The largest number of students in Beltrami County districts were white in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.
Of the 8,113 students attending Beltrami County district schools, 52.7% were white. American Indian students made up the second largest ethnic group among Beltrami County districts’ students (42.5%).
In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Beltrami County districts, representing 54.6% of the student body.
Bemidji Public School District had the most diverse student body in the county, including white, American Indian, multiracial, Hispanic, Black, Asian, Hawaiian Pacific Islander and Other Indigenous Peoples.
In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in school districts in the county increased 0.4% compared to the previous year.
The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Beltrami County.
According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Minnesota’s fourth graders scored 241 in math, just above the national average of 237. Their reading score of 216 was on par with the U.S. average, but shows a slight decline over recent years. Eighth graders scored 284 in math and 264 in reading, both above the national averages.Â
However, despite these results, both grade levels remain below pre-pandemic levels in math and reading.
As of 2024, according to Public School Review, the student-to-teacher ratio in Minnesota’s public schools stands at 1:16, slightly worse than the national average of 1:15. This is part of a larger framework within Minnesota’s educational system, which is the 10th largest in the United States, accommodating over 869,000 students across 2,709 public schools.
| District | Most Prevalent Ethnicity | Percent of Total Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bemidji Public School District | White | 67.1% | 4,812 |
| Red Lake Public School District | American Indian | 99.5% | 1,441 |
| Blackduck Public School District | White | 74.8% | 739 |
| Kelliher Public School District | White | 49.7% | 328 |
| TrekNorth High School | American Indian | 52.6% | 253 |
| Schoolcraft Learning Community Charter | White | 68.9% | 196 |
| Aurora Waasakone Community of Learners Charter School | American Indian | 54.6% | 141 |
| Voyageurs Expeditionary | American Indian | 55.8% | 113 |
| Endazhi-Nitaawiging | American Indian | 96.7% | 90 |
