B+

Perham-Dent Public School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 16 towns

Serves Perham, Perham Township, Rush Lake Township, Edna Township, Hobart Township, Pine Lake Township, Dead Lake Township, Dora Township, Candor Township, Gorman Township, Otter Tail Township, Corliss Township, Ottertail, Star Lake Township, Dent and Richville, and parts of Leaf Lake Township, Amor Township, Maine Township, Otto Township and Butler Township.

Students

1,671

Schools

Spent per student

$13,423

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

16:1

Free or reduced lunch

35%

Debt

$39.3M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Perham-Dent Public School District

School Grade B+: better than 67% of South Dakota districts
Spends 21% less per student than the MN average
16 students per teacher
Enrollment up 11.5% since 2020
Debt of $39.3M, about $23,512 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Spring Valley Township.

K–84 schoolsClark School District 12-2

9–12Clark High School - 01Clark School District 12-2

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math proficiency45%

State average 44.2%

Reading / language arts57%

State average 52.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)87%

State average 84.4%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$13,423 per student · 21% below MN

Spending

Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 30%Other 7%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 25%State 70%Federal 5%

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

Enrollment over time

1,498’20

1,572’21

1,632’22

1,687’23

1,671’24

Up 11.5% since 2020.

Students

White 81%Hispanic 11%Two or more races 5%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Black 2%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools.

Heart of the Lake Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Perham

B+

578 students14:1

Prairie Wind Middle

Middle · Grades 5–8 · Perham

B+

526 students16:1

Perham Senior High

High · Grades 9–12 · Perham

529 students18:1

Perham Area Learning Center

High · Grades 7–12 · Perham

38 students8:1

Towns served

Perham 3,627Perham Township 1,115Rush Lake Township 940Edna Township 869Hobart Township 796Pine Lake Township 703Dead Lake Township 624Dora Township 580Candor Township 578Gorman Township 542Otter Tail Township 520Corliss Township 515Ottertail 490Star Lake Township 490Dent 230Richville 44

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Frazee-Vergas Public School DistrictBurlington Township, Evergreen Township, Silver Leaf Township

$15,793per student

New York Mills Public School DistrictDeer Creek Township, Homestead Township, Newton Township

$13,493per student

Pelican Rapids Public School DistrictDunn Township, Lida Township, Maplewood Township

$15,162per student

Battle Lake Public School DistrictEverts Township, Girard Township

$15,169per 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.