Top Rankings
Paynesville Area Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Minnesota for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 920 students in Paynesville Area Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Minnesota.
Public Elementary Schools in Paynesville Area Schools have an average math proficiency score of 35% (versus the Minnesota public elementary school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 9% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public elementary school average of 40% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
2 Schools
1,652 Schools
# Students
920 Students
571,920 Students
# Teachers
60 Teachers
40,362 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Paynesville Area Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 520 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 92% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#341 out of 525 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
46%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
39%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
24%
41%
Graduation Rate
92%
84%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.17
0.61
% American Indian
n/a
2%
% Asian
n/a
7%
% Hispanic
6%
12%
% Black
n/a
12%
% White
91%
60%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
7%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,811 in this school district is less than the state median of $17,860. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $29,087 is higher than the state median of $18,585.  The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$15 MM
$15,547 MM
Spending
$27 MM
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,811
$17,860
Spending / Student
$29,087
$18,585
Best Paynesville Area Schools Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Paynesville Area Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%) 
Rank:
Rank:
7/
  Top 50%10
205 W Mill St
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 243-3725
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 243-3725
Gr: PK-5 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #22.
Paynesville Area Secondary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 34%) 
Rank:
Rank:
2/
  Bottom 50%10
795 Business 23 W
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 243-3761
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 243-3761
Gr: 6-12 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
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