B+
Brainerd Public School District
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 21 towns
Serves Brainerd, Baxter, Lake Edward, Crow Wing, Nisswa, Oak Lawn, Center, Long Lake, East Gull Lake, Lake Shore, Fort Ripley, Bay Lake, Garrison, Nokay Lake, Maple Grove, Roosevelt, Daggett Brook, St. Mathias, Platte Lake, Garrison and Fort Ripley, and parts of Home Brook.
Students
6,079
Schools
14
Spent per student
$15,555
MN $17,091
Students per teacher
15:1
Free or reduced lunch
40%
Debt
$206.9M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Brainerd Public School District
- School Grade B+: better than 72% of Minnesota districts
- Reading / language arts 6 pts above the state
- Spends 9% less per student than the MN average
- 15 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 5.3% since 2020
- Debt of $206.9M, about $34,030 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Walker.
PK–6W.H.A. ElementaryWalker-Hackensack-Akeley School District
7–12Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Sec.Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District
Test scores vs. MN
2020–21Math proficiency49%
State average 44.2%
Reading / language arts58%
State average 52.5%
Graduation rate (4-year)85%
State average 84.4%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$15,555 per student · 9% below MN
Spending
Classroom instruction 66%Support & administration 29%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 28%State 65%Federal 7%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
6,420’20
6,306’21
6,232’22
6,134’23
6,079’24
Down 5.3% since 2020.
Students
White 88%Two or more races 6%Hispanic 3%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Black 1%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
14 public schools.
Baxter Elementary
B+506 students15:1
Riverside Elementary
B+407 students10:1
Lowell Elementary
A355 students14:1
Garfield Elementary
B−250 students12:1
Nisswa Elementary
A249 students14:1
Harrison Elementary
B+230 students12:1
Forestview Middle
B+1,626 students16:1
Middle Level Alternative Program
14 students7:1
Brainerd Senior High
B+1,805 students20:1
Isd 181 Learning Center
C−166 students15:1
Brainerd Online School
0 students
Welc - VPK
215 students
Brainerd Early Childhood SP. Ed.
151 students6:1
Lincoln Education Center
C−105 students7:1
Towns served
Brainerd 14,468Baxter 8,966Lake Edward 2,129Crow Wing 2,075Nisswa 1,954Oak Lawn 1,833Center 1,343Long Lake 1,202East Gull Lake 1,076Lake Shore 1,073Fort Ripley 1,054Bay Lake 1,035Garrison 856Nokay Lake 839Maple Grove 670Roosevelt 644Daggett Brook 632St. Mathias 580Platte Lake 371Garrison 156Fort Ripley 68
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Crosby-Ironton Public School DistrictDeerwood, Irondale, Mission
$15,715per student
Pillager Public School DistrictFairview, Scandia Valley, Sylvan
$13,305per student
Little Falls Public School DistrictCushing, Platte, Ripley
$14,626per student
Pequot Lakes Public SchoolsLoon Lake, Pelican, Pequot Lakes
$12,742per 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.