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Minneapolis and St. Louis DepotMinneapolis and St. Louis Depot · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Fairfax · G.F.W.

Fairfax’s public schools score below 57% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 34% of Fairfax’s students scored proficient, below the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Fairfax, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Minnesota, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
47%
▼ 4 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
34%
▼ 11 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–89%
▼ 3–6 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.8K
▲ 4% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.1
MN 14.8 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
572 students on the public path
In brief

Fairfax’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 854 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Fairfax’s, its schools beat 33%, lower than their 43% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 47% of tested students were proficient in reading and 34% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota (the state reports Fairfax’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,774 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is GFW Middle School, then GFW High School. Enrollment is down 8% since 2021–22. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Praire Lutheran School Upper Site (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Fairfax’s grade

C+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 43% of Minnesota school districts. Graduation is above the Minnesota average; test scores are below it.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 43%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (854)Better than 33%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 324 test results and a graduating class of 44 could put Fairfax anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Fairfax’s students in the tested grades sat them (309 in math, 339 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Fairfax, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5GFW Elementary Schoolin GibbonB
6–8GFW Middle Schoolin WinthropNo scores
9–12GFW High Schoolin WinthropC+

Fairfax’s public schools are run by G.F.W.. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

G.F.W.Grades PK–12 · 3 schools · 572 students, down 8% since 2021–22 · 13.1 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$17,774MN $17,091 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading47%
State average 51.1% · 339 students tested
Math34%
State average 44.8% · 309 students tested

Fairfax vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Fairfax’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
FairfaxC+G.F.W.
Cairo—G.F.W.
Camp—G.F.W. PK–12 · Cedar Mountain PK–12

All 2 neighbors share G.F.W. with Fairfax, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Fairfax

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Minnesota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Fairfaxin other towns
GFW Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Gibbon
B
240 students14:1Rate it →
GFW Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Winthrop
121 students13:1Rate it →
GFW High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Winthrop
C+
211 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Praire Lutheran School Upper Site
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
78 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Fairfax’s schools

Are Fairfax’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Fairfax children attend score below 57% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 33%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Fairfax in?

G.F.W., which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 572 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Fairfax kids go to high school?

GFW High School in Winthrop, with 211 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Fairfax’s graduation rate?

80–89% of the class of 2023 in G.F.W. graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Fairfax spend per student?

$17,774 in G.F.W. (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Fairfax?

Yes: Praire Lutheran School Upper Site (religious, grades PK–8, 78 students).

Parents talk

What Fairfax families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fairfax → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.