Top Rankings
Brainerd Public School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Minnesota for:
Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 14 public schools serving 6,079 students in Brainerd Public School District. This district's average testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public schools in Minnesota.
Public Schools in Brainerd Public School District have an average math proficiency score of 49% (versus the Minnesota public school average of 46%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 12% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the Minnesota public school average of 40% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
14 Schools
2,767 Schools
# Students
6,079 Students
875,498 Students
# Teachers
408 Teachers
56,995 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Brainerd Public School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 514 school districts in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 85% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#118 out of 525 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
46%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
41%
Graduation Rate
86%
83.3%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)25.1%
27.3%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.23
0.60
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
2%
2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
n/a
7%
Showing 2005–2014. Full 26-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
3%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
1%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓
% White
88%
60%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
7%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,057 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,326. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,082 is higher than the state median of $20,060. The school district spending/student has declined by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$116 MM
$16,920 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$128 MM
$17,562 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$19,057
$19,326
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$21,082
$20,060
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Brainerd Public School District Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
704 3rd Ave Ne
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6550
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6550
Gr: K-4 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #22.
Nisswa Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5533 Lakers Lane
Nisswa, MN 56468
(218) 961-6860
Nisswa, MN 56468
(218) 961-6860
Gr: PK-4 | 249 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #33.
Baxter Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
12191 Jasperwood Drive
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6400
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6400
Gr: PK-4 | 506 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #44.
Forestview Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
12149 Knollwood Dr
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6000
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6000
Gr: 5-8 | 1,626 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #55.
Brainerd Senior High School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
702 S 5th St
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6200
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6200
Gr: 9-12 | 1,805 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Garfield Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1120 10th Ave Ne
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6450
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6450
Gr: PK-4 | 250 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Harrison Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1515 Oak St
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6500
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6500
Gr: PK-4 | 230 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #88.
Riverside Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
220 3rd St Nw
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6800
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6800
Gr: PK-4 | 407 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #99.
Middle Level Alternative Program
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
311 10th Ave Ne
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-5400
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-5400
Gr: 5-8 | 14 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #1010.
Lincoln Education Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
400 Quince St
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6600
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6600
Gr: 3-12 | 105 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1111.
Isd 181 Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
311 10th Ave Ne
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-5400
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-5400
Gr: 8-12 | 166 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: n/an/a
Brainerd Early Childhood Sp. Ed.
Special Education School
5546 Fairview Rd
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-5438
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-5438
Gr: PK | 151 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: n/an/a
5546 Fairview Rd
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-5430
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-5430
Gr: PK | 215 students Minority enrollment: 16%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Brainerd Public School District?
Brainerd Public School District manages 14 public schools serving 6,079 students.
What is the rank of Brainerd Public School District?
Brainerd Public School District is ranked #117 out of 514 school districts in Minnesota (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Minnesota school districts for: Highest science proficiency (Top 10%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Brainerd Public School District?
88% of Brainerd Public School District students are White, 6% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are Hispanic, 2% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Brainerd Public School District?
Brainerd Public School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 15:1.
What is Brainerd Public School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $21,082 is higher than the state median of $20,060. The school district spending/student has declined by 11% over four school years.
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