The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Math. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Garfield Elementary
Garfield Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Alexandria Public School District. The school sits in the very small rural community of Garfield, Minnesota, a predominantly residential town in west-central Douglas County surrounded by agricultural land and recreational trails. The school building is integrated into the compact street grid alongside city hall and the post office, and the town’s population has been slowly declining in recent years.
Enrollment is small, and the student body is almost entirely white, with a very small number of students identifying as Hispanic or of two or more races. Roughly one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that is relatively low compared to many Minnesota schools but still represents a modest share of families. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, which is common for small elementary schools and does not necessarily indicate absence of those populations.
On state assessments, Garfield Elementary’s results are a clear strength. In math, proficiency rates were solid across the tested grades, with the fourth grade cohort performing especially well. Reading and language arts results were also strong, with a majority of students meeting or exceeding standards in each grade level tested. Science is only tested in fifth grade, and while a substantial share of students were proficient, the rate was lower than in math and reading for that same grade. A parent may want to ask the school about science instruction and how it supports student progress in that subject.
When compared to other districts in Douglas County, Garfield Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it well above the middle of the field and among the highest in the county. This is a meaningful distinction given the small size of the school and the district’s broader rural context.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate. Data on chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, and disciplinary actions were not available, leaving gaps in the picture of daily school environment and student support. A family interested in those aspects would need to follow up directly with the school or the district.
Garfield itself offers limited commercial activity; most employment and shopping are located about a short drive east in Alexandria. The town’s main recreational asset is the Central Lakes Trail, a paved multi-use path that runs through town and connects to a larger regional trail network. Housing values in the area are moderate, and the local economy is shaped by agriculture and tourism in the broader county.
The Alexandria Public School District recently submitted a Capital Project Levy proposal in 2025, according to publicly reported information, which could affect property taxes and facility investments if approved. No other major district changes were identified in available sources.
For families seeking a very small elementary school in a quiet rural setting with consistently strong academic results relative to the surrounding county, Garfield Elementary presents a compelling option. The lower fifth-grade science proficiency is the one area that merits a closer look, but overall the school delivers a solid academic foundation for its students.
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