NERSTRAND CHARTER SCHOOL

www.nerstrand.charter.k12.mn.us

Charter School 102 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Nerstrand Charter School, located in the small, rural community of Nerstrand, Minnesota, is a unique public school known for its commitment to child-centered, project-based learning. Serving students from kindergarten through fifth grade, the school emphasizes a democratic approach to education where students are encouraged to take an active role in their learning journey. By fostering a close-knit environment, the school focuses on the "whole child," prioritizing social-emotional growth alongside academic rigor.

The school’s curriculum is deeply rooted in the philosophy that children learn best through hands-on experiences, exploration, and collaboration. With a strong connection to its surrounding natural environment, Nerstrand frequently integrates outdoor learning into its daily activities, encouraging students to engage with their community and the local ecosystem. As a charter school, it maintains a small class size and a personalized atmosphere, creating a collaborative partnership between students, teachers, and families to support individual student success.

102

Total Students

7.5

Full-Time Teachers

13.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

23.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for NERSTRAND CHARTER SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	88
Hispanic	3
Black	4
Two or More	5
American Indian	2

White
88 (86.3%)
Two or More
5 (4.9%)
Black
4 (3.9%)
Hispanic
3 (2.9%)
American Indian
2 (2.0%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	NERSTRAND CHARTER SCHOOL
Phone:	(507)333-6850
Website:	http://www.nerstrand.charter.k12.mn.us
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	102
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	7.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	22
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	2

* 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 21

Grade 1 17

Grade 2 18

Grade 3 21

Grade 4 11

Grade 5 14