Washington Elementary, Owatonna MN

Original Research by School Decision on Washington Elementary

Washington Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Owatonna, a city that functions as an economic center for southern Minnesota, with a historic downtown along the Straight River, major employers like Federated Insurance and Viracon, and steady residential growth to the northeast and southeast. The school sits in a neighborhood near the north edge of the city, close to the older core and new subdivisions alike. It is one of several elementary schools in the Owatonna Public School District.

Academically, Washington Elementary posts a proficiency index that lands in the top quartile relative to other districts in Steele County, a broad measure that averages results across tested subjects and grades. That overall placing, however, masks variation by grade level. In third grade, math proficiency is a clear strength, with a high share of students meeting state standards. Third-grade reading also comes in at a solid level. By fourth grade, though, proficiency drops noticeably in both math and reading, and fifth-grade math and reading sit lower still. Fifth-grade science proficiency is moderate. The pattern suggests that while early instruction appears strong, the school may face challenges maintaining that performance as students move into upper elementary grades. A single year of assessment data is available, so no trend can be drawn; a parent may want to ask the school how achievement has shifted over time and what supports are in place for the grades where results are softer.

The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. Just over two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that reflects the community’s mixed-income character. Owatonna’s median household income and housing values are near national averages, and the area has seen modest home-price appreciation. The district’s operating levy is among the lowest in its conference, meaning local property-tax support for schools is relatively light, which affects the tax burden for homeowners.

The broader district context includes a recent major capital construction project, with a significant investment in school facilities that affects the learning environment across all buildings. The new high school opened in southeastern Owatonna in 2023 after a voter-approved bond, and the old high school site is slated for redevelopment. These investments may eventually benefit the elementary level as well, but no specific facility changes at Washington Elementary were reported in available materials.

Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access were not available for this school. Because it serves only kindergarten through fifth grade, measures like graduation rate do not apply. The school’s Title I status was also not reported. A parent considering Washington Elementary may want to ask the school directly about class sizes, intervention programs for students who struggle in the upper grades, and how the school supports the transition to middle school. The early-grade performance is a clear draw, but the drop-off in fourth and fifth grade warrants a closer look. The school’s overall standing among Steele County districts is strong, yet the internal grade-level pattern gives a more nuanced picture than the top-quartile label alone suggests.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 378%

School 78% · District 55% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 23 pts above state median

Grade 453%

School 53% · District 55% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 38% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 356%

School 56% · District 38% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median

Grade 434%

School 34% · District 40% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 53% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median

Science

Grade 532%

School 32% · District 22% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median

This schoolOWATONNA 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-income48%Higher-income62%13 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income29%Higher-income40%12 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income32%Higher-income58%26 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income74%Higher-income81%7 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income43%Higher-income64%21 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income32%Higher-income49%17 pp gap