Grand Rapids Public School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Grand Rapids, Minnesota - 11 schools

An equity score of 45/100 ranks Grand Rapids Public School District #238 of 410 districts in Minnesota (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,334 per pupil, Grand Rapids Public School District ranks #236 of 504 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending (Minnesota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

4,023
Total Enrollment
11
Schools
$14,334
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Grand Rapids Public School District operates 11 public schools serving 4,023 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Minnesota. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 combined, 4 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Itasca County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,334 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 504 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending. See how Minnesota compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 28.8% local, 60.1% state, and 11.1% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 45/100, ranked #238 of 410 in Minnesota against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 317.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 19.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.0% White, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Itaskin Education Center, with a diversity index of 51.1/100.

Its largest campus is Grand Rapids Senior High, enrolling 1,091 students (27% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Itaskin Education Center, at 39 students, a 28x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Grand Rapids Senior High accounts for 27.1% of all Grand Rapids Public School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Grand Rapids Public School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Grand Rapids Public School District school enrollment varies 28× across entities

Grand Rapids Public School District school enrollment ranges from 39 students (lowest) to 1,091 students (highest), a spread of 1,052 students. That spread is wider than typical and predicts noticeable gaps in service quality between the highest and lowest areas. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Grand Rapids Public School District student-counselor ratio is 317:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Grand Rapids Public School District is typically wider than the Grand Rapids Public School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Grand Rapids Public School District chronic absenteeism rate is 19.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Grand Rapids Public School District is typically wider than the Grand Rapids Public School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

11.1%
Federal
60.1%
State
28.8%
Local

Funding Equity

45
Equity Score
238 / 410
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 11 schools in Grand Rapids Public School District.

White 81.0%
Hispanic or Latino 2.0%
African American 1.1%
Multiracial 8.3%
Other 7.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 32.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Grand Rapids Public School District's schools, below the Minnesota average of 42.8.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Itaskin Education Center 51.1
  2. 2 Bigfork Elementary 39.7
  3. 3 Grand Rapids Early Childhood Center 36.3
  4. 4 Middle Area Learning Center 35.6
  5. 5 Bigfork Secondary 33.1

Programs & Resources

317.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
19.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Grand Rapids Public School District

School Enrollment
Grand Rapids Senior High
1,091
Robert J. Elkington Middle School
764
East Rapids Elementary
639
West Rapids Elementary
612
Cohasset Elementary
312
Bigfork Elementary
139
Bigfork Secondary
130
Grand Rapids Area Learning Center
129
Grand Rapids Early Childhood Center
63
Middle Area Learning Center
54
Itaskin Education Center
39

How Grand Rapids Public School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Minnesota districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Waconia Public School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Alexandria Public School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Sartell-St. Stephen School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Hastings Public School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Richfield Public School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Grand Rapids Public School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Minnesota

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Compare Grand Rapids Public School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Anoka-Hennepin School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Grand Rapids Public School District?

Grand Rapids Public School District has 11 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 4 elementary, 5 combined. Total enrollment is 4,023 students.

How much does Grand Rapids Public School District spend per student?

Grand Rapids Public School District spends $14,334 per student. The district has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #238 in Minnesota.

What is the demographic composition of Grand Rapids Public School District?

Grand Rapids Public School District students are 81.0% White, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 11 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Grand Rapids Public School District?

Grand Rapids Public School District has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #238 out of 410 districts in Minnesota.