The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Riverway Learning Community Charter
Riverway Learning Community Charter is a small public charter school in Winona, Minnesota, serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. It is a regular elementary school operating under a charter, which means it is publicly funded but operates with some independence from the local district. The school’s enrollment is small, and it draws a student body that is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. More than two-thirds of the students come from low-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. The school does not report data on special education identification or English learner status, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the supports available for those students.
State assessment results for the 2024-25 school year show that in both reading and math, very few students met the proficiency standard. In reading, less than half of the tested students scored proficient. In math, the share was even lower. These results place the school’s overall academic performance in the bottom quarter relative to other districts in Winona County. Science results for fifth grade were suppressed by the state because the number of test takers was very small, a common practice to protect student privacy. The school has only a single year of data in the state’s trend file, so it is not possible to see whether performance has been improving or declining over time.
For a school that serves only elementary grades, the absence of a graduation rate or chronic absenteeism rate is expected and not a concern. What is more relevant at this level is the academic foundation students are building. The low proficiency rates, especially in math, are a soft spot that a family may want to explore further with the school. It would be reasonable to ask what curriculum and interventions are in place, how the school supports struggling students, and whether recent changes in instructional approach are planned.
Winona is a Mississippi River city set in the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. It is the county seat, home to two universities, and a hub for manufacturing and corporate headquarters. The local economy includes major employers like Fastenal, Winona State University, and Winona Health. The city’s population has been roughly stable with a slight recent decline. Housing values and rents in the area are moderate relative to the state as a whole, though the national context shows rising rent costs. The school is located at 1200 Storrs Pond Road, on the outskirts of the city.
Because Riverway is a charter school, it functions as its own district. The district brief found no recent parent-relevant changes, such as property-tax shifts, curriculum overhauls, or referendums, so the school’s operations appear to be steady. Families considering this school should weigh the small size and close community feel of a charter elementary against the academic performance data. For a child who needs strong foundational skills, a closer look at how the school addresses math and reading instruction would be worthwhile. The school’s charter status gives it some flexibility in programming, but the publicly available data does not detail any specialized offerings.
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