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Crow Wing Co. Courthouse (cropped)Photo: Elkman · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Brainerd · Brainerd Public School District

Brainerd’s public schools outscore 69% of Minnesota districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Brainerd, 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.

#138of 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
55%
▲ 4 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
50%
▲ 5 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
86%
▲ 3 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.6K
▼ 9% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.4
MN 14.8
Schools in town
11
4,673 students on the public path
In brief

Brainerd’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 55% and math 50% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,555 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Four elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 5 the district’s path is Forestview Middle, then Brainerd Senior High. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Discovery Woods, St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School (private), T4n Pinnacle Academy (private) and Oak Street Christian 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 Brainerd’s grade

A− Test scoresB− Graduation

B+: better than 69% of Minnesota school districts, #138 of 274 Minnesota towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Minnesota average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 69%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (681)Better than 71%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,095 test results and a graduating class of 488 could put Brainerd anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Brainerd’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,026 in math, 3,164 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–44 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A
5–8Forestview Middlein BaxterB+
9–12Brainerd Senior HighBrainerd Public School DistrictB+

Brainerd’s public schools are run by Brainerd 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.

Brainerd Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 13 schools · 6,079 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 14.4 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$15,555MN $17,091 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading55%
State average 51.1% · 3164 students tested
Math50%
State average 44.8% · 3026 students tested

Brainerd vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BrainerdB+Brainerd Public
Oak LawnB+Brainerd Public
BaxterB+Brainerd Public
Crow WingB+Brainerd Public
Long LakeB+Brainerd Public

All 4 neighbors share Brainerd Public with Brainerd, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Brainerd

12 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 Brainerdby address
Riverside Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B
407 students10:1Rate it →
Garfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B−
250 students12:1Rate it →
Harrison Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B+
230 students12:1Rate it →
Lowell Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–4
A
355 students14:1Rate it →
Brainerd Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,805 students20:1Rate it →
Also serving Brainerdin other towns
Forestview Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Baxter
B+
1,626 students16:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Lincoln Education Center
Grades 3–12
D
Alternative Education
105 students7:1Rate it →
Isd 181 Learning Center
High · Grades 8–12
C−
Alternative Education
166 students15:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Discovery Woods
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C
Charter
101 students9:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
238 students15:1Rate it →
T4n Pinnacle Academy
Grades K–12
Private · Nonsectarian
85 students6:1Rate it →
Oak Street Christian School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
10 students10:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Middle Level Alternative Program and Brainerd Online School).

Questions about Brainerd’s schools

Are Brainerd’s schools good?

By Minnesota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Brainerd children attend outscore 69% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #138 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 71%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Brainerd in?

Brainerd Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 6,079 students in 13 schools (2024–25).

Where do Brainerd kids go to high school?

Brainerd Senior High, with 1,805 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Brainerd’s graduation rate?

86% of the class of 2023 in Brainerd Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Brainerd spend per student?

$15,555 in Brainerd Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Brainerd?

Yes: St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 238 students), T4n Pinnacle Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 85 students) and Oak Street Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 10 students). Brainerd also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Brainerd families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Brainerd → 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.