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 is 1 public middle school serving 425 students in Deer River Public School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Minnesota.
Public Middle School in Deer River Public School District have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Minnesota public middle school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the Minnesota public middle school average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
4 Schools
1,015 Schools
# Students
833 Students
268,742 Students
# Teachers
87 Teachers
17,483 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%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.63
0.60
% American Indian
31%
2%
% Asian
1%
7%
% Hispanic
1%
11%
% Black
n/a
13%
% White
51%
61%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
16%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $25,261 is higher than the state median of $17,742. 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 $18,463. 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
$17,742
Spending / Student
$22,060
$18,463
Best Deer River Public School District Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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
When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
Discover the hidden costs of public school in 2026, from supplies and fees to transportation, technology, and extracurricular expenses.
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
Learn how district budget cuts can affect class sizes, programs, staffing, transportation, and your child's daily school experience in 2026.
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
Learn how parents can assess school closure risk before buying or renting in a district, using enrollment, funding, and boundary data.
