Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Brainerd

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
B+

Brainerd Public School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 21 towns

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

Brainerd’s School Grade B+ better than 69% of Minnesota school districts

Students
6,079
Schools
13
Spent per student
$15,555
MN $17,091
Students per teacher
14:1
Free or reduced lunch
40%
Debt
$206.9M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Brainerd Public School District

  • Its letter, B+: results better than 69% of Minnesota districts
  • Math proficiency 5 pts above the state
  • Spends 9% less per student than the MN average
  • 14 students per teacher
  • Enrollment down 5.3% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $206.9M, about $34,030 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B+: better than 69% 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 above the state, 2021–22
A−
GraduationFour-year graduation above the state, class of 2023
B−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
B+Brainerd 14,428B+Baxter 9,217B+Lake Edward Township 2,234B+Nisswa 2,217B+Crow Wing Township 2,194B+Oak Lawn Township 1,886B+Long Lake Township 1,185B+East Gull Lake 1,184B+Lake Shore 1,127B+Fort Ripley Township 1,081B+Center Township 1,053Bay Lake Township 984Nokay Lake Township 944Garrison Township 898Maple Grove Township 777St. Mathias Township 646Roosevelt Township 620Daggett Brook Township 568Platte Lake Township 449Garrison 201Fort Ripley 83

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Brainerd. Grade by grade →

PK–44 elementary schoolsThis district
5–8Forestview MiddleThis district
9–12Brainerd Senior HighThis district

Test scores vs. MN

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency50%
State average 44.8% · 3,026 students tested
Reading / language arts55%
State average 51.1% · 3,164 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)86%
State average 83.3% · 488 in the class

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
$15,555 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%

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

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 2020–21.

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

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

Baxter Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Baxter
B+
506 students15:1
Riverside Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Brainerd
B
407 students10:1
Garfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Brainerd
B−
250 students12:1
Nisswa Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Nisswa
A
249 students14:1
Harrison Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Brainerd
B+
230 students12:1
Welc - VPK
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Baxter
215 students
Brainerd Early Childhood SP. Ed.
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Baxter
151 students6:1
Lowell Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–4 · Brainerd
A
355 students14:1
Lincoln Education Center
Other · Grades 3–12 · Brainerd
D
105 students7:1
Forestview Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Baxter
B+
1,626 students16:1
Middle Level Alternative Program
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Brainerd
14 students7:1
Isd 181 Learning Center
High · Grades 8–12 · Brainerd
C−
166 students15:1
Brainerd Senior High
High · Grades 9–12 · Brainerd
B+
1,805 students20:1

Left off: 1 school reporting no students for 2024–25.

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 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.