C−
De Smet School District 38-2
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 8 towns
Serves De Smet, De Smet, Spirit Lake, Mathews, Le Sueur, Manchester, Esmond and Bancroft, and parts of Hartland.
Students
362
Schools
3
Spent per student
$13,958
SD $13,040
Students per teacher
13:1
Free or reduced lunch
28%
Debt
$9.0M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about De Smet School District 38-2
- School Grade C−: better than 18% of Minnesota districts
- Math proficiency 10 pts below the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 6 pts above the state
- Spends 7% more per student than the SD average
- 13 students per teacher
- Enrollment up 21.9% since 2020
- Debt of $9.0M, about $24,862 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Perry.
PK–43 elementary schoolsOrtonville Public Schools
7–122 schoolsLac Qui Parle Valley School District
Test scores vs. SD
2020–21Math proficiency32%
State average 42.2%
Graduation rate (4-year)90%
State average 84.5% · small group: the state reports 80–100%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$13,958 per student · 7% above SD
Spending
Classroom instruction 55%Support & administration 39%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 62%State 25%Federal 13%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
297’20
311’21
327’22
354’23
362’24
Up 21.9% since 2020.
Students
White 89%Hispanic 6%Two or more races 4%Black 1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%
Schools in the district
3 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
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.