Columbus Elementary

17345 NOTRE DAME ST
FOREST LAKE, MN 55025

441 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 6th

School Overview

Columbus Elementary School, located at 17345 Notre Dame St in Forest Lake, Minnesota, is a key component of the Forest Lake Area Schools district (ISD 831). The school serves students in the surrounding community, focusing on foundational academic development, social-emotional learning, and a supportive educational environment. It is known for its commitment to small-town values while providing the resources and curriculum typical of a larger, well-established public school district.

As part of the Forest Lake community, Columbus Elementary emphasizes a "whole child" approach to education, aiming to foster both intellectual curiosity and character growth. The school typically offers a standard K–5 curriculum, including core subjects like mathematics, literacy, and science, alongside opportunities for physical education and arts. Parents and families in the area often view the school as a neighborhood-centered institution that prioritizes clear communication, safety, and active involvement from the local community to help students reach their potential.

441

Total Students

21.9

Full-Time Teachers

20.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

18.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Columbus Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	356
Hispanic	14
Black	4
Asian	51
Two or More	14
American Indian	2

White
356 (80.7%)
Asian
51 (11.6%)
Hispanic
14 (3.2%)
Two or More
14 (3.2%)
Black
4 (0.9%)
American Indian
2 (0.5%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Forest Lake Public School District
Phone:	(651)982-8900
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 6th
Total Students:	441
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	21.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	20.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	57
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	24

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 52

Grade 1 59

Grade 2 60

Grade 3 75

Grade 4 70

Grade 5 66

Grade 6 59