Summary:
The city of Heron Lake, Minnesota has only one school, Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary, which serves grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 133 students. This school has consistently struggled with low academic performance, with proficiency rates well below the state averages in math, reading, and science. Despite a relatively low student-teacher ratio, the school has a 1-2 star rating out of 5 on the SchoolDigger scale, indicating below-average performance compared to other Minnesota elementary schools.
Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary's student population is predominantly White (72.93%) with a significant Hispanic representation (21.05%), and the school has a high rate of free and reduced-price lunch recipients at 54.89%. These demographic and socioeconomic factors may be contributing to the school's challenges in improving student outcomes. The school's ranking and rating have remained in the bottom third of Minnesota elementary schools over the past 3 years, suggesting a persistent struggle to raise proficiency levels.
While the low student-teacher ratio at Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary could be an asset, it has not translated into stronger academic performance. The school and the Heron Lake-Okabena School District may need to explore strategies to improve proficiency rates, particularly in math and reading, and address the underlying factors that are contributing to the school's consistently low academic outcomes.
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