Best Public Schools in Zip Code 55354

The Lester Prairie school district in zip code 55354 consists of two schools: Lester Prairie Elementary and Lester Prairie Secondary. Both schools serve a relatively small student population and face academic and socioeconomic challenges, with consistently low performance on standardized tests compared to state averages and high rates of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

Lester Prairie Elementary has a diverse student body, with 25% Hispanic and 5.24% two or more races, and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14:1. However, the school's proficiency rates on MCA-III tests range from 27.5% to 52.5%, significantly below the state average. In contrast, Lester Prairie Secondary has a less diverse population, with 74.06% White and 23.85% Hispanic students, and a higher student-teacher ratio of 24.6:1. The secondary school also underperforms on standardized tests, with proficiency rates ranging from 3.03% to 52.38%.

Despite the academic challenges, Lester Prairie Public School District does have some positive indicators, such as a relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 88.5% and a low dropout rate of 2.8% at the secondary school. However, the high rates of free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, ranging from 38.08% to 39.92%, suggest that the district faces significant socioeconomic challenges that may be impacting student achievement.