Charles Chapman House · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0South Bend Township’s public schools outscore 63% of Minnesota districts
The grade covers the two public school districts serving South Bend Township, 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.
From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% 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.
South Bend Township’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 1599 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of South Bend Township’s, its schools beat 57%, lower than their 63% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on tests
Reading proficiency is 56% and math 49% across both districts in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 80% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Mankato Public spends $14,453 per student and Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial $14,012, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
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.
What’s behind South Bend Township’s grade
B: better than 63% of Minnesota school districts. Test scores are above the Minnesota average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve South Bend Township, with each school’s own grade.
6th grade in South Bend Township · depends on your address
Prairie Winds Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 887 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Dakota Meadows Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 852 students · 19:1 students per teacher · in North Mankato
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Sec
Grades 6–12 · 506 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Lake Crystal
7th grade in South Bend Township · depends on your address
Prairie Winds Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 887 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Dakota Meadows Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 852 students · 19:1 students per teacher · in North Mankato
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Sec
Grades 6–12 · 506 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Lake Crystal
8th grade in South Bend Township · depends on your address
Prairie Winds Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 887 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Dakota Meadows Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 852 students · 19:1 students per teacher · in North Mankato
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Sec
Grades 6–12 · 506 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Lake Crystal
9th grade in South Bend Township · depends on your address
Mankato East Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,302 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Mankato West Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,232 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Sec
Grades 6–12 · 506 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Lake Crystal
10th grade in South Bend Township · depends on your address
Mankato East Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,302 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Mankato West Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,232 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Sec
Grades 6–12 · 506 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Lake Crystal
11th grade in South Bend Township · depends on your address
Mankato East Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,302 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Mankato West Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,232 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Sec
Grades 6–12 · 506 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Lake Crystal
12th grade in South Bend Township · depends on your address
Mankato East Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,302 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Mankato West Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,232 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Mankato
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Sec
Grades 6–12 · 506 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Lake Crystal
South Bend Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Mankato Public School District). From grade PK, students attend the Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, shared with Butternut Valley, Cambria, Ceresco, Garden City, Judson, Lake Crystal, Lincoln, Rapidan, Vernon Center and Vernon Center. Its elementary school is in North Mankato. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve South Bend Township
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Above the state in reading
South Bend Township vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share South Bend Township’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| South Bend Township | B | Mankato Public PK–12 · Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial PK–12 |
| Belgrade | B | Mankato Public PK–12 · Nicollet Public PK–12 |
| Mankato | B | Mankato Public |
| Skyline | — | Mankato Public |
| Rapidan | A | Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial |
| Judson | — | Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial |
3 of the 5 neighbors share Mankato Public with South Bend Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in South Bend Township
16 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).
Questions about South Bend Township’s schools
Are South Bend Township’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Minnesota: the public schools South Bend Township children attend outscore 63% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 57%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is South Bend Township in?
Two districts: Mankato Public School District runs grades PK–12, and Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial runs grades PK–12, shared with Butternut Valley, Cambria, Ceresco, Garden City, Judson, Lake Crystal, Lincoln, Rapidan, Vernon Center and Vernon Center.
Where do South Bend Township kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Mankato East Senior High, Mankato West Senior High and Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Sec.
What is South Bend Township’s graduation rate?
80% of the class of 2023 in Mankato Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.
How much does South Bend Township spend per student?
$14,453 in Mankato Public School District and $14,012 in Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What South Bend Township families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near South Bend Township → 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.