Brainerd Public School District

804 Oak St
Brainerd, MN 56401-3755
(District boundaries shown in map)
8/
10
Top 30%

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

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.
This School District
State Average (MN)
#108 out of 527 school districts
(Top 30%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Brainerd Public   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
50%
45%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Brainerd Public   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
55%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Brainerd Public   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
54%
41%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Brainerd Public   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
87%
84%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Brainerd Public   School District and public school graduation rate of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.21
0.61
# American Indian Students
87 Students
10,480 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
2%
# Asian Students
30 Students
42,165 Students
% Asian Students
1%
7%
# Hispanic Students
166 Students
65,127 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
12%
# Black Students
65 Students
70,794 Students
% Black Students
1%
12%
# White Students
5,456 Students
344,281 Students
% White Students
89%
60%
# Hawaiian Students
3 Students
676 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
327 Students
38,402 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
7%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
250
10,698
# Students in K Grade:
393
57,031
# Students in 1st Grade:
426
61,859
# Students in 2nd Grade:
457
63,560
# Students in 3rd Grade:
396
61,751
# Students in 4th Grade:
403
63,575
# Students in 5th Grade:
408
63,290
# Students in 6th Grade:
426
63,180
# Students in 7th Grade:
433
53,666
# Students in 8th Grade:
473
53,924
# Students in 9th Grade:
508
4,107
# Students in 10th Grade:
508
4,634
# Students in 11th Grade:
484
4,740
# Students in 12th Grade:
569
5,910
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

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.
This School District
This State (MN)
Total Revenue
$112 MM
$15,547 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Brainerd Public   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$168 MM
$16,179 MM
This chart displays total spending of Brainerd Public   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$18,222
$17,854
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Brainerd Public   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$27,332
$18,580
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Brainerd Public   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Brainerd Public School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
704 3rd Ave Ne
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6550
Grades: K-4
| 369 students
Rank: #22.
Nisswa Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5533 Lakers Lane
Nisswa, MN 56468
(218) 961-6860
Grades: PK-4
| 255 students
Rank: #33.
Baxter Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
12191 Jasperwood Drive
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6400
Grades: PK-4
| 534 students
Rank: #44.
Harrison Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1515 Oak St
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6500
Grades: K-4
| 224 students
Rank: #55.
Forestview Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
12149 Knollwood Dr
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 454-6000
Grades: 5-8
| 1,709 students
Rank: #66.
Garfield Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1120 10th Ave Ne
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6450
Grades: K-4
| 278 students
Rank: #77.
Riverside Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
220 3rd St Nw
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:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
311 10th Ave Ne
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-5400
Grades: 5-8
| 15 students
Rank: #99.
Lincoln Education Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
400 Quince St
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 454-6600
Grades: 2-12
| 98 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 13 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 6,134 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 11%
  • : 87% (Top 50% in MN)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 50% (Top 30%)
  • : 55% (Top 30%)
  • : 54% (Top 10%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

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