Top Rankings
Deer River Public School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Minnesota for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 820 students in Deer River Public School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Minnesota.
Public Elementary Schools in Deer River Public School District have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the Minnesota public elementary school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the Minnesota public elementary school average of 41% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
4 Schools
1,663 Schools
# Students
833 Students
575,431 Students
# Teachers
87 Teachers
39,740 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
9:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Deer River Public School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 515 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 85% has increased from 80-89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#294 out of 525 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
46%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
45%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
45%
41%
Graduation Rate
85%
84%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)38.6%
27.3%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.63
0.62
% American Indian
31%
2%
% Asian
1%
7%
% Hispanic
1%
12%
% Black
n/a
13%
% White
51%
59%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
16%
7%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $25,261 is higher than the state median of $17,752. The school district revenue/student has grown by 32% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,060 is higher than the state median of $18,474. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$21 MM
$15,547 MM
Spending
$18 MM
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student
$25,261
$17,752
Spending / Student
$22,060
$18,474
Best Deer River Public School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
King Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
500 5th St Se
Deer River, MN 56636
(218) 246-8860
Deer River, MN 56636
(218) 246-8860
Gr: PK-5 | 390 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #22.
Deer River Schools Sped
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
313 Main Ave E
Deer River, MN 56636
(218) 246-8860
Deer River, MN 56636
(218) 246-8860
Gr: K-5 | 5 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #33.
Deer River Secondary
(Math: 25% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
101 1st Ave Ne
Deer River, MN 56636
(218) 246-8241
Deer River, MN 56636
(218) 246-8241
Gr: 6-12 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Recent Articles
What Rising E-Bike and Traffic Concerns Mean for School Commutes
Discover how rising e-bike use and increasing traffic are changing school commutes, and what parents should evaluate before choosing a public school.
School Safety Beyond Lockdowns: What Parents Should Review
Learn how to evaluate a public school's safety beyond lockdown drills, including school climate, emergency planning, mental health support, and communication.
How to Judge Special Education Capacity Before You Enroll
Learn how to evaluate a public school's special education capacity before enrolling your child, from staffing and IEP implementation to inclusion and support services.
