Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Minnesota · Public School District
15
Schools
4,836
Students
$15,918
Per-Pupil Spend
+11% nat'l
48.3%
Free Lunch Rate
≈ nat'l avg
78.7%
Graduation Rate
-7.8pp vs nat'l
District Overview

BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is a public school district in Minnesota serving 4,836 students across 15 schools. It includes 6 elementary, 2 middle, 5 high schools. Its graduation rate of 78.7% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $15,918 is above average for a US public school district. 48% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 48/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (15)
Elementary Schools6 schools
Middle Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
BEMIDJI MIDDLE06–081,013
BEMIDJI MIDDLE ALP06–080
High Schools5 schools
Other Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
FIRST CITY SCHOOL03–1245
PAUL BUNYAN CENTERPK–PK96
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,918+11% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
68%
19%
State
67.6%
Local (property tax)
18.6%
Federal
13.8%

State funding accounts for 68% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
15
Schools
4,836
Students
48%
Free Lunch
$16K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate78.7%
Opportunity Score48/100
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 15 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average graduation rate
At 78.7%, graduation is 7.8 points below the national average of 86.5%.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?
BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT has 15 public schools, serving a total of 4,836 students.
What is the graduation rate for BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?
The graduation rate is 78.7%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?
BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $15,918 per pupil — 11% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?
48% of students in BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?
No, BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT serve?
BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?
The median opportunity score across schools in BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is 48/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.