Albany Public School District, MN

Original Research by School Decision on Albany Public School District

Albany Public School District is a PK through 12 public district in Stearns County, serving a student population that is overwhelmingly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and an even smaller share identifying as two or more races. The district covers several small communities including Albany itself, Avon, Freeport, and Richmond, and its housing market reflects a mix of modest towns and rural areas with home values sitting near the middle of the state’s range. The district’s four schools are Albany Elementary, Avon Elementary, Albany Area Middle School, and Albany Area High School. State testing participation rates were very high across all grades and subjects.

Academically, the district’s performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment stands out relative to its neighbors. On the overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested grades and subjects, Albany ranks in the top quartile among Stearns County’s districts. Within that comparison set, its proficiency rates are well above the county median. Math results showed a notable range by grade, with some grades reaching well over half of students scoring proficient, while a few grades fell a bit below the district average. English language arts results followed a similar pattern, with the strongest showing in middle grades and a modest dip in eighth grade. Science results were lower, with about a quarter of fifth graders and roughly a fifth of eighth graders reaching proficiency; it is worth noting that the state changed the science assessment and its cut scores that year, so those results may not directly compare with prior years. A parent may want to ask the school how science instruction and assessment have shifted.

Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low. The district’s chronic absenteeism rate sits in the top quartile for the county (lower is better on this metric), meaning the vast majority of students attend school regularly. Data on the graduation rate was not reported in the available records, so that measure could not be assessed. Per-pupil spending falls in the middle range for the county, slightly below the median, indicating that the district operates on a budget typical for the region.

The student body is large enough to support a full academic program but not so large that individual attention is lost. The district is not a charter or magnet school, and information about free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education services, and English learner populations was not available in the data provided. Those are important context for understanding the school’s support needs, and a parent may want to ask the district directly about these figures.

A recent voter-approved bond referendum, publicly reported, authorizes funding for a package of facility upgrades. These include a new early learning center and additions and renovations at the high school and elementary school. This investment signals that the district is growing or updating its physical capacity to serve its community for the long term.

Overall, Albany Public School District offers solid academic performance for its county, with particular strength in math and reading through the middle grades, very low chronic absenteeism, and a clear commitment to improving its facilities. The absence of data on economic disadvantage and graduation rates means some questions remain for families to explore directly with the district.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,799

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 3%

Black 1%

White 94%

Asian 0%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

42%

60%

Gr 4

48%

60%

Gr 5

62%

67%

Gr 6

50%

68%

Gr 7

50%

53%

Gr 8

47%

52%

Math

Gr 3

54%

69%

Gr 4

59%

75%

Gr 5

41%

55%

Gr 6

43%

69%

Gr 7

56%

65%

Gr 8

30%

64%

Science

Gr 5

14%

27%

Gr 8

17%

18%

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

ALBANY ELEMENTARY

Albany Area Middle School

Albany Area High School

AVON ELEMENTARY

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

66%

Grade 3

71%

Grade 4

52%

Grade 5

64%

Grade 6

63%

Grade 7

57%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

56%

Grade 3

57%

Grade 4

66%

Grade 5

65%

Grade 6

53%

Grade 7

51%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

24%

Grade 5

18%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$362,898

Year-over-year change+2.9%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$251K to $386K

vs. state typical1.03x

vs. national typical0.99x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
56307		$356K	+2.6%	62.7%
56310	Avon	$386K	+3.6%	19.8%
56368	Richmond	$368K	+2.3%	8.5%
56331	Freeport	$380K	+3.5%	4.9%
56362		$329K	+4.5%	3.5%
56376		$251K	-1.3%	0.5%
56374	Saint Joseph	$340K	+5.3%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,008/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
56374	Saint Joseph	$2,008	—	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,831/mo

Home price / national median income4.3x

Annual rent / national median income28.8%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$177/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$350,891 (+2.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.