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Middle Area Learning Center

Summary:

Middle Area Learning Center is a public middle school in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, serving grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of just 53 students. However, this small school faces significant challenges, including consistently low academic performance, racial disparities, high poverty rates, and an extremely high student-teacher ratio.

The school consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Minnesota middle schools, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger indicating very low academic achievement. This is particularly concerning given the school's high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 37% to 64% over the past three years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages. Additionally, the school's student population is predominantly White, ranging from 82% to 87%, while the percentage of Native American students is relatively high, from 8.9% to 10.9%, suggesting significant racial disparities.

Compared to nearby schools like Hill City Middle School, Greenway Middle, and Robert J. Elkington Middle School, which are part of the Hill City Public School District, Greenway Public School District, and Grand Rapids Public School District, respectively, Middle Area Learning Center stands out as an outlier, with an extremely high student-teacher ratio ranging from 37.6 to 63.8 over the past three years, which can negatively impact the quality of education and individual attention students receive.


Detail:

Public 5-8

 1000 NE 8th Ave
       Grand Rapids, MN  55744-2354

(218) 327-5800

District: Grand Rapids Public School District


Student/teacher ratio:  63.8 Help
Number of students:  26

Racial breakdown:

White:
61.5%
American Indian:
23.1%
Two or more races:
11.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  50% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Middle Area Learning Center is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 4.02. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (61.5%), American Indian (23.1%), two or more races (11.5%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 50% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Schooldigger Rankings:

Middle Area Learning Center was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Grand Rapids Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Grand Rapids Public School District 186th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Middle Area Learning Center

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Rank History for all students at Middle Area Learning Center

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 0.03 386th 387 0.3%
2005 0.10 393rd 396 0.8%
2006 0.60 402nd 406 1.0%
2007 0.23 402nd 403 0.2%
2011 0.88 473rd 478 1.0%
2012 4.80 443rd 469 5.5%
2013 2.54 476th 488 2.5%
2014 3.26 468th 490 4.5%
2015 7.84 471st 516 8.7%
2016 9.64 458th 508 9.8%
2017 10.95 469th 523 10.3%
2018 0.96 515th 518 0.6%
2021 3.84 511th 521 1.9%
2022 5.75 499th 520 4.0%
2023 4.02 522nd 529 1.3%
See the entire list of Minnesota Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Middle Area Learning Center

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 2.02 399th 401 0.5%
2021 5.91 395th 399 1.0%
2023 7.96 449th 459 2.2%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Middle Area Learning Center

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 2.38 443rd 443 0.0%
2022 4.35 460th 467 1.5%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Middle Area Learning Center

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 6.74 420th 437 3.9%
2022 6.78 455th 476 4.4%
2023 2.67 464th 464 0.0%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Middle Area Learning Center

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 0.11 428th 428 0.0%
2021 0.60 422nd 422 0.0%
2022 1.52 435th 438 0.7%
2023 0.99 435th 436 0.2%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle 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.

Middle Area Learning Center 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 Middle Area Learning Center

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1994 30 0 0 0 1 n/a n/a 0 31
1995 25 1 0 0 3 n/a n/a 0 29
1996 25 1 0 0 3 n/a n/a 0 29
1997 28 0 0 2 5 n/a n/a 0 35
1998 28 0 0 0 4 n/a n/a 0 32
1999 19 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 21
2000 17 0 0 0 6 n/a n/a 0 23
2001 31 0 0 0 5 n/a n/a 0 36
2002 26 1 0 0 3 n/a n/a 0 30
2003 26 1 0 0 3 n/a n/a 0 30
2004 34 2 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 36
2005 34 0 1 0 3 n/a n/a 0 38
2006 30 0 1 0 2 n/a n/a 0 33
2007 26 0 1 0 4 n/a n/a 0 31
2008 29 1 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 32
2009 22 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 24
2010 15 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 17
2011 63 5 0 0 7 1 2 0 78
2012 129 5 0 2 10 1 6 0 153
2013 131 4 1 2 10 0 6 0 154
2014 150 3 0 4 11 0 7 0 175
2015 149 1 0 2 8 0 6 0 166
2016 154 2 0 2 7 1 12 0 178
2017 125 0 1 2 5 1 16 0 150
2018 141 0 0 2 7 0 19 0 169
2019 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0
2020 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021 88 0 0 0 9 0 4 0 101
2022 136 0 0 8 18 0 3 0 165
2023 44 0 0 1 5 0 3 0 53
2024 16 0 0 0 6 1 3 0 26

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 Middle Area Learning Center

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 31 1.0 31.0 0
1995 29 0.0 0.0 0
1996 29 0.0 0.0 0
1997 35 2.8 12.5 40
1998 32 n/a 0.0 43.8
1999 21 3.0 7.0 47.6
2000 23 3.3 7.0 47.8
2001 36 3.2 11.3 77.8
2002 30 3.9 7.7 80
2003 30 3.9 7.7 80
2004 36 3.0 12.0 66.7
2005 38 2.8 13.6 36.8
2006 33 2.5 13.2 45.5
2007 31 2.6 11.9 51.6
2008 32 3.0 10.7 71.9
2009 24 2.5 9.6 70.8
2010 17 2.4 6.9 82.4
2011 78 2.2 34.8 53.8
2012 153 3.7 41.3 52.3
2013 154 3.0 51.3 57.8
2014 175 4.6 37.7 53.7
2015 166 3.0 55.3 49.4
2016 178 3.0 59.3 50.6
2017 150 2.9 50.1 51.3
2018 169 2.9 56.5 49.1
2019 0 3.2 0.0 n/a
2020 0 3.7 0.0 n/a
2021 101 2.6 37.6 43.6
2022 165 2.6 61.5 37
2023 53 0.8 63.8 64.2
2024 26 0.0 n/a 50

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 Middle Area Learning Center

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 31 1.0 31.0 0
1995 29 0.0 0.0 0
1996 29 0.0 0.0 0
1997 35 2.8 12.5 40
1998 32 n/a 0.0 43.8
1999 21 3.0 7.0 47.6
2000 23 3.3 7.0 47.8
2001 36 3.2 11.3 77.8
2002 30 3.9 7.7 80
2003 30 3.9 7.7 80
2004 36 3.0 12.0 66.7
2005 38 2.8 13.6 36.8
2006 33 2.5 13.2 45.5
2007 31 2.6 11.9 51.6
2008 32 3.0 10.7 71.9
2009 24 2.5 9.6 70.8
2010 17 2.4 6.9 82.4
2011 78 2.2 34.8 53.8
2012 153 3.7 41.3 52.3
2013 154 3.0 51.3 57.8
2014 175 4.6 37.7 53.7
2015 166 3.0 55.3 49.4
2016 178 3.0 59.3 50.6
2017 150 2.9 50.1 51.3
2018 169 2.9 56.5 49.1
2019 0 3.2 0.0 n/a
2020 0 3.7 0.0 n/a
2021 101 2.6 37.6 43.6
2022 165 2.6 61.5 37
2023 53 0.8 63.8 64.2
2024 26 0.0 n/a 50

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.
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Middle Area Learning Center

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.

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students053

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Frequently Asked Questions about Middle Area Learning Center

Students at Middle Area Learning Center are 62% White, 23% American Indian, 12% Two or more races, 4% Pacific Islander.

In the 2023-24 school year, 26 students attended Middle Area Learning Center.


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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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