Cohasset Elementary, Cohasset MN

Original Research by School Decision on Cohasset Elementary

Cohasset Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the small lake-country community of Cohasset, Minnesota. It is part of the Grand Rapids Public School District, which means the district makes decisions about curriculum, facilities, and staffing for the school. The school building sits in Cohasset itself, a low-density residential area spread out along lakes and forest, and the student body reflects the local population. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school enrolls a small number of students overall. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest number of American Indian students and students of two or more races represented, along with very small numbers of Hispanic, Black, and Asian students. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are supported.

Academically, the school’s state test results from the most recent year present a mixed picture. Reading proficiency was high in third and fifth grades, while the fourth-grade result was softer. Math proficiency was strong in third grade but notably lower in fourth and fifth. Science proficiency in fifth grade fell in a similar range as the weaker math and reading scores. Because the school serves only early elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Only one year of testing data was available, so no trend can be described. Overall, the school’s mean proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint among districts in Itasca County, which is a meaningful strength relative to its immediate neighbors.

For families considering the school, it is worth noting that the district attempted a bond referendum in 2023 that would have funded, among other improvements, a secured entrance at Cohasset Elementary, but the measure did not pass. That means the current entrance setup remains unchanged. On the curriculum side, the district adopted a new evidence-based literacy program for all K-5 classrooms starting in the 2024-25 school year, a shift required by state law. That change may be worth asking about if a parent wants to understand how reading is taught now compared to before.

Cohasset itself is a small, lake-oriented community with a high rate of homeownership and a modest housing market. Most residents commute by car, and the short drive to Grand Rapids provides access to shopping, health care, and high school programming. The area’s character is shaped by lakes, forests, and outdoor recreation rather than a concentrated downtown. The school is the only elementary in the community and draws from the immediate area, so the peer group for a child will be local neighborhood children. For a family looking for a small elementary school in a stable, small-town setting with above-average academic results relative to nearby districts, Cohasset Elementary fits. A parent may want to follow up on the secured entrance question and on how special education and English learner services are provided, since those details were not reported here.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 382%

School 82% · District 68% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median

Grade 442%

School 42% · District 61% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 52% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▲ 7 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 370%

School 70% · District 59% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 57% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▲ 7 pts above state median

Grade 573%

School 73% · District 64% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median

Science

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 35% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median

This schoolGRAND RAPIDS 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-income64%Higher-income72%8 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income35%Higher-income58%23 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income46%Higher-income83%37 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income86%Higher-income81%5 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income26%Higher-income53%27 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income23%Higher-income49%26 pp gap