Is Dakota Meadows Middle School a good school?

Dakota Meadows Middle School ranks 126 th of 545 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Dakota Meadows Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 878 students attended Dakota Meadows Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Dakota Meadows Middle School?

Students at Dakota Meadows Middle School are 76% White, 10% African American, 7% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Dakota Meadows Middle School attend?

Students who attend Dakota Meadows Middle School usually go on to attend Mankato West Senior High

Dakota Meadows Middle School

Summary:

Dakota Meadows Middle School is a public middle school in North Mankato, Minnesota, serving 878 students in grades 6-8. As part of the Mankato Public School District, which is ranked 121 out of 463 districts in the state, Dakota Meadows has consistently performed well, ranking in the top 30% of Minnesota middle schools over the past decade.

The school's academic performance is generally above the state average, particularly in reading, where proficiency rates are 5-10 percentage points higher than the state average. However, math proficiency rates are slightly below the district and state averages, suggesting an area for potential improvement. Dakota Meadows has a relatively diverse student population, with a lower percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch compared to the nearby Prairie Winds Middle School. The school's performance for its Hispanic and Special Education student subgroups is particularly strong, ranking in the top 30% and top 15% of Minnesota middle schools, respectively.

Compared to other nearby schools, Dakota Meadows Middle School generally outperforms Prairie Winds Middle School in both reading and science, but trails the St. Peter Middle School, which is in a different district, in both math and reading proficiency rates. Overall, Dakota Meadows Middle School is a well-performing school with a diverse student population and strong academic outcomes, particularly in reading, but with opportunities for improvement in math and for certain student subgroups.

Detail:

Public 6-8

1900 Howard Dr
North Mankato, MN 56001-8741

(507) 387-5077

District: Mankato Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
126^th of 545 Minnesota Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,176

Students who attend Dakota Meadows Middle School usually attend:

High:

Mankato West Senior High

Feeder schools for Dakota Meadows Middle School:

Elementary:	Hoover Elementary
	Jefferson Elementary
	Monroe Elementary
	Roosevelt Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 18.0

Number of students: 878

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.4%

African American:

9.6%

Hispanic:

6.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 34.5%

See top rated Minnesota middle schools

Compare Dakota Meadows Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Dakota Meadows Middle School ranks better than 76.9% of middle schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 72.14. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (76.4%), African American (9.6%), Hispanic (6.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 34.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Dakota Meadows Middle School is 18. (See more...)

Compare Dakota Meadows Middle School employs 48.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Dakota Meadows Middle School is $11,176.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Dakota Meadows Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Dakota Meadows Middle School 126^th of 545 Minnesota public middle schools. (See Dakota Meadows Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Mankato Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Mankato Public School District 121^st of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Dakota Meadows Middle School.

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Your rating for Dakota Meadows Middle School?

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Rank History for Dakota Meadows Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2004	79.66	63^rd	387	83.7%
2005	79.12	67^th	396	83.1%
2006	74.08	83^rd	406	79.6%
2007	69.69	110^th	403	72.7%
2008	76.61	67^th	409	83.6%
2009	73.54	44^th	230	80.9%
2010	75.55	81^st	454	82.2%
2011	77.94	72^nd	478	84.9%
2012	80.93	49^th	469	89.6%
2013	79.07	73^rd	488	85.0%
2014	76.91	81^st	490	83.5%
2015	73.36	112^th	516	78.3%
2016	73.05	118^th	508	76.8%
2017	73.98	119^th	523	77.2%
2018	74.60	104^th	518	79.9%
2019	76.11	95^th	533	82.2%
2021	69.12	130^th	521	75.0%
2022	64.51	164^th	520	68.5%
2023	69.28	137^th	529	74.1%
2024	72.14	126^th	545	76.9%

See the entire list of Minnesota Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	56.72	52^nd	114	54.4%
2021	22.32	80^th	97	17.5%
2022	23.91	109^th	131	16.8%
2023	33.13	75^th	107	29.9%
2024	48.62	57^th	116	50.9%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	46.91	42^nd	109	61.5%
2019	64.36	19^th	120	84.2%
2022	43.10	64^th	130	50.8%
2023	45.58	55^th	133	58.6%
2024	35.71	106^th	158	32.9%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	74.75	41^st	253	83.8%
2019	65.17	78^th	282	72.3%
2021	77.72	23^rd	260	91.2%
2022	71.43	46^th	288	84.0%
2023	74.80	36^th	298	87.9%
2024	46.66	152^nd	307	50.5%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	57.32	162^nd	401	59.6%
2019	64.16	127^th	415	69.4%
2021	48.79	198^th	399	50.4%
2022	51.29	188^th	404	53.5%
2023	49.26	217^th	459	52.7%
2024	53.95	193^rd	473	59.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	69.41	119^th	436	72.7%
2019	68.85	121^st	439	72.4%
2021	61.67	139^th	443	68.6%
2022	54.16	198^th	467	57.6%
2023	62.86	147^th	455	67.7%
2024	60.89	160^th	474	66.2%

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

Rank History for Male students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	74.83	87^th	438	80.1%
2019	76.86	87^th	454	80.8%
2021	69.26	110^th	437	74.8%
2022	68.49	121^st	476	74.6%
2023	69.89	105^th	464	77.4%
2024	75.31	83^rd	479	82.7%

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

Rank History for African American students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	40.75	80^th	137	41.6%
2019	53.11	66^th	148	55.4%
2021	51.90	63^rd	141	55.3%
2022	49.49	76^th	162	53.1%
2023	40.28	96^th	164	41.5%
2024	26.12	141^st	179	21.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	73.71	23^rd	163	85.9%
2019	52.98	61^st	171	64.3%
2021	53.37	59^th	156	62.2%
2022	76.43	30^th	188	84.0%
2023	70.63	29^th	178	83.7%
2024	68.48	42^nd	186	77.4%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	71.36	86^th	428	79.9%
2019	71.79	84^th	428	80.4%
2021	61.62	134^th	422	68.2%
2022	54.32	181^st	438	58.7%
2023	62.35	147^th	436	66.3%
2024	64.73	122^nd	440	72.3%

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.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent on FaceBook
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

My kids benefitted from the great education they received from the Mankato public schools. The schools prepared them well for college, and after college they went on (so far) to solid careers. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Dakota Meadows Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	465	2	5	4	1	n/a	n/a	477
1989	531	2	5	7	0	n/a	n/a	545
1990	546	1	10	7	1	n/a	n/a	565
1991	551	2	10	2	0	n/a	n/a	565
1992	536	2	7	1	2	n/a	n/a	548
1993	543	2	7	9	3	n/a	n/a	564
1994	608	1	9	6	2	n/a	n/a	626
1995	618	7	11	6	4	n/a	n/a	646
1996	618	7	11	6	4	n/a	n/a	646
1997	618	10	16	8	5	n/a	n/a	657
1998	601	6	10	9	1	n/a	n/a	627
1999	588	6	11	12	1	n/a	n/a	618
2000	560	1	11	10	0	n/a	n/a	582
2001	531	13	7	9	2	n/a	n/a	562
2002	526	18	7	18	6	n/a	n/a	575
2003	526	18	7	18	6	n/a	n/a	575
2004	568	12	12	21	6	n/a	n/a	619
2005	539	15	11	16	1	n/a	n/a	582
2006	520	26	9	14	0	n/a	n/a	569
2007	496	25	10	16	0	n/a	n/a	547
2008	486	26	10	11	2	n/a	n/a	535
2009	504	23	15	17	2	n/a	n/a	561
2010	518	22	15	20	4	n/a	n/a	579
2011	539	33	10	24	1	0	3	610
2012	502	27	13	24	2	0	5	573
2013	486	38	16	26	4	0	3	573
2014	485	39	16	25	2	0	3	570
2015	468	40	14	21	2	0	3	548
2016	746	71	19	30	3	1	18	888
2017	734	82	22	34	2	3	33	910
2018	746	91	20	41	3	3	33	937
2019	757	86	19	46	1	2	37	948
2020	746	93	18	62	0	0	47	966
2021	719	91	20	58	1	0	44	933
2022	693	91	16	62	3	0	48	913
2023	671	84	12	58	3	1	49	878

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 Dakota Meadows Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	477	24.8	19.2	8.2
1989	545	26.6	20.4	10.3
1990	565	31.4	17.9	8.5
1991	565	30.5	18.5	6.4
1992	548	29.6	18.5	10.6
1993	564	25.9	21.8	11.5
1994	626	32.1	19.5	9.6
1995	646	34.0	19.0	11.3
1996	646	34.0	19.0	11.3
1997	657	32.6	20.2	11.1
1998	627	n/a	0.0	7.3
1999	618	37.9	16.3	11.2
2000	582	34.8	16.7	12
2001	562	32.6	17.2	17.1
2002	575	30.9	18.6	20.2
2003	575	30.9	18.6	20.2
2004	619	31.8	19.5	19.2
2005	582	31.8	18.3	17.2
2006	569	31.3	18.2	20.7
2007	547	32.1	17.0	24.1
2008	535	31.8	16.8	24.1
2009	561	32.6	17.2	23.7
2010	579	32.7	17.7	26.9
2011	610	32.2	18.9	31.8
2012	573	34.2	16.7	30.2
2013	573	34.5	16.5	28.8
2014	570	34.3	16.5	28.2
2015	548	35.0	15.6	32.3
2016	888	37.0	24.0	32.5
2017	910	45.3	20.0	29.5
2018	937	46.3	20.1	30
2019	948	50.2	18.8	29
2020	966	51.3	18.8	28.2
2021	933	48.5	19.2	25.7
2022	913	50.7	17.9	25.3
2023	878	48.6	18.0	34.5

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 Dakota Meadows Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	477	24.8	19.2	8.2
1989	545	26.6	20.4	10.3
1990	565	31.4	17.9	8.5
1991	565	30.5	18.5	6.4
1992	548	29.6	18.5	10.6
1993	564	25.9	21.8	11.5
1994	626	32.1	19.5	9.6
1995	646	34.0	19.0	11.3
1996	646	34.0	19.0	11.3
1997	657	32.6	20.2	11.1
1998	627	n/a	0.0	7.3
1999	618	37.9	16.3	11.2
2000	582	34.8	16.7	12
2001	562	32.6	17.2	17.1
2002	575	30.9	18.6	20.2
2003	575	30.9	18.6	20.2
2004	619	31.8	19.5	19.2
2005	582	31.8	18.3	17.2
2006	569	31.3	18.2	20.7
2007	547	32.1	17.0	24.1
2008	535	31.8	16.8	24.1
2009	561	32.6	17.2	23.7
2010	579	32.7	17.7	26.9
2011	610	32.2	18.9	31.8
2012	573	34.2	16.7	30.2
2013	573	34.5	16.5	28.8
2014	570	34.3	16.5	28.2
2015	548	35.0	15.6	32.3
2016	888	37.0	24.0	32.5
2017	910	45.3	20.0	29.5
2018	937	46.3	20.1	30
2019	948	50.2	18.8	29
2020	966	51.3	18.8	28.2
2021	933	48.5	19.2	25.7
2022	913	50.7	17.9	25.3
2023	878	48.6	18.0	34.5

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 Dakota Meadows Middle School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$11,176

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Dakota Meadows Middle School

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 95^th of 533 Middle schools	Ranks 137^th of 529 Middle schools	8.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade Math (Dakota Meadows Middle School)	61.1	38	23.2%
6th Grade Math (Mankato Public School District)	55.4	39.3	16.2%
6th Grade Math (Minnesota)	50.5	39.7	10.8%
6th Grade Reading (Dakota Meadows Middle School)	70.4	56.6	13.8%
6th Grade Reading (Mankato Public School District)	65.5	52.5	13%
6th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	62.8	53.4	9.4%
7th Grade Math (Dakota Meadows Middle School)	56	33.7	22.4%
7th Grade Math (Mankato Public School District)	53.3	35	18.3%
7th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52.1	39.7	12.4%
7th Grade Reading (Dakota Meadows Middle School)	67.9	48.5	19.3%
7th Grade Reading (Mankato Public School District)	57.6	43.4	14.2%
7th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	57.5	45.2	12.3%
8th Grade Math (Dakota Meadows Middle School)	61.5	48.7	12.8%
8th Grade Math (Mankato Public School District)	53.8	41.6	12.2%
8th Grade Math (Minnesota)	55.2	40.3	14.9%
8th Grade Reading (Dakota Meadows Middle School)	69	56.5	12.6%
8th Grade Reading (Mankato Public School District)	63	47.6	15.4%
8th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	57.7	44.8	12.9%
8th Grade Science (Dakota Meadows Middle School)	45.2	35	10.2%
8th Grade Science (Mankato Public School District)	40.8	29.8	10.9%
8th Grade Science (Minnesota)	43	27.6	15.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	948	878	7.4%
African American	86	84	2.3%
American Indian	1	3	200%
Asian	19	12	36.8%
Hispanic	46	58	26.1%
Pacific Islander	2	1	50%
White	757	671	11.4%
Two or More Races	37	49	32.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	29%	34.5%	5.5%

Schools Near Dakota Meadows Middle School

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 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 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 8th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Dakota Meadows Middle School	Public	6-8	1900 Howard Dr	North Mankato	56001	Blue Earth County	Mankato Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 387-5077	878	49	18.0	34.5%	671 (76.4%)	84 (9.6%)	58 (6.6%)	12 (1.4%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	49 (5.6%)	72.1	126^th of 545 public middle schools	76.9%		69.3	137^th of 529 public middle schools	74.1%	11		44.8	46.2	43.3	44.7		60.1	54.5	51.8	55.5		32.0	32.0	$11,176
Central Middle School Alternative Learning Center	Public	6-8	110 Fulton Street	Mankato	56001	Blue Earth County	Mankato Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 387-3047	0	1	3.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Prairie Winds Middle School	Public	6-8	1200 Prairie Winds Dr	Mankato	56001	Blue Earth County	Mankato Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 345-6625	954	55	17.4	47.1%	637 (66.8%)	164 (17.2%)	67 (7.0%)	22 (2.3%)	7 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	56 (5.9%)	58.8	204^th of 545 public middle schools	62.6%		53.5	236^th of 529 public middle schools	55.4%	32		42.1	39.9	39.3	40.5		51.7	41.9	45.3	46.3		27.3	27.3	$11,184
St. Peter Middle School	Public	5-8	100 Lincoln Dr	Saint Peter	56082	Nicollet County	St. Peter Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 934-4210	621	42	14.6	45.2%	428 (68.9%)	55 (8.9%)	103 (16.6%)	5 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.5%)	71.9	130^th of 545 public middle schools	76.1%		54.9	228^th of 529 public middle schools	56.9%	98	42.2	50.0	39.1	53.1	46.1	54.8	64.4	42.2	51.4	53.1	51.1	35.1	43.3	$4,389

Dakota Meadows Middle School

Dakota Meadows Middle School:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Mankato Public School District:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for all students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for Special Education students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for Female students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for Male students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for African American students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rank History for White students at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Dakota Meadows Middle School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Dakota Meadows Middle School

Student/Teacher Ratio Dakota Meadows Middle School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Dakota Meadows Middle School

Impact of COVID-19 on Dakota Meadows Middle School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Dakota Meadows Middle School