The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Math. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Centennial Elementary
Centennial Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Richfield, a dense inner-ring suburb of Minneapolis. The school is part of the Richfield Public School District, which has a five-year strategic plan called “Richfield Realized” covering 2021 through 2026 that sets the district’s academic and policy direction. Centennial is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.
The student body is diverse. Hispanic or Latino students make up the largest share, followed by Black or African American students and White students, each at roughly similar proportions. Smaller groups of students who identify as two or more races, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native round out the enrollment. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a marker of economic need. The school serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, and its enrollment is moderate for an elementary school in this grade band.
State testing results are available for the most recent school year. In reading, proficiency rates across grades three through five were below the midpoint of the state average. In math, proficiency rates varied by grade, with fourth grade showing a higher rate than third and fifth grades, but overall the school’s combined proficiency index across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint relative to other schools in Hennepin County. In science, the proficiency rate for fifth graders was low. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the academic support and intervention strategies in place.
The school serves a population with substantial economic need, as a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs and the share who are English learners was not available in the source data, so a full picture of special populations is incomplete.
Richfield is a dense inner-ring suburb of Minneapolis with a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Best Buy’s corporate headquarters is the largest employer, and the city has a range of housing from single-family homes to apartments and senior living. The city’s population peaked decades ago and then declined due to airport and highway expansion, but it is now focused on commercial and residential redevelopment. Housing values in the area are around the state median, and rents are moderate relative to incomes. The city has a park system with more than a modest number of acres of parkland, a nature center, an ice arena, and an outdoor pool.
Centennial Elementary’s state test results show that overall proficiency across reading, math, and science is below the midpoint when compared with other schools in Hennepin County. In reading, proficiency rates were below the state average across all tested grades. In math, fourth graders performed at a higher level than third and fifth graders, but the fifth-grade math proficiency rate was low. Science results for fifth graders were also low. The school has only one year of data available for these assessments, so there is no trend to examine yet.
The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. Data on the share of students with disabilities and the share who are English learners was not available in the source data, so those dimensions of the student body are not captured here.
Housing in the area is priced near the state median, and rents are moderate relative to incomes. Richfield is a dense inner-ring suburb that saw its population peak decades ago and then decline, but the city is now focused on redevelopment. The district’s strategic plan, Richfield Realized, covers 2021 through 2026 and sets the academic and policy direction for the schools.
Centennial Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint when compared with other schools in Hennepin County. The school’s test results in reading, math, and science are all below the state average, with science proficiency particularly low. A parent may want to ask the school about its academic intervention programs and how it supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
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