Hidden Valley Elementary, Savage MN

Original Research by School Decision on Hidden Valley Elementary

HiddenValley Elementary is a regular public school in Savage, part of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Schools district, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. Savage sits south of Minneapolis in Scott County, a suburban bedroom community that has grown considerably in recent decades as greenfield land opened up after highway improvements and a new bridge across the Minnesota River. The city remains car-dependent, with a small historic downtown along Highway 13 and a network of trails connecting parks. Three school districts serve Savage, so boundaries matter for where a child attends; Hidden Valley is one of several elementary schools in its district.

The district has undergone noteworthy changes. It closed Marion W. Savage Elementary due to funding constraints, reducing its elementary school count from ten to eight, which reshaped attendance patterns for some families. It also launched a permanent K‑12 virtual academy called ONE91 Virtual Academy, offering an alternative to in‑person instruction. For Hidden Valley, these district‑level shifts mean the school’s enrollment and feeder patterns may be evolving.

Hidden Valley’s student body is notably diverse and draws a substantial share of families with lower incomes. The student population includes students who identify as Black, Hispanic, White, Asian, and of two or more races, among other groups. A large proportion of students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunch, which reflects the economic profile of the community the school serves.

On state assessments from the most recent testing year, proficiency rates varied by grade and subject. Reading in fifth grade was a relative bright spot, with more than half of students meeting proficiency. In earlier grades, reading scores were lower, and across all tested grades, math proficiency was below the level many families might expect. Fifth‑grade science results were particularly low. When the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades is compared with other districts in Scott County, it falls below the midpoint. Only one year of assessment data was available, so no trend can be drawn; families may want to ask the school about how these results compare with prior years and what steps are being taken to support student growth.

Housing in the Savage area is priced above both state and national benchmarks, making homeownership or renting here a significant commitment. The local market has seen appreciation, and monthly costs for owning or renting are high relative to incomes. For families weighing this school, the affordability of housing is a practical consideration.

Hidden Valley Elementary serves a diverse and economically varied community in a growing suburban setting. Its academic profile shows uneven results across subjects and grades, with reading in the upper elementary years standing out as stronger. The district’s recent reorganization and the introduction of a virtual option add context for parents choosing a school path. A conversation with the school about its instructional strategies and support resources could help clarify whether this environment fits a particular child’s needs.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 336%

School 36% · District 43% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 424%

School 24% · District 37% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 41 pts below county median

Grade 531%

School 31% · District 38% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 327%

School 27% · District 39% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 424%

School 24% · District 33% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 31 pts below county median

Grade 559%

School 59% · District 52% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Science

Grade 516%

School 16% · District 20% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

This schoolBurnsville-Eagan-Savage Schools, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income20%Higher-income44%24 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income25%Higher-income22%3 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income53%Higher-income79%27 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income33%Higher-income65%32 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income31%Higher-income50%19 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income25%Higher-income22%3 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income23%Higher-income58%35 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income23%Higher-income62%38 pp gap