St. Louis County School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 47 towns

Serves Babbitt, Brevator, Greenwood, Clinton, Cherry, Industrial, Embarrass, Breitung, McDavitt, Alborn, Cook, Leiding, Owens, Orr, Tower, Cotton, Beatty, New Independence, Meadowlands, Lavell, Stoney Brook, Field, Culver, Angora, Eagles Nest, Ellsburg, Waasa, Alango, Vermilion Lake, Arrowhead, Northland, Meadowlands, Portage, Kugler, Toivola, Sturgeon, Elmer, Kelsey, Kabetogama, Brookston, Linden Grove, Willow Valley, Crane Lake, Bassett, Ness, Morcom and Camp 5, and parts of Pike.

Students

1,914

Schools

Spent per student

$19,087

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

13:1

Free or reduced lunch

42%

Debt

$43.8M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about St. Louis County School District

School Grade B: better than 60% of Minnesota districts
Math proficiency 10 pts below the state
Graduation rate (4-year) 13 pts above the state
Spends 12% more per student than the MN average
13 students per teacher
Debt of $43.8M, about $22,883 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Shotley.

PK–6Kelliher ElementaryKelliher Public School District

7–12Kelliher SecondaryKelliher Public School District

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math proficiency34%

State average 44.2%

Reading / language arts49%

State average 52.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)97%

State average 84.4%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$19,087 per student · 12% above MN

Spending

Classroom instruction 62%Support & administration 34%Other 4%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 29%State 62%Federal 9%

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

Enrollment over time

1,956’20

2,014’21

1,954’22

1,947’23

1,914’24

About steady.

Students

White 78%Two or more races 10%American Indian/Alaska Native 9%Hispanic 3%Black <1%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

9 public schools.

South Ridge Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Culver

303 students13:1

Cherry Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Iron

B−

297 students13:1

North Woods Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Cook

234 students12:1

Babbitt Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Babbitt

C+

95 students10:1

Tower-Soudan Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Tower

B−

95 students11:1

Cherry Secondary

High · Grades 7–12 · Iron

273 students15:1

South Ridge Secondary

High · Grades 7–12 · Culver

C−

258 students16:1

North Woods Secondary

High · Grades 7–12 · Cook

245 students14:1

Northeast Range Secondary

High · Grades 7–12 · Babbitt

C−

114 students11:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Floodwood Public School DistrictCedar Valley, Fine Lakes, Floodwood

$19,873per student

Hibbing Public School DistrictCedar Valley, French, Hibbing

$17,527per student

Mesabi East School DistrictHoyt Lakes, White

$15,966per student

Rock Ridge Public SchoolsEveleth, Fayal, Mountain Iron

$16,232per 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.