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Detroit Lakes Public School District

702 Lake Ave
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-3026
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Detroit Lakes Public School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Minnesota for:

Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 2 public middle schools serving 615 students in Detroit Lakes Public School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in Minnesota.
Public Middle Schools in Detroit Lakes Public School District have an average math proficiency score of 33% (versus the Minnesota public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 29% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the Minnesota public middle school average of 38% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
12 Schools
1,003 Schools
# Students
2,797 Students
272,988 Students
# Teachers
189 Teachers
17,811 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Detroit Lakes Public School District, which is ranked within the top 50% 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 79% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MN)
#179 out of 527 school districts
(Top 50%)
45%
45%
54%
51%
50%
41%
79%
84%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.43
0.59
% American Indian
17%
2%
% Asian
1%
7%
% Hispanic
3%
11%
% Black
2%
12%
% White
73%
62%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,686 in this school district is less 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 $23,911 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
$47 MM
$15,547 MM
Spending
$67 MM
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,686
$17,854
Spending / Student
$23,911
$18,580

Best Detroit Lakes Public School District Public Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Detroit Lakes Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
500 11th Ave
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
(218) 847-9228
Grades: 6-8
| 615 students
Rank: #22.
Detroit Lakes Middle Alc
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
500 11th Ave
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
(218) 847-9228
Grades: 6-8
| n/a students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 12 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,797 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 27%
  • : 79% (Btm 50% in MN)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 45% (Top 50%)
  • : 54% (Top 30%)
  • : 50% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

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