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B

Perham-Dent Public School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 16 towns

Serves Perham, Rush Lake Township, Perham Township, Edna Township, Hobart Township, Pine Lake Township, Ottertail, Dora Township, Corliss Township, Candor Township, Otter Tail Township, Dead Lake Township, Gorman Township, Star Lake Township, Dent and Richville, and parts of Maine Township, Leaf Lake Township, Otto Township, Amor Township and Butler Township.

Perham’s School Grade B better than 63% of Minnesota school districts

Students
1,671
Schools
4
Spent per student
$13,423
MN $17,091
Students per teacher
16:1
Free or reduced lunch
35%
Debt
$39.3M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Perham-Dent Public School District

  • Its letter, B: results better than 63% of Minnesota districts
  • Reading proficiency 6 pts above the state
  • Spends 21% less per student than the MN average
  • 16 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 11.5% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $39.3M, about $23,512 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B: better than 63% 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
B+
GraduationFour-year graduation close to the state, class of 2023
C
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
BPerham 3,746BRush Lake Township 1,073BPerham Township 1,062Edna Township 892Hobart Township 804Pine Lake Township 771Ottertail 734Dora Township 696Corliss Township 628Candor Township 624Otter Tail Township 599Dead Lake Township 534Gorman Township 507Star Lake Township 449Dent 170Richville 82

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Perham. Grade by grade →

PK–4Heart of the Lake ElementaryThis district
5–8Prairie Wind MiddleThis district
9–12Perham Senior HighThis district

Test scores vs. MN

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency47%
State average 44.8% · 823 students tested
Reading / language arts57%
State average 51.1% · 836 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)80–84%
State average 83.3% · 134 in the class

97% 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
$13,423 per student · 21% below MN
Spending
Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 30%Other 7%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 25%State 70%Federal 5%

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

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

Enrollment over time
1,498’20
1,572’21
1,632’22
1,687’23
1,671’24

Up 11.5% since 2020–21.

Students
White 81%Hispanic 11%Two or more races 5%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Black 2%Asian <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.

Heart of the Lake Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Perham
B+
578 students14:1
Prairie Wind Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Perham
B
526 students16:1
Perham Area Learning Center
High · Grades 7–12 · Perham
D
38 students8:1
Perham Senior High
High · Grades 9–12 · Perham
B
529 students18:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Frazee-Vergas Public School DistrictBurlington Township, Evergreen Township, Silver Leaf Township
$15,793per student
New York Mills Public School DistrictDeer Creek Township, Homestead Township, Newton Township
$13,493per student
Pelican Rapids Public School DistrictDunn Township, Lida Township, Maplewood Township
$15,162per student
Battle Lake Public School DistrictEverts Township, Girard Township
$15,169per 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.