The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Math. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Forest Lake Area Middle School
Forest Lake Area Middle School serves seventh and eighth graders in Forest Lake, a rapidly growing suburban community roughly a half-hour northeast of the Twin Cities. The school is part of the Forest Lake Public School District, which has faced notable financial pressures in recent years. The district closed an elementary school in 2024 as part of a budget reduction plan after voters rejected operating levy referendums in 2022 and 2023, and it is planning another referendum attempt in 2025. These cuts have reduced staffing and programs across the district, a context that matters for any family considering the middle school.
The school itself is a regular public school enrolling a large student body for a two-grade middle school. The student population is predominantly white, with a smaller Asian student presence and smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is modest relative to many Minnesota schools but still represents a substantial number of families.
On state assessments, the school shows a mixed picture. In math, proficiency among seventh graders was above half, while eighth grade math proficiency fell below that mark. In English language arts, both grade levels scored below the midpoint of proficiency, with the eighth grade figure notably lower than the seventh. Science results for eighth graders were weak, with only a small share of students meeting the state standard. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it below the midpoint among the twelve districts in Washington County. This is the school’s only available year of data, so there is no trend to examine. A parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports students who are not yet at grade level, particularly in reading and science.
The school serves only seventh and eighth grades, so there is no high school graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism, special education identification, and English learner enrollment were not available in the records we examined.
Forest Lake itself offers a mix of lakefront recreation, a new sports center, and ample parkland. It is a car-oriented community with low-density housing and commercial strips along highway corridors. Housing values and rents are above the national median, reflecting the area’s position within the Twin Cities metro. The school sits within a district that operates multiple elementary sites, one middle school, and one high school spread across the city rather than clustered in a single campus area.
For a family, this school offers a conventional public middle school experience in a growing suburban setting. The academic proficiency numbers suggest room for improvement, particularly in eighth grade reading and in science. The district’s recent budget cuts and failed levy votes are active factors that could affect class sizes and course offerings going forward. The community itself is family-oriented with outdoor amenities and a small-town feel, though it lacks a walkable downtown core. A parent considering this school should weigh the academic profile alongside the district’s ongoing financial challenges and ask about current program availability and support structures.
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