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C+

Benson Public School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 18 towns

Serves Benson, Torning Township, Benson Township, Langhei Township, Hoff Township, Camp Lake Township, Cashel Township, Six Mile Grove Township, Kildare Township, Clontarf, Rolling Forks Township, De Graff, Swenoda Township, Grace Township, Danvers, Marysland Township, Tara Township and Clontarf Township, and parts of Kerkhoven Township, Dublin Township, Mandt Township and West Bank Township.

Benson’s School Grade C+ better than 38% of Minnesota school districts

Students
760
Schools
4
Spent per student
$15,871
MN $17,091
Students per teacher
14:1
Free or reduced lunch
40%
The gist

What stands out about Benson Public School District

  • Its letter, C+: results better than 38% of Minnesota districts
  • Reading proficiency 11 pts below the state
  • Graduation rate 12 pts above the state
  • Spends 7% less per student than the MN average
  • 14 students per teacher
  • Enrollment down 6.4% since 2020–21
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

C+: better than 38% of the 502 Minnesota school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well below the state, 2021–22
C+
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
C+Benson 3,444Torning Township 405Benson Township 316Langhei Township 177Hoff Township 163Camp Lake Township 162Cashel Township 148Six Mile Grove Township 147Kildare Township 136Clontarf 128Rolling Forks Township 120De Graff 110Swenoda Township 105Grace Township 102Danvers 101Marysland Township 94Tara Township 92Clontarf Township 85

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Benson. Grade by grade →

PK–5Northside ElementaryThis district
6–12Benson SecondaryThis district

Test scores vs. MN

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency40%
State average 44.8% · 392 students tested
Reading / language arts40%
State average 51.1% · 389 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)90–100%
State average 83.3% · 58 in the class · small group: the state reports a range

98% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$15,871 per student · 7% below MN
Spending
Classroom instruction 66%Support & administration 28%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 29%State 66%Federal 5%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

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

Enrollment over time
812’20
819’21
808’22
774’23
760’24

Down 6.4% since 2020–21.

Students
White 80%Hispanic 11%Two or more races 4%Black 3%Asian 3%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Minnesota’s other public schools.

Northside Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Benson
B
391 students17:1
Benson Secondary
High · Grades 6–12 · Benson
C
334 students13:1
Heartland Girls Ranch
High · Grades 7–12 · Benson
22 students8:1
Benson Area Learning Center
High · Grades 7–12 · Benson
13 students26:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Kerkhoven-Murdock-SunburgHayes Township, Louriston Township, Norway Lake Township
$14,117per student
Lac Qui Parle Valley School DistrictBig Bend Township, Edison Township, Fairfield Township
$15,487per student
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public School DistrictGilchrist Township, Norway Lake Township
$13,265per student
Hancock Public School DistrictMoore Township, Walden Township
$13,737per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Minnesota.