New Independence’s public schools beat 60% of Minnesota districts
The public schools New Independence’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 60% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
The short version on New Independence’s schools
The middle school is the weak link
One district takes students from South Ridge Elementary all the way to South Ridge Secondary. The elementary school earns the best grade on the path (B); the middle school earns the lowest (C−). See the path ↓
The gap is biggest in math
Reading proficiency is 49%, 4 points below the state. Math is 34%, 10 points below the state. Test scores ↓
The strongest schools in the area
New Independence ties with Alborn, Northland and Industrial for the best results. The whole area is strong: even the lowest-scoring neighbor, Grand Lake, earns B. Compare ↓
This summary is written from the data on this page. Test scores are from 2020–21, a pandemic year, so treat small gaps with caution.
How New Independence compares
How the School Grade works
- Results, not inputs. Math and reading proficiency on Minnesota’s state tests against the state average, plus the four-year graduation rate. Spending and class size are shown but don’t count. Tests: 2020–21; graduation: class of 2020.
- The whole path. A town’s grade follows its kids through every district that serves it, weighted by students tested. Tests count 60%, graduation 40%.
- Graded within the state. Each state writes its own tests, so districts are compared with the rest of Minnesota only. A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D the rest.
- What a grade can’t tell you. Test results track family income, so we also compare towns with similar incomes. Visit, ask other parents, and read neighbor reviews. It’s our own summary of U.S. Department of Education data, not an official rating.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve New Independence.
The district
Each district’s own page has its spending, test scores, enrollment and every school.
Below the state in reading
New Independence vs. its neighbors
New Independence’s schools rank 1st of 5 among the towns that share its borders. School Grade, by percentile among Minnesota districts.
Every school in New Independence
2 schools. Grades are based on state tests and graduation. Any other ratings are made by neighbors.
Parents talk
What New Independence families are saying about school.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Colleges near New Independence
There’s no college in New Independence, but 5 are within 30 miles. The closest is Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, 20.1 miles away.
Straight-line distance from the center of New Independence. Degree-granting colleges with students on campus · College Scorecard · IPEDS.
School data: U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts, F-33 school finance). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.