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Bemidji Great Northern DepotPhoto: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Bemidji · Bemidji Public School District

Bemidji’s public schools score below 53% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Bemidji, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Minnesota, not nationally.

#215of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
49%
▼ 2 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
45%
▲ 0 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
78%
▼ 5 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.7K
▼ 8% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.8
MN 14.8
Schools in town
15
3,847 students on the public path
In brief

Bemidji’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 658 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bemidji’s, its schools beat 38%, lower than their 47% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 45% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 78% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,715 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Bemidji Middle, then Bemidji Senior High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Treknorth High School, Trek North Middle School, Voyageurs Expeditionary School, Voyageurs Expeditionary MS, Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn, Kingdom Builders Christian School (private) and St. Mark Lutheran School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bemidji’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B−: better than 47% of Minnesota school districts, #215 of 274 Minnesota towns. Both inputs trail the Minnesota average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 47%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (658)Better than 38%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,255 test results and a graduating class of 406 could put Bemidji anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Bemidji’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,211 in math, 2,299 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bemidji, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–32 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A
6–8Bemidji MiddleBemidji Public School DistrictC+
9–12Bemidji Senior HighBemidji Public School DistrictA−

Bemidji’s public schools are run by Bemidji Public School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Bemidji Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 14 schools · 4,722 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 14.8 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$15,715MN $17,091 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading49%
State average 51.1% · 2299 students tested
Math45%
State average 44.8% · 2211 students tested

Bemidji vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Bemidji’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BemidjiB−Bemidji Public
NorthernB−Bemidji Public
EcklesB−Bemidji Public
Grant ValleyB−Bemidji Public
FrohnB−Bemidji Public
Turtle RiverB−Bemidji Public

All 5 neighbors share Bemidji Public with Bemidji, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Bemidji

15 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Minnesota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bemidjiby address
Lincoln Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–3
A
320 students14:1Rate it →
J.W. Smith Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–3
B−
238 students12:1Rate it →
Paul Bunyan Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
118 students7:1Rate it →
Gene Dillon Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 4–5
B
667 students15:1Rate it →
Bemidji Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
967 students16:1Rate it →
Bemidji Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
1,537 students20:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
First City School
Grades 3–12
D
Alternative Education
48 students5:1Rate it →
Bemidji Senior Lumberjack ALC
High · Grades 9–12
C−
Alternative Education
85 students21:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Treknorth High School
High · Grades 9–12
C
Charter
144 students16:1Rate it →
Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
Charter
133 students10:1Rate it →
Trek North Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
Charter
109 students12:1Rate it →
Voyageurs Expeditionary School
High · Grades 9–12
B
Charter
83 students7:1Rate it →
Voyageurs Expeditionary MS
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
Charter
44 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Kingdom Builders Christian School
Grades 4–12
Private · Religious
33 students12:1Rate it →
St. Mark Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
24 students12:1Rate it →

Left off: 6 public programs with fewer than 25 students (North Country Voc. Coop. CTR., Bemidji Regional Interdist. Council, Bemidji Area Learning Center, Bemidji Middle ALP, Lakeside Learning Center and Oshki Manidoo Center).

Questions about Bemidji’s schools

Are Bemidji’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bemidji children attend score below 53% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #215 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 38%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bemidji in?

Bemidji Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,722 students in 14 schools (2024–25).

Where do Bemidji kids go to high school?

Bemidji Senior High, with 1,537 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Bemidji’s graduation rate?

78% of the class of 2023 in Bemidji Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Bemidji spend per student?

$15,715 in Bemidji Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Bemidji?

Yes: Kingdom Builders Christian School (religious, grades 4–12, 33 students) and St. Mark Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 24 students). Bemidji also has 5 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Bemidji families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bemidji → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.