanic36
 100%
Pacific Islander00
White288243
 15.6%
Two or More Races813
 62.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients29.4%33.7%
 4.3%

Schools Near Nisswa Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about Nisswa Elementary

In the 2023-24 school year, 255 students attended Nisswa Elementary.

Students who attend Nisswa Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Forestview Middle
High : Brainerd Senior High

Students at Nisswa Elementary are 92% White, 5% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

Nisswa Elementary ranks 147th of 881 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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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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