B+

Brainerd Public School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 21 towns

Serves Brainerd, Baxter, Lake Edward Township, Crow Wing Township, Nisswa, Oak Lawn Township, Center Township, Long Lake Township, East Gull Lake, Lake Shore, Fort Ripley Township, Bay Lake Township, Garrison Township, Nokay Lake Township, Maple Grove Township, Roosevelt Township, Daggett Brook Township, St. Mathias Township, Platte Lake Township, Garrison and Fort Ripley, and parts of Home Brook Township.

Students

6,079

Schools

Spent per student

$15,555

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

15:1

Free or reduced lunch

40%

Debt

$206.9M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Brainerd Public School District

School Grade B+: better than 72% of South Dakota 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 Park Township.

K–86 schoolsMiller Area School District 29-4

9–122 high schoolsMiller Area School District 29-4

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math 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

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Baxter

B+

506 students15:1

Riverside Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Brainerd

B+

407 students10:1

Lowell Elementary

Elementary · Grades K–4 · Brainerd

355 students14:1

Garfield Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Brainerd

B−

250 students12:1

Nisswa Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Nisswa

249 students14:1

Harrison Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Brainerd

B+

230 students12:1

Forestview Middle

Middle · Grades 5–8 · Baxter

B+

1,626 students16:1

Middle Level Alternative Program

Middle · Grades 5–8 · Brainerd

14 students7:1

Brainerd Senior High

High · Grades 9–12 · Brainerd

B+

1,805 students20:1

Isd 181 Learning Center

High · Grades 8–12 · Brainerd

C−

166 students15:1

Brainerd Online School

High · Grades 9–12 · Brainerd

0 students

Welc - VPK

Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Baxter

215 students

Brainerd Early Childhood SP. Ed.

Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Baxter

151 students6:1

Lincoln Education Center

Other · Grades 3–12 · Brainerd

C−

105 students7:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Crosby-Ironton Public School DistrictDeerwood Township, Irondale Township, Mission Township

$15,715per student

Pillager Public School DistrictFairview Township, Scandia Valley Township, Sylvan Township

$13,305per student

Little Falls Public School DistrictCushing Township, Platte Township, Ripley Township

$14,626per student

Pequot Lakes Public SchoolsLoon Lake Township, Pelican Township, 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.

Brainerd Public School District

What stands out about Brainerd Public School District

Where would my kid go?

Test scores vs. MN

Where the money goes

Schools in the district

Towns served

Nearby districts

Post to Park Township

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