The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Win-elementary School
WIN-Elementary School is a special education school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Little Falls, Minnesota. The school is part of the Mid-State Education District, a joint-powers cooperative that provides specialized services to multiple member districts across the region. Because of the school's purpose and population, the standard metrics used to evaluate most schools do not apply here in the usual way.
The enrollment is very small, with students in grades three through five. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of American Indian or Alaska Native students and a smaller Hispanic representation. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school's designation as a special education school means it serves students whose needs are best met in a dedicated setting, and the enrollment data reflects that concentrated focus.
State testing data is reported, but the results need to be read carefully given the school's mission. In math and reading, the reported proficiency rate was low for each tested grade level. The statewide science assessment for fifth grade had the proficiency figure suppressed due to the small number of test takers. A parent should understand that these proficiency rates reflect a very small sample of students who are placed in this program specifically because they require specialized academic and behavioral support. The test results cannot be compared in a straightforward way to results from a typical elementary school. When WIN-Elementary is compared to other districts in Morrison County on an overall proficiency index, the school sits in the bottom quartile. That position is consistent with what one would expect for a school that serves students who have been identified for specialized instruction.
No graduation rate data applies, as the school does not serve high school grades. No information on chronic absenteeism was available in the data provided. The district brief indicates that the Mid-State Education District has had no recent parent-relevant changes with lasting impact reported in available sources.
For a parent considering this school, it is not a neighborhood elementary school that a child would attend by default based on residence. It is an alternative placement made through the special education process, typically involving an Individualized Education Program team decision. A family would want to discuss with their home district and with Mid-State Education District staff what specific programs, therapies, and instructional approaches WIN-Elementary offers, and how those align with their child's needs. The data available here does not include details on class sizes, staff-to-student ratios, or the types of specialized instruction provided, so direct inquiry with the school would be necessary.
Little Falls itself is a small city and the county seat of Morrison County, with a historic downtown on the Mississippi River, a mix of residential neighborhoods and industrial areas, and a surrounding landscape of farms and lakes. Major employers include Camp Ripley, a military training facility just north of town, as well as manufacturing and government sectors. The housing market features home values that are below the state average but broadly in line with national patterns. The town has a traditional grid layout with a walkable downtown core. The community blends historical preservation with small-town civic life.
Families who live in the member districts of the Mid-State Education Cooperative access WIN-Elementary through the special education referral and placement process, not through open enrollment or attendance zone assignment. The school's small size and specialized mission mean that its academic results tell a story about serving students with significant needs rather than about the quality of instruction in a general sense. A parent investigating this school should focus on whether the setting, staffing, and program design match their child's particular strengths and challenges.
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