The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Taylors Falls Elementary
Taylors Falls Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade and is part of the Chisago Lakes School District. The school sits within the small river town of Taylors Falls, a place defined by its historic character and its setting on cliffs above the St. Croix River. Roughly one-third of the town’s structures date back more than a century, and tourism and recreation shape the local economy. The elementary school is integrated into the community on West Street, while middle and high school students attend schools in the neighboring communities of Lindstrom and Chisago City, a few miles away.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic need. The school does not have charter status, and its Title I status was not reported in the available data.
State test results from the most recent school year show a mixed academic picture. In math, the proportion of students meeting proficiency standards was near the midpoint of the school’s own grade-level results, with a lower result in fifth grade. In reading, the pattern was uneven: third and fourth grade proficiency rates were lower, while fifth grade reading was stronger. Science results for fifth graders were below the school’s reading and math numbers in that grade. Overall, when combining results across tested subjects and grades, the school’s proficiency index placed it above the midpoint among districts in Chisago County. The available data represents a single year, so there is no trend information to show whether performance is improving or declining. A parent may want to ask the school about its reading and math supports, particularly in the early grades and in fifth-grade math.
The school offers a regular public school program, and no specific program offerings, such as special magnet themes or career pathways, were included in the data. Because the school only serves through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. Information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, and staffing was not available, so a parent may want to follow up with the school or district on those topics directly.
The housing market in the area shows home values that are close to the state average. The typical monthly mortgage payment is estimated to be substantially higher than the typical rent, which points to a market where buying requires more income than renting. The unemployment rate has been steady at a low level nationally.
For the district, a recent development worth knowing: in late 2023, voters renewed the district’s expiring operating levy, which secures ongoing per-pupil revenue adjusted for inflation. A separate question that would have generated annual funding specifically for technology was defeated, so the district does not have that dedicated technology revenue stream. This may be relevant for families interested in the district’s technology infrastructure and classroom devices.
Overall, Taylors Falls Elementary is a small, community-based elementary school in a historic river town, serving a largely white student body with moderate economic diversity. Its state test results place it above the midpoint among its county districts on an overall proficiency index, though grade-level results vary, and there is no multi-year data to indicate a trajectory. Families who value a small-town setting and a school integrated into the local community will find that here. Those concerned about specific academic areas, particularly math and science in the upper elementary grades, should look into the school’s curriculum and support strategies directly. The lack of data on several key school-environment metrics means that a thorough picture of daily school life will require a conversation with the principal or a visit to the building.
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