The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in Math. The lowest is 40% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cleveland Elementary
Cleveland Elementary, part of Fergus Falls Public Schools in west-central Minnesota, serves only third and fourth graders. It is a mid-sized regular public school. Its student body is predominantly white, with a small share of multiracial students and a modest number from Black, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian backgrounds. Just under half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that signals a notable degree of economic diversity within the school.
State testing data from the most recent school year shows a split picture. In fourth-grade math, students posted a strong proficiency rate, well above the midpoint for schools in the state. Fourth-grade reading proficiency was lower, around the midpoint. Fifth-grade results—which cover the same students the following year in the same building—are available for all three tested subjects. Fifth-grade math proficiency dropped considerably, landing well below the fourth-grade mark. Fifth-grade reading was stronger than fourth-grade reading. Fifth-grade science proficiency was the weakest result across the school, falling well below the fifth-grade reading level. Because the school serves only two tested grades, and the 2024-25 year is the only year of testing data available, there is no multi-year trend to examine.
When placed against other districts in Otter Tail County, Cleveland Elementary’s combined proficiency across math, reading, and science sits in the top quartile. This gives a more favorable impression than the grade-level breakdowns alone might suggest, because the mix of subjects and grades averages out the weaker fifth-grade math and science scores.
The school’s grade configuration is noteworthy. Cleveland Elementary currently serves third and fourth grades. However, Fergus Falls Public Schools has restructured its elementary alignment: McKinley and Adams now serve grades one through three, while Cleveland serves grades four and five. It is unclear whether Cleveland’s current third- and fourth-grade roster reflects a transition period or a partial implementation. A parent enrolling a child should confirm which grades are housed at Cleveland for the upcoming school year, as the published district configuration and the school’s stated grades do not fully match.
Fergus Falls, the city where Cleveland sits, functions as a regional trade and service hub for Otter Tail County. Employment is anchored by a large integrated health system, a regional utility headquartered in the city, and a community college campus. Manufacturing, agriculture, and county government are also significant. The local housing market is relatively affordable compared to state benchmarks, with home values well below the Minnesota median. The area has seen modest, incremental population growth, and there is some anecdotal mention of younger remote workers moving in, but no signs of rapid development.
Because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. No data on chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, discipline, or course access is available for Cleveland, so these dimensions of school life cannot be assessed from the evidence in hand. A parent looking for a fuller picture of school climate and day-to-day operations would need to pursue that directly with the school or district.
Cleveland Elementary presents as a school with solid math proficiency in fourth grade but a notable drop-off in fifth grade, and reading results that improve from grade four to grade five. Its strong relative standing among Otter Tail County districts may be a useful reference, but the internal grade-level swings invite a closer look at curriculum and instructional alignment between the two grades. The school’s economic makeup and setting in a stable micropolitan city with affordable housing make it a straightforward option for families living within the Fergus Falls attendance area.
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