The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Rice Elementary
Rice Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small, fast-growing community of Rice, Minnesota. It is one of three elementary schools in the Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools district, and it is the only district school located within the city of Rice itself; the district’s other elementary schools, middle school, and high school are in neighboring Sauk Rapids. The school building sits along U.S. Highway 10, the town’s main corridor, in a setting that is predominantly rural and residential, with farm fields, parks, and recreational amenities such as golf courses and lake access nearby.
The student body is small for an elementary school serving these grades, and it is overwhelmingly white. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a moderate level of economic diversity. Enrollment figures for students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are served.
State testing results from the most recent school year show a mixed picture across subjects and grade levels. In reading, fourth and fifth graders posted proficiency rates that were solid, with fifth graders reaching a level that suggests many students are on track. Third-grade reading proficiency, however, was markedly lower, which is a soft spot a parent may want to look into further with the school. In math, fourth graders performed well, but third-grade and especially fifth-grade math proficiency were much weaker. Science results for fifth graders were also low. When combining all tested subjects and grades into a single proficiency index, Rice Elementary lands above the midpoint among the districts in Benton County, though the comparison set is small given that only three districts operate within the county. The school’s overall performance sits in the middle of the pack relative to its immediate neighbors.
The community of Rice has been growing quickly over the past two decades, with a young, family-oriented population. Housing values have risen considerably, and the area is part of the St. Cloud metropolitan region. The district has recently invested in facilities, with a new building for Pleasantview Elementary in Sauk Rapids opening in 2023 and significant construction expenditures reported. This suggests a district that is responding to enrollment growth, which may affect families considering the area for the long term.
Rice Elementary is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. It does not serve middle or high school grades, so there is no graduation rate data and no information about advanced coursework or career pathways. The school’s program offerings were also not provided in the data, so a parent interested in art, music, physical education, or any specialized academic or enrichment programs would need to consult the school directly. The locale is spread out and oriented around the highway, with limited walkability, and families in the northern part of Rice sometimes send their children to a neighboring district because of closer proximity, which is a logistical detail worth noting for those who live farther from the school.
Overall, Rice Elementary offers a small-school setting in a rural town experiencing growth and change. Its academic results are uneven, with some grade levels and subjects demonstrating solid performance and others where proficiency is low. The district’s recent facility investments and the town’s rising home values point to a community under development, but the school itself does not have a broad array of documented programs or supports beyond the standard classroom. For a family weighing this school, the key questions to investigate are how the school addresses the weaker proficiency scores in the early grades and in fifth-grade math and science, what services are available for students who need extra help, and what enrichment opportunities exist within a relatively small elementary program.
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