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Thief River Falls Public LibraryThief River Falls Public Library · Photo: Andrew Filer · Public domain
B
Schools in Thief River Falls · Thief River Falls School District

Thief River Falls’s public schools outscore 61% of Minnesota districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Thief River Falls, 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.

#172of 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
48%
▼ 3 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
41%
▼ 4 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 7–11 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.5K
▼ 21% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.0
MN 14.8
Schools in town
4
1,702 students on the public path
In brief

Thief River Falls’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 48% of tested students were proficient in reading and 41% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota (the state reports Thief River Falls’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,533 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 6 the district’s path is Franklin Middle, then Lincoln Senior High. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Bernard's School (private) is 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 Thief River Falls’s grade

B− Test scoresB Graduation

B: better than 61% of Minnesota school districts, #172 of 274 Minnesota towns. Graduation is above the Minnesota average; test scores are below it.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 61%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1278)Better than 59%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 969 test results and a graduating class of 160 could put Thief River Falls anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Thief River Falls’s students in the tested grades sat them (974 in math, 964 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Challenger ElementaryThief River Falls School DistrictB−
6–8Franklin MiddleThief River Falls School DistrictC+
9–12Lincoln Senior HighThief River Falls School DistrictC+

Thief River Falls’s public schools are run by Thief River Falls 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.

Thief River Falls School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,725 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 15.0 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$13,533MN $17,091 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading48%
State average 51.1% · 964 students tested
Math41%
State average 44.8% · 974 students tested

Thief River Falls vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Thief River Falls’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Thief River FallsBThief River Falls
RocksburyBThief River Falls
North—Thief River Falls

All 2 neighbors share Thief River Falls with Thief River Falls, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Thief River Falls

4 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 Thief River Fallsby address
Challenger Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
727 students13:1Rate it →
Franklin Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
454 students17:1Rate it →
Lincoln Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
C+
521 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Bernard's School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Catholic
107 students14:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Northwest Area Learning Center and Summer NW Area Learning Center).

Questions about Thief River Falls’s schools

Are Thief River Falls’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Minnesota: the public schools Thief River Falls children attend outscore 61% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #172 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 59%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Thief River Falls in?

Thief River Falls School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,725 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Thief River Falls kids go to high school?

Lincoln Senior High, with 521 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Thief River Falls’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Thief River Falls School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Thief River Falls spend per student?

$13,533 in Thief River Falls School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Thief River Falls?

Yes: St. Bernard's School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 107 students).

Parents talk

What Thief River Falls families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Thief River Falls → 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.