Red Lake Falls Public School District

The Red Lake Falls Public School District is home to two schools: J.A. Hughes Elementary and Lafayette Secondary. Based on the data provided, J.A. Hughes Elementary stands out as a high-performing school, consistently exceeding district and state averages in math, reading, and science proficiency. In contrast, Lafayette Secondary, the district's high school, appears to be an area of concern, with fluctuating state rankings and lower academic performance compared to the elementary school.

J.A. Hughes Elementary ranks 145th out of 881 Minnesota elementary schools and earns a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's math and reading proficiency rates on the MCA-III assessments are significantly higher than the district and state averages across all grade levels. In 2023-2024, 67.2% of students at J.A. Hughes Elementary were proficient or better in math, compared to 52.34% for the district and 45.47% statewide. Similarly, 60% were proficient or better in reading, versus 55.65% for the district and 49.85% statewide. The school's science proficiency rates are also strong, with 65.63% of 5th graders scoring proficient or better in 2023-2024, compared to 45.02% statewide.

In contrast, Lafayette Secondary's performance has been more variable, with its statewide ranking fluctuating between 54th and 124th out of Minnesota high schools in recent years. While the school maintains a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, its academic outcomes, particularly in math proficiency, lag behind the district and state averages. Additionally, Lafayette Secondary has a higher dropout rate of 11.1% in 2021-2022, which is a concern that warrants further investigation. The differences in free/reduced lunch rates and student-teacher ratios between the two schools may be contributing factors to the performance gap.