The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Elementary
Lincoln Elementary serves third through fifth grade in Saint Cloud, part of the St. Cloud Area School District. The school sits within a mid-sized regional center along the Mississippi River that blends residential neighborhoods, university presence, and industrial employment, with healthcare and education as leading sectors. The housing market in the area has seen appreciation and rent increases consistent with broader national trends, and the area is accessible to the Twin Cities via Interstate 94.
The student body at Lincoln Elementary is diverse. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the economic context many families navigate. The largest group of students is Black, followed by White students, and smaller shares identify as Hispanic, two or more races, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the profile, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the range of supports available for those populations.
Academically, the state assessment results for the 2024-25 school year show proficiency rates that fall well below state norms. In fourth-grade math, roughly one in eight students tested at the proficient level. In fifth-grade math, the rate was substantially lower. In reading, the proficiency picture was similarly constrained. About one in seven fourth graders met the bar, and about one in five fifth graders did. Science results for fifth graders were also low, with roughly one in twelve students testing proficient. The school’s overall proficiency index, combining all tested subjects and grades, placed it in the bottom quartile among the few districts in Benton County. Because the comparison set is small, this position is worth noting, but the gap in performance is clear.
Because state testing data exists for only a single year, there is no trend line to assess whether the school is improving or declining. A multi-year view would give a fuller picture, but that simply is not available in the current data. A parent considering Lincoln Elementary may want to discuss with the school what academic interventions and instructional strategies are in place and how the school is addressing these results.
The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. No information was available on the school’s Title I status, staffing ratios, discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or course access. Those are meaningful gaps. Without staffing data, a parent cannot know average class sizes or student-to-teacher ratios. Without discipline or attendance data, it is not possible to assess the school climate from this profile. A conversation with the principal or a school tour would be the practical next step for any family looking for those details.
No recent district-level changes or initiatives were confirmed in publicly available sources. The school has a website, and that would be the place to check for current programming, after-school activities, parent engagement opportunities, and any academic support offerings.
Lincoln Elementary is a school with a deeply diverse student body in a city that has been a destination for immigrant families, set within a regional economy built on healthcare, education, and manufacturing. The academic results on state tests are low, and a parent weighing this school will want to look closely at what the school is doing to raise achievement and how it supports all learners. The missing data on special populations, staffing, and school environment means forming a full picture will take more than what this profile alone can provide.
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