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Dawson Carnegie LibraryDawson Carnegie Library · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Dawson · Dawson-Boyd Public School District

Dawson’s public schools outscore 65% of Minnesota districts

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

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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
56%
▲ 5 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
42%
▼ 3 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Spent per student
$15.2K
▼ 11% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.7
MN 14.8 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
566 students on the public path
In brief

Dawson’s schools, in brief

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 56% and math 42% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,216 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Dawson-Boyd Secondary. See the path ↓

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 Dawson’s grade

B Test scores

B+: better than 65% of Minnesota school districts. Test scores are above the Minnesota average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 65%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1187)Better than 65%
B−A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 287 test results could put Dawson anywhere from B− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Dawson’s students in the tested grades sat them (289 in math, 285 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–6Stevens ElementaryDawson-Boyd Public School DistrictB
7–12Dawson-Boyd SecondaryDawson-Boyd Public School DistrictB−

Dawson’s public schools are run by Dawson-Boyd Public School District, which also serves Baxter, Boyd, Cerro Gordo and Hamlin and others. 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.

Dawson-Boyd Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 566 students, up 1% since 2020–21 · 12.7 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$15,216MN $17,091 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading56%
State average 51.1% · 285 students tested
Math42%
State average 44.8% · 289 students tested

Dawson vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DawsonB+Dawson-Boyd Public

Every school in Dawson

2 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 Dawsonby address
Stevens Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B
297 students12:1Rate it →
Dawson-Boyd Secondary
High · Grades 7–12
B−
269 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Dawson’s schools

Are Dawson’s schools good?

By Minnesota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Dawson children attend outscore 65% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 65%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Dawson in?

Dawson-Boyd Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 566 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

How much does Dawson spend per student?

$15,216 in Dawson-Boyd Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Dawson families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Dawson → 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.