The reported proficiency rate for Science is 58%.
Original Research by School Decision on Memorial High School
Memorial High School is the upper-grade component of Ely’s reconfigured secondary school, which now serves grades six through twelve in a single connected building following a recent expansion. The school is small, with a student body that is overwhelmingly white and includes a modest share of students who identify as two or more races. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that points to a middle-income community with some economic diversity. The school sits in Ely, a compact town in northeastern Minnesota that functions as the primary gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and whose economy is shaped by tourism, outfitting, and seasonal recreation.
Academically, the picture is mixed. The most recent state assessment results, from the 2024-25 school year, show that roughly two-thirds of students met proficiency standards in English language arts, while about a third did so in math. The math figure is a soft spot that a parent may want to explore further with the school, as it sits well below the typical countywide level. The only other tested subject with available data is science, but that result comes from a single grade level more than a decade ago and is not current enough to inform a judgment about today’s instruction. When the school is compared with other districts in St. Louis County using an overall proficiency index—which in this case appears to draw on that older science figure—it lands in the top quartile, but the gap between the current ELA and math outcomes suggests that the composite may not reflect the present reality. No graduation rate is reported in the data, so that key measure of high school completion cannot be assessed here.
The peer environment is shaped by the school’s small size and its rural setting. With a total high school enrollment that is modest for a four-year public school, students are likely to know one another well and to receive more individualized attention from staff. The district’s recent building project connected previously separate middle and high school spaces, which has changed the daily flow and may have shifted how students interact across grade levels. Information on Advanced Placement, career and technical education, or dual-credit offerings was not available, so the breadth of academic pathways is unknown. Similarly, data on special education services and English learner support is missing; families with students who need those services should contact the district directly to understand what is available.
The community context matters for families considering Ely. The town has been losing population for decades and has an aging demographic profile, with a notable share of residents over sixty-five. The housing market is relatively affordable by state standards, with typical home values below the Minnesota median, though current mortgage rates are elevated. There were no major new housing developments identified in the search, so the stock of homes is likely stable and turnover-driven. The local economy is anchored by tourism, outfitting, and a community college, with a historic mining industry that has long since closed. A major proposed copper-nickel mine that would have been a large employer is effectively stalled after the cancellation of federal leases, leaving the economic outlook tied to seasonal visitors and wilderness recreation.
Memorial High School fits a family looking for a small, community-rooted high school in a remote town where outdoor life is central. The academic strengths are in literacy, but mathematics needs attention, and the lack of current program and outcome data means a parent should ask direct questions about course offerings, graduation rates, and support services before enrolling. The school’s size and setting offer a close-knit environment, but the broader context of a declining population and a narrow economic base is something a family deciding to move to Ely should weigh alongside the school’s day-to-day character.
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