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 2025 school year, there are 9 public elementary schools serving 3,943 students in Brainerd Public School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in Minnesota.
Public Elementary Schools in Brainerd Public School District have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the Minnesota public elementary school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 11% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the Minnesota public elementary school average of 40% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
13 Schools
1,655 Schools
# Students
6,134 Students
571,925 Students
# Teachers
433 Teachers
40,363 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Brainerd Public School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 522 school districts in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 80% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#108 out of 527 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
45%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
41%
Graduation Rate
87%
84%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.21
0.61
% American Indian
1%
2%
% Asian
1%
7%
% Hispanic
3%
12%
% Black
1%
12%
% White
89%
60%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
7%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,222 is higher than the state median of $17,854. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $27,332 is higher than the state median of $18,580. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$112 MM
$15,547 MM
Spending
$168 MM
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,222
$17,854
Spending / Student
$27,332
$18,580
Best Brainerd Public School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: K-4
| 369 students
Rank: #22.
Nisswa Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5533 Lakers Lane
Nisswa, MN 56468
(218) 961-6860
Nisswa, MN 56468
(218) 961-6860
Grades: PK-4
| 255 students
Rank: #33.
Baxter Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
12191 Jasperwood Drive
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6400
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6400
Grades: PK-4
| 534 students
Rank: #44.
Harrison Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1515 Oak St
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6500
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6500
Grades: K-4
| 224 students
Rank: #55.
Forestview Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
12149 Knollwood Dr
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6000
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6000
Grades: 5-8
| 1,709 students
Rank: #66.
Garfield Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1120 10th Ave Ne
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6450
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6450
Grades: K-4
| 278 students
Rank: #77.
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
Grades: PK-4
| 461 students
Rank: #88.
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
Grades: 5-8
| 15 students
Rank: #99.
Lincoln Education Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
400 Quince St
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6600
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6600
Grades: 2-12
| 98 students
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