Clear Springs Elementary

Summary:

Clear Springs Elementary is a public elementary school located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, serving 857 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. As part of the highly-ranked Minnetonka Public School District, Clear Springs consistently performs among the top elementary schools in the state.

Clear Springs Elementary's academic performance is exceptional, with students significantly outperforming the state average on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-III) in Math, Reading, and Science. In the 2023-2024 school year, 71.09% of all students were proficient or better in Math, compared to the state average of 45.47%. While the student population is predominantly White, the school has a more diverse student body compared to some nearby schools, such as Gatewood Elementary. Additionally, Clear Springs has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 12.6%, which is significantly lower than the state average and some neighboring schools.

Clear Springs Elementary's consistent high performance is noteworthy, as the school has maintained a statewide ranking between 23 and 103 over the past 10 years. However, the school's achievement gaps between different racial/ethnic groups suggest that more work may be needed to ensure equitable outcomes for all students. When compared to nearby schools, such as Chanhassen Elementary and Scenic Heights Elementary, Clear Springs Elementary stands out as a top-performing institution not only within the Minnetonka Public School District but also in the broader regional context.


Detail:

Public K-5

 5701 Hwy 101
       Minnetonka, MN  55345-5099


(952) 401-6950

District: Minnetonka Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
96th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,271 Help


Students who attend Clear Springs Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Minnetonka West Middle
High:    Minnetonka Senior High

Student/teacher ratio:  14.6 Help
Number of students:  857

Racial breakdown:

White:
78.2%
Hispanic:
8.6%
Two or more races:
6.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  12.6% Help


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 Compare Clear Springs Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Clear Springs Elementary ranks better than 89.1% of elementary schools in Minnesota. It also ranks last among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Minnetonka Public School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 84.52. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (78.2%), Hispanic (8.6%), two or more races (6.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 12.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Minnetonka Public School District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Clear Springs Elementary is 14.6. 4 elementary schools in the Minnetonka Public School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Clear Springs Elementary employs 58.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Clear Springs Elementary is $12,271, which is the lowest among 6 elementary schools in the Minnetonka Public School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Clear Springs Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Clear Springs Elementary 96th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Clear Springs Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Minnetonka Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Minnetonka Public School District 8th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Clear Springs Elementary?

Rank History for Clear Springs Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Clear Springs Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 82.88 56th 674 91.7%
2004 81.62 61st 676 91.0%
2005 82.18 50th 685 92.7%
2006 82.90 53rd 756 93.0%
2007 83.32 48th 777 93.8%
2008 82.54 62nd 781 92.1%
2009 84.99 22nd 434 94.9%
2010 77.57 100th 803 87.5%
2011 82.56 65th 814 92.0%
2012 81.04 77th 820 90.6%
2013 77.89 136th 824 83.5%
2014 85.05 55th 826 93.3%
2015 84.49 58th 840 93.1%
2016 89.33 23rd 848 97.3%
2017 87.74 37th 853 95.7%
2018 84.05 79th 847 90.7%
2019 82.55 103rd 870 88.2%
2021 85.82 75th 869 91.4%
2022 89.21 39th 858 95.5%
2023 86.25 79th 845 90.7%
2024 84.52 96th 881 89.1%
See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Clear Springs Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 51.60 38th 81 53.1%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Clear Springs Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.40 15th 463 96.8%
2019 86.78 27th 515 94.8%
2021 70.39 87th 417 79.1%
2022 95.63 5th 500 99.0%
2023 80.59 69th 524 86.8%
2024 86.21 36th 572 93.7%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Clear Springs Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.01 115th 728 84.2%
2019 25.02 610th 740 17.6%
2023 58.10 323rd 774 58.3%
2024 61.66 278th 793 64.9%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Clear Springs Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.71 109th 774 85.9%
2019 79.83 108th 787 86.3%
2021 87.55 40th 783 94.9%
2022 88.56 34th 799 95.7%
2023 83.32 89th 787 88.7%
2024 85.34 76th 809 90.6%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Clear Springs Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.37 49th 779 93.7%
2019 82.00 96th 798 88.0%
2021 79.88 116th 784 85.2%
2022 86.88 51st 808 93.7%
2023 86.19 59th 799 92.6%
2024 80.21 126th 826 84.7%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Clear Springs Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 93.25 6th 219 97.3%
2022 96.90 4th 209 98.1%
2023 95.80 6th 214 97.2%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Clear Springs Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 77.81 103rd 712 85.5%
2019 79.07 99th 722 86.3%
2021 80.56 82nd 710 88.5%
2022 82.17 77th 725 89.4%
2023 78.65 111th 712 84.4%
2024 75.80 137th 730 81.2%
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.

Clear Springs Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.3)
25%

0%

50%

25%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, December 15, 2014

Open Quote Huge graduating class sizes - more than a 1,000. Very little parent involvement now that most students are open enrolled. Watered down curriculum to accommodate the masses. Look to Eden Prairie or Hopkins for a better learning culture. Close Quote


by a parent
Saturday, February 22, 2014

Open Quote Unless you are looking for a BIG elementary school, I would look elsewhere. The grade levels are big, the class sizes are big and getting bigger, and the lines to pick up your kids are big (huge actually). I so wish we had dug deeper into Minnetonka and talked with other parents (not administration). Minnetonka is becoming a massive district, and there is no sign of the growth stopping. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, May 3, 2013

Open Quote As parents we are currently frustrated with the large class size in 4th and 5th grades. The district website says 15-25 per class, but we are looking at close to 30 kids in a class with one teacher. This is not why we chose Minnetonka schools. It is very disappointing. Kids who are average are getting lost. The last 2 years the class size has been 29-30 in 4-5 th grades and some kids have commented to me that they are glad to fool around more and not speak Spanish as much since they are not called on with so many kids in the class. UGH. Beware. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, January 23, 2012

Open Quote We LOVE Clear Springs Elementary School! When we were presented with the opportunity to move to the twin cities area this fall, we chose to live in Minnetonka due to the outstanding schools. We toured several Minnetonka schools and wondered how we would ever chose-then we toured Clear Springs! The Principal is amazing; he was very friendly and welcoming. He answered all of our questions and took the time to get to know our kids. He then placed them into classrooms that he felt would be a good fit for each of them. He knows all of the students by name and goes out of his way to say hello to each of them when he sees them! The teachers are also outstanding! Our children are in the High Potential program and have enjoyed it very much--they seem to be challenged appropriately. The lunches and mid-morning snacks are healthy so I feel good about my kids eating them. The technology is top-notch: our kids even participate in an online discussion board and can play educational games that challenge them and are geared towards their class lessons. We highly recommend this school to family and friends, and are so glad we found such a great school for our kids! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Clear Springs Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 462 8 13 5 0 n/a n/a 0 488
1989 517 6 20 6 0 n/a n/a 0 549
1990 503 5 19 2 0 n/a n/a 0 529
1991 481 9 15 5 0 n/a n/a 0 510
1992 578 9 20 6 0 n/a n/a 0 613
1993 621 5 15 5 0 n/a n/a 0 646
1994 612 3 23 7 0 n/a n/a 0 645
1995 646 8 17 10 0 n/a n/a 0 681
1996 646 8 17 10 0 n/a n/a 0 681
1997 608 4 17 8 0 n/a n/a 0 637
1998 524 6 19 11 1 n/a n/a 0 561
1999 535 5 15 9 1 n/a n/a 0 565
2000 536 8 14 10 1 n/a n/a 0 569
2001 526 22 20 10 1 n/a n/a 0 579
2002 536 17 18 18 0 n/a n/a 0 589
2003 536 17 18 18 0 n/a n/a 0 589
2004 501 26 17 13 3 n/a n/a 0 560
2005 461 28 24 13 2 n/a n/a 0 528
2006 445 21 20 17 2 n/a n/a 0 505
2007 433 19 18 20 2 n/a n/a 0 492
2008 443 16 19 17 5 n/a n/a 0 500
2009 475 17 20 21 7 n/a n/a 0 540
2010 509 20 18 25 9 n/a n/a 0 581
2011 552 14 15 25 6 0 3 0 615
2012 586 13 18 29 6 1 10 0 663
2013 653 19 24 41 4 1 19 0 761
2014 650 22 24 42 5 1 30 0 774
2015 661 25 24 46 3 1 33 0 793
2016 677 31 17 49 1 1 35 0 811
2017 699 32 18 55 1 0 37 0 842
2018 726 34 14 52 1 0 36 0 863
2019 735 34 11 52 2 0 41 0 875
2020 729 32 18 59 2 0 41 0 881
2021 706 35 15 66 2 0 39 0 863
2022 678 33 17 71 3 0 44 0 846
2023 670 37 21 74 2 0 53 0 857

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 Clear Springs Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 488 30.2 16.1 4.7
1989 549 25.9 21.1 3.8
1990 529 27.8 19.0 4.7
1991 510 27.9 18.2 5.7
1992 613 26.7 22.9 5.1
1993 646 30.6 21.1 5.3
1994 645 35.3 18.3 3.3
1995 681 0.0 0.0 5.3
1996 681 0.0 0.0 5.3
1997 637 37.5 17.0 4.6
1998 561 n/a 0.0 4.1
1999 565 34.5 16.4 2.8
2000 569 36.6 15.5 4.2
2001 579 36.7 15.8 5
2002 589 36.8 16.0 4.2
2003 589 36.8 16.0 4.2
2004 560 34.7 16.1 3.6
2005 528 33.0 16.0 2.3
2006 505 33.7 15.0 8.7
2007 492 33.0 14.9 9.1
2008 500 36.8 13.6 7.4
2009 540 41.8 12.9 7.4
2010 581 46.7 12.4 10
2011 615 46.4 13.2 8.9
2012 663 48.3 13.7 8
2013 761 48.9 15.5 7.9
2014 774 53.3 14.5 7.9
2015 793 53.0 14.9 7.6
2016 811 54.0 15.0 6.9
2017 842 53.5 15.7 6.2
2018 863 55.2 15.6 5.8
2019 875 56.7 15.4 5.6
2020 881 58.5 15.0 6.2
2021 863 60.0 14.3 6.1
2022 846 56.9 14.8 6
2023 857 58.5 14.6 12.6

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 Clear Springs Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 488 30.2 16.1 4.7
1989 549 25.9 21.1 3.8
1990 529 27.8 19.0 4.7
1991 510 27.9 18.2 5.7
1992 613 26.7 22.9 5.1
1993 646 30.6 21.1 5.3
1994 645 35.3 18.3 3.3
1995 681 0.0 0.0 5.3
1996 681 0.0 0.0 5.3
1997 637 37.5 17.0 4.6
1998 561 n/a 0.0 4.1
1999 565 34.5 16.4 2.8
2000 569 36.6 15.5 4.2
2001 579 36.7 15.8 5
2002 589 36.8 16.0 4.2
2003 589 36.8 16.0 4.2
2004 560 34.7 16.1 3.6
2005 528 33.0 16.0 2.3
2006 505 33.7 15.0 8.7
2007 492 33.0 14.9 9.1
2008 500 36.8 13.6 7.4
2009 540 41.8 12.9 7.4
2010 581 46.7 12.4 10
2011 615 46.4 13.2 8.9
2012 663 48.3 13.7 8
2013 761 48.9 15.5 7.9
2014 774 53.3 14.5 7.9
2015 793 53.0 14.9 7.6
2016 811 54.0 15.0 6.9
2017 842 53.5 15.7 6.2
2018 863 55.2 15.6 5.8
2019 875 56.7 15.4 5.6
2020 881 58.5 15.0 6.2
2021 863 60.0 14.3 6.1
2022 846 56.9 14.8 6
2023 857 58.5 14.6 12.6

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 Clear Springs Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $12,271

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Clear Springs 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 103rd of 870 Elementary schoolsRanks 79th of 845 Elementary schools
 2.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Clear Springs Elementary)78.875.8
 3%
   3rd Grade Math (Minnetonka Public School District)85.581.7
 3.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)65.659.1
 6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Clear Springs Elementary)66.463
 3.5%
   3rd Grade Reading (Minnetonka Public School District)71.469.1
 2.3%
   3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)54.647.4
 7.2%
4th Grade Math (Clear Springs Elementary)8076
 4.1%
   4th Grade Math (Minnetonka Public School District)83.584.9
 1.5%
   4th Grade Math (Minnesota)63.957.1
 6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Clear Springs Elementary)74.866.9
 8%
   4th Grade Reading (Minnetonka Public School District)76.373.4
 2.8%
   4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)55.448.4
 7.1%
5th Grade Math (Clear Springs Elementary)60.258.5
 1.7%
   5th Grade Math (Minnetonka Public School District)71.169
 2.1%
   5th Grade Math (Minnesota)5244.4
 7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Clear Springs Elementary)82.882.1
 0.7%
   5th Grade Reading (Minnetonka Public School District)84.281.6
 2.6%
   5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)65.858.7
 7%
5th Grade Science (Clear Springs Elementary)76.670.7
 5.8%
   5th Grade Science (Minnetonka Public School District)76.673.9
 2.7%
   5th Grade Science (Minnesota)54.948.4
 6.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students875857
 2.1%
African American3437
 8.8%
American Indian22
Asian1121
 90.9%
Hispanic5274
 42.3%
Pacific Islander00
White735670
 8.8%
Two or More Races4153
 29.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients5.6%12.6%
 7%


Schools Near Clear Springs Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Clear Springs Elementary

Students who attend Clear Springs Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Minnetonka West Middle
High : Minnetonka Senior High

Students at Clear Springs Elementary are 78% White, 9% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% African American, 2% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 857 students attended Clear Springs Elementary.

Clear Springs Elementary ranks 96th 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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