The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Upsala Secondary
Upsala Secondary is the single school building that serves grades seven through twelve for the Upsala Public School District, a small, independent district in southwestern Morrison County. The school sits on Main Street in the town of Upsala, a rural community of Swedish-immigrant heritage that has remained small and stable over recent decades. The school district is the largest employer in town, and the building itself functions as a primary community institution, housing elementary, middle, and high school sections under one roof. The district has stayed independent despite past talk of consolidation with neighboring districts.
The student body is small and overwhelmingly white, with a modest share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school serves grades seven through twelve, and the enrollment is small enough that each grade has a cohort of roughly the same size, creating a consistent peer environment from year to year. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and sits in a rural setting where the school building is integrated into the town's fabric rather than set apart on a campus.
On state assessments, the school's results are mixed. In reading, seventh graders showed a solid proficiency rate, while eighth graders were lower. In math, both seventh and eighth graders posted proficiency rates that were well below the state average. Science results for eighth graders were very low. The school's overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Morrison County. A parent considering this school may want to look into how the school supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks in math and science, and what academic interventions are available.
The school serves grades seven through twelve, so it does not have a graduation rate reported in the available data. The school's academic trends data shows only a single year of results, so there is no multi-year trend to assess improvement or decline. The school's chronic absenteeism rate was also not available in the data provided.
The town of Upsala is a very small community with a linear commercial strip along Main Street and minimal street life. The school building itself is centrally located and functions as a primary community institution. The original school building was replaced some years ago with a new facility that includes administrative offices, a gymnasium, and an auditorium. The district has remained independent despite past talk of consolidation with neighboring districts, and the school continues to serve as a gathering point for the community.
Housing in the area is more affordable than the state and national benchmarks, with home values that have risen modestly. The town's population has been relatively stable with a slight recent decline, and no major new housing developments were identified. Many residents commute to larger employment centers along the I-94 and Highway 10 corridors toward St. Cloud and the Twin Cities metro.
The school's academic profile is one where reading proficiency is a relative strength, particularly at the seventh-grade level, while math and science results are areas where the school falls well below state averages. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Morrison County. A parent may want to ask the school about its math and science curriculum, intervention strategies, and how it prepares students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards. The school's small size means that each grade has a very small cohort, which can allow for close relationships between students and staff but also limits the breadth of course offerings. No information on Advanced Placement, dual-credit, or career and technical education programs was available in the data provided.
The town of Upsala has a stable but slightly declining population, and the school building itself was reconstructed and expanded in the mid-2000s, adding a gymnasium and auditorium. The school district has remained independent despite past consolidation discussions, and the school functions as a central community institution in a town where street life is minimal and the annual Heritage Days celebration is the main civic gathering. Housing values in the area are well below the state median, and the local economy is anchored by the school district and surrounding agriculture, with many residents commuting to St. Cloud or the Twin Cities metro for work.
See more original research from School Decision →