Kennedy Elementary

Kennedy Elementary is an elementary campus of mid-tier scale in HASTINGS, Minnesota, run under Hastings Public School District, serveing 461 students in grades K through 4. Compared to the state average of about 344 students per school, that is 34% larger than typical.

Across the 11 schools in Hastings Public School District (4,041 students total), Kennedy Elementary accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

In terms of who attends, Kennedy Elementary reports that the student body is overwhelmingly White (81%). Other groups include 8% Hispanic, 8% multiracial.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Kennedy Elementary records 30 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 15.5:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.7:1, putting Kennedy Elementary higher than the state norm the norm. Roughly 35% of students at Kennedy Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Kennedy Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 46.1% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 47.1%.

Around the school, census data for Dakota County shows median household income runs about $106,318, 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Dakota County runs 170 public schools (combined enrollment of about 74,687 students), of which Kennedy Elementary is one.

Pinecrest Elementary is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.8 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Kennedy Elementary. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Kennedy Elementary at 3rd of 4; the average score across the group is 50.3%.

Kennedy Elementary operates from a town-center location.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Kennedy Elementary has climbed 15%, going from 400 students in 2018 to 461 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 85% to 81% across the same window. Class-load math has fell: from 16.6:1 in 2018 to 15.5:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, recent activity here tends to focus on pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.