B+

Perham-Dent Public School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 16 towns

Serves Perham, Perham, Rush Lake, Edna, Hobart, Pine Lake, Dead Lake, Dora, Candor, Gorman, Otter Tail, Corliss, Ottertail, Star Lake, Dent and Richville, and parts of Leaf Lake, Amor, Maine, Otto and Butler.

Students

1,671

Schools

Spent per student

$13,423

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

16:1

Free or reduced lunch

35%

Debt

$39.3M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Perham-Dent Public School District

School Grade B+: better than 67% of Minnesota districts
Spends 21% less per student than the MN average
16 students per teacher
Enrollment up 11.5% since 2020
Debt of $39.3M, about $23,512 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Brandon.

PK–1Brandon ElementaryBrandon-Evansville Public Schools

2–5Evansville ElementaryBrandon-Evansville Public Schools

6–8Brandon-Evansville Middle SchoolBrandon-Evansville Public Schools

9–12Brandon-Evansville High SchoolBrandon-Evansville Public Schools

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math proficiency45%

State average 44.2%

Reading / language arts57%

State average 52.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)87%

State average 84.4%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$13,423 per student · 21% below MN

Spending

Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 30%Other 7%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 25%State 70%Federal 5%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time

1,498’20

1,572’21

1,632’22

1,687’23

1,671’24

Up 11.5% since 2020.

Students

White 81%Hispanic 11%Two or more races 5%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Black 2%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools.

Heart of the Lake Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Perham

B+

578 students14:1

Prairie Wind Middle

Middle · Grades 5–8 · Perham

B+

526 students16:1

Perham Senior High

High · Grades 9–12 · Perham

529 students18:1

Perham Area Learning Center

High · Grades 7–12 · Perham

38 students8:1

Towns served

Perham 3,627Perham 1,115Rush Lake 940Edna 869Hobart 796Pine Lake 703Dead Lake 624Dora 580Candor 578Gorman 542Otter Tail 520Corliss 515Ottertail 490Star Lake 490Dent 230Richville 44

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Frazee-Vergas Public School DistrictBurlington, Evergreen, Silver Leaf

$15,793per student

New York Mills Public School DistrictDeer Creek, Homestead, Newton

$13,493per student

Pelican Rapids Public School DistrictDunn, Lida, Maplewood

$15,162per student

Battle Lake Public School DistrictEverts, Girard

$15,169per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.