New London-spicer Middle, New London MN

Original Research by School Decision on New London-spicer Middle

New London-Spicer Middle is a regular public school serving grades five through eight in the small Kandiyohi County community of New London. It is the only middle school in the New London-Spicer School District, and the district itself has seen little in the way of recent structural or policy changes, suggesting a stable operating environment. Families coming into this school will find a mid-sized student body that draws from the surrounding lakes-country area, including nearby Spicer.

Academically, the school shows a clear and uneven pattern across subjects. In English language arts, proficiency at most grade levels reaches a solid majority, with a notable dip in seventh grade that parents may want to ask about. Math results are more mixed: about half of students across grades five through eight met state standards, which places the school’s overall performance above the midpoint relative to other districts in Kandiyohi County. Science scores are the weakest area, with only a modest share of students reaching proficiency in both fifth and eighth grades. Because state assessment data is available for only a single school year, there is no basis here for judging whether these results represent an improvement or a decline. A parent curious about academic trajectory would need to ask the school directly for trend information or classroom-level detail.

The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and even smaller numbers of other racial groups. Just over a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that signals a moderate level of economic diversity. The school does not report data on students with IEPs or English learners, so families with children in those populations will need to follow up with the school about available supports. No information on discipline rates or chronic absenteeism is available in the public record, which limits what can be said about the school environment on those fronts.

New London itself is a compact, walkable town centered on a historic millpond, with a small downtown of locally owned businesses and a calendar of community events such as Porch Fest and an antique car run. Sibley State Park lies nearby, making outdoor recreation accessible. The town’s population has grown modestly in recent years, and housing values sit slightly below the statewide typical, with renting costing less than buying under current mortgage rates. That relative affordability, combined with a stable school district, may appeal to families seeking a small-town setting within reasonable driving distance of Willmar and roughly ninety miles west of the Twin Cities.

The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to examine. Program offerings such as advanced coursework, electives, or extracurriculars are not listed in the available data, meaning a parent would need to visit the school’s website or contact the office to learn about music, athletics, clubs, or any enrichment pathways. The school is not a charter or magnet, and no Title I designation is on record.

New London-Spicer Middle presents as a solidly performing school in a stable district, with reading as a clear strength and science an area that warrants attention. The gaps in available data around student support services and school climate mean that an onsite visit and direct conversation with staff will be especially important for any family weighing a move or enrollment decision.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 546%

School 46% · District 46%

▲ 11 pts above state median

Grade 656%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 28 pts above state median

Grade 746%

School 46% · District 46%

▲ 22 pts above state median

Grade 852%

School 52% · District 52%

▲ 26 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 567%

School 67% · District 67%

▲ 13 pts above state median

Grade 668%

School 68% · District 68%

▲ 22 pts above state median

Grade 746%

School 46% · District 46%

▲ 10 pts above state median

Grade 856%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 21 pts above state median

Science

Grade 526%

School 26% · District 26%

▲ 2 pts above state median

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 19%

▲ 7 pts above state median

This schoolNEW LONDON-SPICER 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 5Lower-income55%Higher-income70%16 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income60%Higher-income71%11 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income22%Higher-income51%29 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income28%Higher-income66%38 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income32%Higher-income50%18 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income42%Higher-income60%18 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income28%Higher-income50%22 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income47%Higher-income53%6 pp gap