The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Herman Elementary
Herman Elementary is a small, rural public school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in the west-central Minnesota town of Herman, part of the Herman-Norcross School District. The town sits near the South Dakota border in Grant County, a landscape of farms and small communities. Herman itself is a very small city that once earned recognition as Minnesota’s “model town” for its civic merit, and it hosts the Grant County Fairgrounds. The population declined from an earlier census to a smaller count in 2020, then showed a slight rebound in recent estimates. Housing values here are well below the state median, and the local economy is largely agricultural; no major employers were identified in publicly available sources.
The school itself is tiny, with an enrollment that is small even for an elementary school. The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and a very small number of Native American students. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that a substantial portion of families have lower incomes. Staffing and discipline data were not available in the records reviewed, nor were counts of students with individualized education plans or English learners.
State testing results present a picture that requires some unpacking. For the 2024-25 school year, math and English language arts proficiency rates were reported as zero percent for each tested grade level. However, when the school’s overall combined rate across all tested grades and subjects is calculated, the aggregated figures show a different number: about half of students met math standards and roughly a third met reading standards. The grade-level zeros appear to reflect the very small number of students tested in each grade, which can make individual percentages unreliable. Science results for fifth grade were suppressed to protect student privacy because fewer than a handful of students took that test. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate. Chronic absenteeism data also were not reported, which is common for very small schools where such figures may not be calculated.
When placed against other districts in Grant County, Herman Elementary’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quarter among the three districts in the county. That positioning is based on the aggregated proficiency rate, which, while not zero, is lower than the midpoints of its peers. A parent considering this school would want to discuss with the school how its small test cohorts affect the reported numbers and what supports are in place for students who need additional help.
The school has a single-year record of testing data, so no trend can be observed. The district brief turned up no recent parent-relevant changes such as referendums, curriculum shifts, or property tax changes, aside from an administrative name change that took effect in mid-2024.
For a family looking at Herman, the school offers a very small setting where students from kindergarten through sixth grade are together in one building. The town’s amenities are minimal a community center, the fairgrounds, and a few small businesses along the state highways that run through it. The nearest larger towns for shopping or services are a drive away. Housing is affordable relative to the state, and the area’s population has been roughly stable after earlier decline. This is a school that fits a family seeking a close-knit, rural elementary experience and who is comfortable with limited local resources and a small peer group. The test performance, as measured, is below the county average, and a parent would be wise to ask the school how it identifies and supports students who are not yet proficient.
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