The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Washburn Elementary
Washburn Elementary is a regular public school in Bloomington, Minnesota, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Bloomington Public School District. Bloomington itself is a large, car-oriented suburb of Minneapolis, built out as a post-World War II housing boom suburb and now home to the Mall of America, the nation’s largest enclosed shopping center. The city has more jobs per capita than either Minneapolis or Saint Paul, and its economy is anchored by major employers including the mall, HealthPartners, and several corporate headquarters such as Toro and Dairy Queen. About a third of the city is reserved for parkland, including the Minnesota Valley wetlands and Hyland Lake Park Reserve, giving families access to large natural areas. The city lacks a traditional downtown, with civic functions dispersed and school buildings spread across residential neighborhoods rather than clustered.
The student body at Washburn is diverse. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. In terms of racial and ethnic composition, the largest group of students identifies as Hispanic, followed by White students, Black students, students of two or more races, and Asian students. A very small number of students identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, and an even smaller number as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Data on English learner status and special education classification was not available. This information matters for a parent considering the school because it gives a sense of the peer environment and the range of student backgrounds a child will encounter.
On state academic assessments, Washburn’s proficiency rates across tested grades and subjects are mixed, and the school overall places above the midpoint among districts in Hennepin County on a combined proficiency index. In reading, proficiency rates show a declining trend as students move up in grade. The third-grade reading proficiency rate is moderately higher than the rate for fourth graders, and the fourth-grade rate is moderately higher than that of fifth graders. In math, a similar pattern appears clearly: the third-grade proficiency rate is strong, the fourth-grade rate drops, and the fifth-grade rate is very low. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, the proficiency rate is also quite low. These are the most recent results available, from a single year, so there is no trend line to compare. A parent should note that this represents a single snapshot, and the school’s own administration would be the best source for understanding how these results compare to prior years and what interventions may be in place for the older elementary grades.
Because Washburn serves only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not have a high school program, so that metric does not apply.
The Bloomington district offers several programs that could be relevant to families at Washburn or those planning ahead. The Bloomington Career and College Academy allows high school students in the district to take courses from college instructors and earn college credit while still in high school. The district also operates a Computer Science Immersion program in partnership with the University of Minnesota, which integrates computer science into other subject areas at the elementary and middle school levels. This could mean that a Washburn student might encounter computer science woven into their regular classroom work. Additionally, New Code Academy, a fully online K-12 school taught by Bloomington teachers, is available as a permanent alternative to in-person learning for any Minnesota family, giving residents a flexible enrollment choice.
For families considering a move to the area, the housing market in Bloomington shows typical suburban patterns. Housing values and rents have both risen at a modest pace recently. The city’s population was stable in the 2020 census. Recent voter-approved local investments include a new local option sales tax to fund a public health and community center, ice garden renovations, and creek restoration, all of which point to ongoing municipal reinvestment.
In summary, Washburn Elementary serves a diverse, economically varied student body in a large suburban district with strong job and park access. Its academic results show a clear pattern of higher proficiency in the early elementary grades and lower proficiency by fifth grade, particularly in math and science. A parent considering the school may want to ask about how the school supports students in the upper elementary grades and how it prepares them for the transition to a district middle school, where programs like the Computer Science Immersion pathway may continue.
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