C+

Staples-Motley School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 19 towns

Serves Staples, Scandia Valley Township, May Township, Staples Township, Thomastown Township, Villard Township, Becker Township, Fawn Lake Township, Motley, Moran Township, Bartlett Township, Turtle Creek Township, Bullard Township, Meadow Brook Township, Moose Lake Township, Motley Township, Byron Township, Poplar Township and Aldrich, and parts of Aldrich Township, Germania Township, Ward Township and Lyons Township.

Students

901

Schools

Spent per student

$15,538

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

15:1

Free or reduced lunch

49%

Debt

$22.4M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Staples-Motley School District

School Grade C+: better than 41% of Minnesota districts
Math proficiency 7 pts below the state
Reading / language arts 14 pts below the state
Spends 9% less per student than the MN average
15 students per teacher
Enrollment down 7.8% since 2020
Debt of $22.4M, about $24,887 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Urness Township.

PK–43 elementary schoolsWest Central Area school district

5–82 middle schoolsWest Central Area school district

9–122 high schoolsWest Central Area school district

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math proficiency37%

State average 44.2%

Reading / language arts39%

State average 52.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)87%

State average 84.4%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$15,538 per student · 9% below MN

Spending

Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 32%Other 5%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 38%State 52%Federal 9%

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

Enrollment over time

977’20

948’21

931’22

888’23

901’24

Down 7.8% since 2020.

Students

White 90%Two or more races 5%Hispanic 2%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Black <1%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

3 public schools.

Staples-Motley Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Staples

C+

308 students13:1

Staples-Motley Middle School

Middle · Grades 5–8 · Staples

284 students15:1

Staples-Motley Senior High

High · Grades 9–12 · Staples

309 students16:1

Towns served

Staples 2,269Scandia Valley Township 1,427May Township 938Staples Township 935Thomastown Township 738Villard Township 698Becker Township 682Fawn Lake Township 630Motley 608Moran Township 424Bartlett Township 409Turtle Creek Township 236Bullard Township 221Meadow Brook Township 216Moose Lake Township 197Motley Township 174Byron Township 169Poplar Township 145Aldrich 37

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Pillager Public School DistrictFairview Township, Home Brook Township, Rosing Township

$13,305per student

Bertha-Hewitt Public School DistrictBertha Township, Eagle Valley Township, Stowe Prairie Township

$14,919per student

Pine River-Backus Public School DistrictAnsel Township, Bungo Township, Home Brook Township

$14,258per student

Browerville Public School DistrictEagle Valley Township, Hartford Township, Little Elk Township

$15,808per 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.