Hermantown Middle, Hermantown MN

Original Research by School Decision on Hermantown Middle

Hermantown Middle School serves grades five through eight and sits within Hermantown Community Schools in a suburb of Duluth. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a much smaller share of students who identify as two or more races, and even smaller shares who are Asian, Black, Hispanic, or American Indian. About one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that signals a moderate level of economic diversity.

Academically, the school presents a picture that shifts by grade level and subject. In fifth grade, reading proficiency is strong, with most students meeting state standards, and math proficiency is also solid. By sixth and seventh grades, reading proficiency remains above the midpoint, though it drops noticeably in eighth grade, where roughly half of students meet the standard. Math follows a similar pattern, with proficiency declining across the grade span; fifth grade is the strongest, and eighth grade is the weakest. Science results are lower still, with only a modest share of fifth graders scoring proficient and an even smaller share of eighth graders doing so. The state changed the science assessment and cut scores for this school year, so direct comparisons with prior years are not possible, but the results are a soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school. Overall, when averaged across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in St. Louis County, a measure that includes schools of all types across a large and varied county.

The school environment is that of a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, though the data does not include information on discipline rates, course access, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism, so a full picture of daily operations and student support is incomplete. The district underwent a name change in 2022, shifting from Hermantown Public School District to Hermantown Community Schools, and has consolidated its web presence across multiple domains in what appears to be a rebranding effort.

Hermantown itself is a growing community in a region where growth is uncommon, and it balances a mix of suburban and rural character. The eastern side feels like a lower-density bedroom community with large lots and subdivisions, while the western side is more rural. The commercial spine is the Miller Trunk Corridor, a car-oriented strip that extends from Duluth. There is no traditional downtown; the city describes itself as centered around its schools. Housing values in the area are roughly in line with the state median, and rents have risen modestly, reflecting the area’s steady demand. Duluth International Airport lies just northeast of town, and several creeks run through the city, contributing to the outdoor access the city promotes.

For a family considering this school, Hermantown Middle offers solid academic performance in the early middle grades, particularly in reading and math, and a top-quartile standing within its county. The decline in proficiency by eighth grade, especially in science, is worth asking about, and the lack of data on discipline, staffing, and attendance limits a full assessment of student support. The school serves a largely white student body with moderate economic diversity, and the community is car-dependent, growing, and suburban-rural in feel.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 579%

School 79% · District 79%

▲ 44 pts above state median · ▲ 53 pts above county median

Grade 658%

School 58% · District 58%

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 30 pts above county median

Grade 757%

School 57% · District 57%

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 34 pts above county median

Grade 849%

School 49% · District 49%

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 29 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 574%

School 74% · District 74%

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 670%

School 70% · District 70%

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Grade 759%

School 59% · District 59%

▲ 23 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Grade 851%

School 51% · District 51%

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Science

Grade 531%

School 31% · District 31%

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 822%

School 22% · District 22%

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

This schoolHermantown Community Schools, 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 4Lower-income39%Higher-income67%27 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income57%Higher-income76%19 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income41%Higher-income75%35 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income56%Higher-income60%4 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income28%Higher-income54%26 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income48%Higher-income82%34 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income57%Higher-income82%25 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income27%Higher-income64%37 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income41%Higher-income61%20 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income26%Higher-income52%26 pp gap