The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Memorial Middle School
Memorial Middle School serves grades six through eight as a regular public school in Ely, a small city in northern Minnesota that functions primarily as a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The town’s economy depends largely on tourism, with roughly two dozen outfitters, outdoor retailers, and restaurants lining the main street. Historically an iron ore mining community, Ely has seen steady population decline over recent decades and now has an aging demographic. The school sits within the Ely Public School District, which recently completed a major expansion project that connected previously separate buildings and reorganized the district from three schools into two. As part of that restructuring, Memorial Middle School no longer exists as a standalone building; the district now operates Ely Memorial High School for grades six through twelve and Washington Elementary for kindergarten through five. This means that while the middle school still functions as a distinct grade-level program, students in these grades share the same physical campus as high schoolers, and the administrative structure has been streamlined accordingly.
State testing data from the most recent school year provides a picture of where Memorial Middle School stands academically. On state math assessments, proficiency rates varied noticeably by grade. Sixth graders posted the strongest results, with a solid share meeting standards. Seventh grade math proficiency was lower, and eighth grade math fell somewhere between the two. On English language arts tests, the three grade levels performed within a fairly narrow range, with proficiency rates clustered near the middle of the percent scale across grades six, seven, and eight. Science testing is administered only in eighth grade, and that year’s proficiency rate was markedly lower than the other subjects. The state changed both the science assessment name and the cut scores for that exam starting in this school year, so the results may not be directly comparable to prior years. When placed against other districts in St. Louis County, Memorial Middle School’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint of the county distribution, a position that families may wish to explore further with the school.
The school’s enrollment is modest for a middle school serving three grades. The student body is predominantly white, reflecting the broader community’s demographics, with small numbers of students identifying as two or more races, Hispanic, or Black. More than a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the economic mix in the community. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the availability of special education services and language support.
Housing in Ely is somewhat more affordable than the state average, with home values running below Minnesota’s typical level, though prices have risen at a solid clip in recent years. The town’s small footprint means that the school, like most civic institutions, sits close to the compact downtown core and the surrounding lakes and forest that define daily life here. The local economy and community feel are shaped heavily by tourism and outdoor recreation, with the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness drawing a large seasonal visitor population.
Parents considering Memorial Middle School should take note of the district’s recent reorganization and the fact that grades six through twelve now share a single campus. The academic performance data show a school that is working to lift achievement, particularly in math and science, where a substantial portion of students are not yet meeting state standards. The school’s position relative to other districts in the county is modest, but the context of a small, rural, tourism-dependent community with a declining population is important to weigh against any comparison. This is a school that fits families who value a small-town environment, proximity to wilderness, and a school setting where older and younger students interact daily, but where academic results suggest room for growth.
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