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PerhamVillageHall ottertailcountyPhoto: Ben Franske · CC BY-SA 4.0
B
Schools in Perham · Perham-Dent Public School District

Perham’s public schools outscore 63% of Minnesota districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Perham, 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.

#163of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
57%
▲ 6 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
47%
▲ 2 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 1–3 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.4K
▼ 21% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.6
MN 14.8 · larger classes
Schools in town
6
1,633 students on the public path
In brief

Perham’s schools, in brief

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 57% and math 47% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,423 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 5 the district’s path is Prairie Wind Middle, then Perham Senior High. Enrollment is up 12% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Henrys Area School (private) and St. Paul's Lutheran 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 Perham’s grade

B+ Test scoresC Graduation

B: better than 63% of Minnesota school districts, #163 of 274 Minnesota towns. Test scores are above the Minnesota average; graduation is below it.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 63%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (445)Better than 66%
B−A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 830 test results and a graduating class of 134 could put Perham anywhere from B− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Perham’s students in the tested grades sat them (823 in math, 836 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4Heart of the Lake ElementaryPerham-Dent Public School DistrictB+
5–8Prairie Wind MiddlePerham-Dent Public School DistrictB
9–12Perham Senior HighPerham-Dent Public School DistrictB

Perham’s public schools are run by Perham-Dent 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.

Perham-Dent Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,671 students, up 12% since 2020–21 · 15.6 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$13,423MN $17,091 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading57%
State average 51.1% · 836 students tested
Math47%
State average 44.8% · 823 students tested

Perham vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PerhamBPerham-Dent Public

Every school in Perham

6 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 Perhamby address
Heart of the Lake Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B+
578 students14:1Rate it →
Prairie Wind Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8
B
526 students16:1Rate it →
Perham Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
B
529 students18:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Perham Area Learning Center
High · Grades 7–12
D
Alternative Education
38 students8:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Henrys Area School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Catholic
149 students19:1Rate it →
St. Paul's Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
82 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Perham’s schools

Are Perham’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Minnesota: the public schools Perham children attend outscore 63% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #163 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 66%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Perham in?

Perham-Dent Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,671 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Perham kids go to high school?

Perham Senior High, with 529 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Perham’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Perham-Dent Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Perham spend per student?

$13,423 in Perham-Dent Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Perham?

Yes: St. Henrys Area School (Catholic, grades PK–6, 149 students) and St. Paul's Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 82 students).

Parents talk

What Perham families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Perham → 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.