The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Math. The lowest is 48% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on S.g. Reinertsen Elementary
S.G. Reinertsen Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fourth grade in Moorhead, part of the Moorhead Area Public Schools district. It is a large elementary school for its grade band, with an enrollment that makes it one of the bigger K-4 buildings in the area. About two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that many families may want to consider alongside other support resources in the school.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Black population and smaller shares of Hispanic, Asian, multiracial, and Native American students. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners were not available in the reporting; a parent looking into special education or language support would need to follow up directly with the school.
Academically, the school’s state test results for the 2024-25 school year show a pattern that varies by grade and subject. In math, third graders posted a proficiency rate that was a fair margin higher than fourth graders, who landed closer to the midpoint. In reading, the same pattern held: third graders performed at a higher level than fourth graders, whose results were lower. Science results are from several years ago and for a grade that the school does not serve, so they do not reflect current performance.
When placed against other districts in Clay County using an overall proficiency index that averages all tested subjects and grades, S.G. Reinertsen Elementary lands in the top quartile. That means its combined performance is among the stronger elementary schools in the county’s public school landscape. Because only one year of data was available, it is not possible to say whether this is an improving or declining trend.
The school sits within a district that is actively growing and investing. Moorhead voters recently approved a bond referendum to fund a new elementary school and a high school expansion, and a different new elementary building opened just last year. The high school’s career academy also added a welding lab in 2024. These district-level changes signal rising enrollment and a push toward expanded career and technical offerings, though those affect upper grades more than the elementary level.
Moorhead itself is a mid-sized city that blends residential neighborhoods with several college campuses, agricultural processing plants, and manufacturing. It is part of the larger Fargo-Moorhead metro area. Housing in the immediate neighborhood around the school is somewhat more affordable than state and national medians, based on home values and rents. That relative affordability, combined with the district’s recent facility investments, may appeal to families looking for a growing community with steady employment in education, healthcare, and industry.
No data was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, or course access, so a full picture of the school’s climate and day-to-day operations would need to come from a visit or conversation with school leadership.
Overall, S.G. Reinertsen Elementary offers academic results that compare favorably within its county, a diverse student body by the standards of the region, and a setting in a moderately priced, growing city. The soft spot is the drop in proficiency between third and fourth grade in both math and reading; a parent may want to ask the school how it supports students as they move into the upper primary grades. The district’s recent bond investments suggest that the school and its facilities are part of a longer-term plan for enrollment growth.
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