Rock Ridge Public Schools

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 13 towns

Serves Virginia, Eveleth, Mountain Iron, Fayal Township, Gilbert, Clinton Township, Biwabik Township, Wuori Township, Pike Township, Sandy Township, McKinley, Iron Junction and Leonidas, and parts of Biwabik.

Students

2,288

Schools

Spent per student

$16,232

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

17:1

Free or reduced lunch

39%

Debt

$155.2M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Rock Ridge Public Schools

School Grade B: better than 55% of Minnesota districts
Math proficiency 6 pts below the state
Spends 5% less per student than the MN average
17 students per teacher
Enrollment up 13.3% since 2022
Debt of $155.2M, about $67,834 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Rockford Township.

K–56 elementary schoolsBuffalo-Hanover-Montrose Public Schools

6–8Buffalo Community MiddleBuffalo-Hanover-Montrose Public Schools

9–12Buffalo Senior HighBuffalo-Hanover-Montrose Public Schools

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math proficiency38%

State average 44.2%

Reading / language arts52%

State average 52.5%

Graduation rate 92% at Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Public Schools, which runs the high school (state 84.4%) · class of 2020.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$16,232 per student · 5% below MN

Spending

Classroom instruction 59%Support & administration 37%Other 4%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 39%State 55%Federal 6%

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

Enrollment over time

2,020’22

2,331’23

2,288’24

Up 13.3% since 2022.

Students

White 83%Two or more races 9%Hispanic 3%American Indian/Alaska Native 3%Black 1%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

5 public schools.

Laurentian Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Eveleth

488 students15:1

North Star Elementary

Elementary · Grades 3–6 · Virginia

B−

389 students15:1

Parkview Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Virginia

336 students18:1

Rock Ridge High School

High · Grades 7–12 · Virginia

C+

1,048 students19:1

Rock Ridge High School ALP

High · Grades 7–12 · Virginia

27 students

Towns served

Virginia 8,332Eveleth 3,448Mountain Iron 2,860Fayal Township 1,938Gilbert 1,697Clinton Township 949Biwabik Township 812Wuori Township 541Pike Township 399Sandy Township 330McKinley 92 Iron Junction 86 Leonidas 37

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

St. Louis County School DistrictCherry Township, Embarrass Township, McDavitt Township

$19,087per student

Mesabi East School DistrictWhite Township

$15,966per student

Mountain Iron-Buhl School DistrictGreat Scott Township

$15,393per 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.