Top Rankings
Bemidji Public School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Minnesota for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 11 public elementary schools serving 2,978 students in Bemidji Public School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Minnesota.
Public Elementary Schools in Bemidji Public School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Minnesota public elementary school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the Minnesota public elementary school average of 41% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
15 Schools
1,663 Schools
# Students
4,722 Students
575,552 Students
# Teachers
321 Teachers
39,750 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Bemidji Public School District, which is ranked within the top 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 79% has increased from 76% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#204 out of 525 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
46%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
41%
Graduation Rate
79%
84%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.48
0.62
% American Indian
25%
2%
% Asian
1%
7%
% Hispanic
2%
12%
% Black
1%
13%
% White
68%
59%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
7%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $17,686 in this school district is less than the state median of $17,742. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,565 is less than the state median of $18,463. The school district spending/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$84 MM
$15,547 MM
Spending
$78 MM
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,686
$17,742
Spending / Student
$16,565
$18,463
Best Bemidji Public School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bemidji Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2900 Division St W
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3299
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3299
Gr: 5-12
Rank: #22.
Gene Dillon Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3795 Division St W
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3100
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3100
Gr: 4-5 | 667 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #33.
Solway Elementary School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
159 Lomen Ave Ne
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 467-3232
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 467-3232
Gr: PK-3 | 148 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #44.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1617 5th St Ne
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3250
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3250
Gr: PK-3 | 320 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Bemidji Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1910 Middle School Ave Nw
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3215
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3215
Gr: 6-8 | 967 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Northern Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
8711 Irvine Ave Nw
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3260
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3260
Gr: PK-3 | 282 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #77.
Horace May Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4415 Washington Ave Sw
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3240
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3240
Gr: PK-3 | 300 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #88.
Lakeside Learning Center
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
502 Minnesota Ave Nw
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3477
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3477
Gr: 6-12 | 7 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #99.
J.w. Smith Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1712 America Ave
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3290
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3290
Gr: PK-3 | 238 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1010.
First City School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1231 5th St Nw
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3458
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3458
Gr: 3-12 | 48 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: n/an/a
Bemidji Middle Alp
Alternative School
1910 Middle School Ave Nw
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3215
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 333-3215
Gr: 6-8 | 1 student
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
