The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Math. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Nrheg Elementary
NRHEG Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Ellendale, a small, primarily residential town in southern Minnesota near the intersection of Interstate 35 and State Highway 30. The school is part of the NRHEG School District, which covers a rural area that also includes the communities of New Richland and Hartland. Ellendale itself has a limited commercial core and a largely residential character; residents often commute roughly a short drive north to Owatonna or south to Albert Lea for employment. The town’s population has been relatively stable with a slight recent decline, and the local Economic Development Authority works to attract and retain businesses, but no major employers are located within the city.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic and Black students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that indicates a moderate level of economic need in the community. This is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it serves the full range of elementary grades within its attendance area.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, NRHEG Elementary’s results show a mixed picture across subjects and grade levels. In mathematics, proficiency rates trended downward from third grade through fifth grade, with the highest share of students meeting standards in third grade and a notably lower share in fifth grade. In English language arts, proficiency rates were lower overall than in math, but they rose across the grades, with fifth graders performing strongest among the three tested grades. Science is assessed only in fifth grade, and the proportion of students reaching proficiency there was quite low, a result that parents may want to discuss with the school to understand the instructional approach and support. Compared with other school districts in Steele County, NRHEG Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint among the three county districts. Because this is a single year of data and state assessment changes have occurred, readers should treat these results as a snapshot rather than a trend.
The elementary school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was also unavailable in the source material. Those gaps are typical for an elementary-level institution, where such metrics are either not applicable or not publicly reported at the school level.
Ellendale’s housing market reflects its rural small-town setting. Home values are modest relative to state and national benchmarks, and the cost of living is described as low, with no city sales tax. This makes the area potentially attractive for families seeking affordability and a quieter environment. However, the town lacks extensive amenities such as a public library, parks mentioned in available sources, or public transit, and the commercial presence is limited.
For families considering this school, the academic pathway is one where math performance in early elementary grades appears stronger than in later ones, and where reading and writing proficiency, while improving by fifth grade, still leaves a share of students below the state standard. The science results are an area that warrants further inquiry. The peer environment is one of limited racial and economic diversity, consistent with the surrounding community. The school’s size is moderate for an elementary school serving these grade levels, and the community context is that of a small town with a stable population, minimal growth pressure, and a reliance on nearby larger cities for employment and services. A parent moving to the area should look into the district’s approach to supporting students in the subjects where proficiency is lower, and consider how the community’s character and distance to employment centers fit their own priorities.
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