Fulda Elementary, Fulda MN - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Fulda Elementary

Fulda Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in the small agricultural town of Fulda, a community of about that size in Murray County, southwestern Minnesota. The town sits on the north shore of a recreational lake and has a compact downtown with local shops, a restored train depot, and civic anchors such as the Fulda Memorial Library and city park. The population has shown signs of decline in recent years, and the area remains predominantly agricultural. Housing in Fulda tends to be more affordable than the broader state market, and the school district draws from the town and neighboring communities.

The school itself is small, with a student body that is predominantly white and includes measurable shares of Hispanic and Asian students along with smaller other populations. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the community. Fulda Elementary is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and is part of the Fulda Public School District. Because it serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report here.

Academically, the school shows a pattern that is worth looking at closely. In the early elementary grades, math proficiency is strong. Third and fourth graders perform well above typical levels, but in fifth and sixth grades math results drop off notably. Reading and language arts are more consistent across grades, with proficiency in a range that is solid but not standout. Science testing, which takes place in fifth grade only, shows a low proficiency rate compared to the other subjects. A parent considering this school may want to ask about the transition between primary and upper elementary math instruction, and about how science is taught at the fifth-grade level. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint when compared with the two school districts in Murray County.

There is only a single year of assessment data available for this school, so trends over time cannot be assessed. The district brief did not surface recent changes such as new programs, facility updates, or leadership turnover that would affect a family’s decision.

For a family, Fulda Elementary offers a small, familiar setting in a rural town with a lake and community events. The peer environment is shaped by a high share of students from lower-income households, which often correlates with additional support services but is not a measure of a student’s potential. The academic picture is mixed: early math is a clear strength, but the drop in upper elementary math and the low science result are worth investigating. Families whose children are in the early grades may find the school a good fit, while those with children entering upper elementary might want to discuss the school’s approach to maintaining achievement levels. The community is stable but contracting, and housing costs are modest relative to the state. This is a place where a parent can engage directly with a small school and a small district.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 381%

School 81% · District 81%

▲ 26 pts above state median

Grade 483%

School 83% · District 83%

▲ 31 pts above state median

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 35%

▼ 1 pts below state median

Grade 636%

School 36% · District 36%

▲ 9 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 352%

School 52% · District 52%

▲ 10 pts above state median

Grade 461%

School 61% · District 61%

▲ 20 pts above state median

Grade 566%

School 66% · District 66%

▲ 12 pts above state median

Grade 656%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 10 pts above state median

Science

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 14%

▼ 11 pts below state median

This schoolFULDA 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-income45%Higher-income64%19 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income46%Higher-income80%34 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income53%Higher-income79%25 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income70%Higher-income100%30 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income77%Higher-income90%13 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income20%Higher-income50%30 pp gap