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 2026 school year, there is 1 public high school serving 465 students in Paynesville Area Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Minnesota.
Public High School in Paynesville Area School have an average math proficiency score of 20% (versus the Minnesota public high school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 34% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Paynesville Area School have a Graduation Rate of 92%, which is more than the Minnesota average of 83%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Paynesville Area Secondary School, with 90-94% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Minnesota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 9% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public high school average of 38% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
2 Schools
1,201 Schools
# Students
894 Students
313,883 Students
# Teachers
62 Teachers
18,843 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Paynesville Area Schools, 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 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
0.59
% American Indian
1%
2%
% Asian
n/a
6%
% Hispanic
6%
12%
% Black
n/a
12%
% White
91%
62%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,271 in this school district is less than the state median of $17,742. The school district revenue/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $29,933 is higher than the state median of $18,463. The school district spending/student has grown by 77% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$15 MM
$15,547 MM
Spending
$27 MM
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,271
$17,742
Spending / Student
$29,933
$18,463
Best Paynesville Area Schools Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Paynesville Area Secondary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
795 Business 23 S
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 243-3761
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 243-3761
Gr: 6-12 | 465 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
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.
