SOUTHWEST MIDDLE

ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
1601 W FRONT ST
ALBERT LEA, MN 56007
474 Students
Middle School 6th - 7th
School Overview
Southwest Middle School, located at 1601 W Front St in Albert Lea, Minnesota, serves as a primary educational hub for the local community’s middle-grade students. As part of the Albert Lea Area School District, the school is dedicated to bridging the developmental gap between elementary education and high school, focusing on fostering both academic growth and social-emotional maturity during the transitional adolescent years.

The school is characterized by its commitment to providing a supportive environment that prepares students for the rigors of secondary education. Beyond core academic instruction, Southwest Middle typically engages students through a variety of extracurricular activities, athletics, and exploratory programs designed to help them discover personal interests and develop essential life skills. By maintaining a focus on community involvement and student achievement, the school plays a vital role in the Albert Lea public education system, striving to build a foundation for success in a diverse and evolving learning environment.
474
Total Students
30.1
Full-Time Teachers
15.8
Student/Teacher Ratio
59.7%
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • White
    272 (57.4 %)
  • Hispanic
    117 (24.7 %)
  • Asian
    51 (10.8 %)
  • Black
    18 (3.8 %)
  • Two or More
    16 (3.4 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Middle School
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction: No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status: No
District: ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Phone: (507)379-5240
Grade Range: 6th - 7th
Total Students: 474
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 30.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 15.8
NSLP Participation:1 Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch: 227
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 56

* 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
Grade 6 234
Grade 7 240
Gender Ratio