Underwood Public School District, MN

Original Research by School Decision on Underwood Public School District

Underwood Public School District sits in Otter Tail County, serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is small, with an enrollment that gives its two main buildings, Underwood Elementary and Underwood Secondary, a community-scale feel. The student body is overwhelmingly white, reflecting the demographics of the towns the district draws from, which include Underwood, Dalton, Battle Lake, Dent, Erhard, and Fergus Falls. Housing values in these communities vary, running from more modest levels in Fergus Falls to higher figures around Battle Lake, with the district-wide average landing near the state's overall housing benchmark. Rent data is limited to Fergus Falls, so a full picture of the rental market is not available from this data. The district receives Title I funding, and state testing data was reported for the school year ending in 2025.

Academic performance on state tests presents a mixed picture. In math, proficiency rates for elementary and early middle grades are strongest at the lower end, start around the high end in third grade, then settle into the mid-range through eighth grade. Reading proficiency follows a similar pattern, with third and fifth graders showing the highest rates, while seventh and eighth graders lag. Science scores are a notable soft spot. Fifth and eighth grade science proficiency is low, and the state changed the science assessment and cut scores that same year, which makes direct comparison with prior years difficult. A parent may want to discuss with the school how the new science test and curriculum are being handled. When placed among the other districts in Otter Tail County, Underwood’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile, meaning most other county districts posted higher combined scores across tested subjects and grades.

On student support and engagement, the district’s chronic absenteeism rate is better than the midpoint of its county peers, which points to relatively consistent attendance. Per-pupil spending falls in the lower range among county districts, a figure often tied to a district’s scale and local revenue base. The district has a charter school on its roster, Underwood ALP, but it is listed as closed, so that is not an active option for families.

The district has made moves that directly affect what happens in the classroom and on tax bills. Voters approved an operating levy referendum in November 2024. According to the district’s website, that measure raises additional annual revenue for a decade to support academic programs, technology, class size management, and staff retention. It replaces an expiring levy, so residents saw a continuation of local funding rather than a brand-new tax, though the rate may differ from the old one. For a homeowner, the cost per month is described as modest for a median-priced home. This is a material factor for anyone considering moving into the district, as it locks in a funding stream and is a direct cost to property owners.

Separately, the district is implementing the Minnesota READ Act, a 2023 state law requiring schools to use evidence-based reading instruction. Underwood reports adopting a new reading curriculum, offering teacher professional development on it, and adding a literacy coach position. That is a curriculum-level change that affects how reading is taught across all grade levels, and it is a relatively new shift. Parents of early elementary students may want to ask about the specific curriculum being used and how progress in reading is being measured under the new approach.

The district does not have a reported graduation rate in this data, so high school completion outcomes are not part of this profile. Similarly, data on special education identification, English learner services, discipline rates, and course access like Advanced Placement or career-technical programs are all absent. For a family weighing this district, those are open questions worth raising directly with the school or district office. What is clear is that Underwood is a small, rural public school system with a recent infusion of guaranteed local funding, a new reading framework, and test scores that are softer in science and in the upper middle grades. It fits a family that values a close-knit setting and stable operational funding, and who will want to follow up on academic support in the upper grades and science instruction.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

571

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 3%

Black 1%

White 92%

Asian 1%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

55%

63%

Gr 4

38%

43%

Gr 5

44%

70%

Gr 6

52%

67%

Gr 7

29%

43%

Gr 8

25%

42%

Math

Gr 3

52%

74%

Gr 4

46%

67%

Gr 5

19%

52%

Gr 6

35%

41%

Gr 7

43%

37%

Gr 8

38%

50%

Science

Gr 5

13%

23%

Gr 8

25%

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

UNDERWOOD ELEMENTARY

UNDERWOOD SECONDARY

UNDERWOOD ALP

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

62%

Grade 3

59%

Grade 4

40%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 6

39%

Grade 7

45%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

59%

Grade 3

41%

Grade 4

61%

Grade 5

60%

Grade 6

37%

Grade 7

35%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

20%

Grade 5

18%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$317,012

Year-over-year change+5.3%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$244K to $418K

vs. state typical0.90x

vs. national typical0.86x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
56586	Underwood	$332K	+4.5%	58.1%
56537	Fergus Falls	$244K	+5.0%	16.9%
56324	Dalton	$321K	+7.0%	11.5%
56534	Erhard	$319K	+7.6%	10.2%
56528	Dent	$389K	+6.9%	2.3%
56515	Battle Lake	$418K	+8.3%	1.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$938/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
56537	Fergus Falls	$938	—	16.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,600/mo

Home price / national median income3.8x

Annual rent / national median income13.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$662/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.