Lincoln Elementary, Faribault MN

Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Elementary

Lincoln Elementary is a regular public school in Faribault, Minnesota, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of four elementary schools in the Faribault Public School District. The school sits in a city that blends a historic downtown with a strong manufacturing base, anchored by employers like Faribault Foods, Jennie-O Turkey Store, and Faribault Woolen Mills. Faribault has seen steady population growth and sits along Interstate 35 about an hour south of the Twin Cities, making it a commuter-accessible community with a mix of residential and industrial areas.

The student body is diverse. The largest groups are students who identify as Hispanic, White, and Black, with smaller shares of students who are two or more races or Asian. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need across the school. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source used here, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.

Lincoln Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it is part of the Faribault Public School District. The district operates an early childhood center, four elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and an Area Learning Center across the city.

On state assessments, Lincoln Elementary's proficiency rates are below the midpoint among districts in Rice County. In math, the share of students meeting state standards was low across grades three, four, and five. In reading, the share was also low in grades three and four, with a somewhat higher share in grade five. In science, which is tested in grade five, the share of students meeting standards was low as well. These results place the school's overall proficiency index below the midpoint of the county's districts. A parent may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks and what interventions are in place.

The school's enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The student body is economically diverse, with a large majority qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is located on Lincoln Avenue in a residential area of Faribault. The district did not have any major recent changes publicly reported in the sources reviewed, such as referendums, boundary shifts, or new program launches, so a parent may want to check with the district office for any upcoming plans.

Housing in Faribault is moderately priced relative to the state and national benchmarks, with home values below the state average. The city's steady population growth and location on Interstate 35 make it accessible to the Twin Cities metro for commuting. The downtown is walkable with a traditional Main Street, while the broader city is more car-dependent. The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail and River Bend Nature Center provide outdoor recreation options.

For a family considering Lincoln Elementary, the key takeaway is a school serving a high-need population where state test results are low across subjects. The school is part of a district with multiple elementary options, so a parent may want to compare Lincoln's academic profile and support services with the other elementary schools in Faribault. The city itself offers a mix of industrial employment, a walkable downtown, and access to outdoor trails, with housing that is more affordable than the state average.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 320%

School 20% · District 19% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 417%

School 17% · District 22% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 34 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 513%

School 13% · District 13%

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 325%

School 25% · District 24% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Grade 418%

School 18% · District 24% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 537%

School 37% · District 47% · ▼ 10 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 20% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

This schoolFARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, 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-income17%Higher-income42%25 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income18%Higher-income20%2 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income31%Higher-income50%19 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income12%Higher-income37%25 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income14%Higher-income30%16 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income7%Higher-income28%21 pp gap