The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Math. The lowest is 56% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Mendota Elementary
Mendota Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Mendota Heights, a first-ring southern suburb of the Twin Cities. The school is part of the West St. Paul–Mendota Heights–Eagan district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The community describes itself as having a small-town feel with big-city amenities, overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. The area was historically truck-farm and dairy country that grew rapidly after World War II, and its demographic profile is older and established.
On state assessments, Mendota Elementary students posted results that place the school in the top quartile for overall proficiency among districts in Dakota County. In mathematics, a large majority of third and fourth graders met standards. Reading proficiency was solid in third grade and somewhat lower in fourth grade, where roughly half of students demonstrated proficiency. These are the only tested grades given the school’s grade span; no high school or middle school metrics apply. The single year of data available provides a snapshot, not a trend.
The student body is of a size typical for a suburban elementary school feeding into a larger district. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic diversity. Racially, the student population is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in this profile, so families with specific support needs may want to ask the school directly about those programs.
The school grounds and surrounding neighborhood reflect Mendota Heights’ suburban, car-oriented character. Major highways crisscross the area, and there is no traditional walkable downtown. The city’s extensive park system offers regional trails, riverfront parks, and nature preserves. Scouting, sports, and outdoor recreation are common out-of-school options. Housing values in the immediate zip code are above the national median, and rents are moderate relative to local incomes. The area has seen some demographic stability, with a slight population decline noted in recent estimates, and no major new housing developments were flagged in available materials.
Mendota Elementary is part of a district that in 2021 renewed its operating levy and approved a capital projects technology levy, providing funding for class sizes, programs, and student support. The district also operates Friendly Hills Middle School (grades 5–8) and Two Rivers High School (grades 9–12), so families will eventually transition their children to those schools. Private school options in Mendota Heights include Saint Thomas Academy and Convent of the Visitation.
Some information typically used to assess a school’s environment is missing here. Chronic absenteeism rates, staffing ratios, and discipline data were not part of the profile, in part because the school serves only early elementary grades and those metrics may not be reported at this level. Federal program status such as Title I was also not listed. A parent may want to ask the school directly about class sizes, intervention programs, and how the school supports students who are not yet meeting reading benchmarks in fourth grade.
For a family looking at suburban elementary options in the south metro, Mendota Elementary presents a school with strong math outcomes and a solid, if uneven, reading record, set in a community that is established, relatively affluent, and oriented toward parks and highways rather than a downtown core. The small grade span allows for focused early childhood and primary instruction before students move to a larger middle school.
See more original research from School Decision →