Mountain Iron-Buhl 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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Mountain Iron, Minnesota - 2 schools

An equity score of 45/100 ranks Mountain Iron-Buhl School District #242 of 410 districts in Minnesota (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,976 per pupil, Mountain Iron-Buhl School District ranks #321 of 509 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending (Minnesota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

618
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$13,976
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Mountain Iron-Buhl School District operates 2 public schools serving 618 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Minnesota. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in St. Louis County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,976 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 509 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending. See how Minnesota compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 18.7% local, 68.8% state, and 12.5% 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 #242 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 318.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 29.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.2% White, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Merritt Elementary, enrolling 354 students (56% of the district's total enrollment).

Merritt Elementary accounts for 55.6% of all Mountain Iron-Buhl School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Mountain Iron-Buhl School District a distant remainder — means Mountain Iron-Buhl School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Mountain Iron-Buhl School District student-counselor ratio is 319:1 — 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 Mountain Iron-Buhl School District is typically wider than the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Mountain Iron-Buhl School District chronic absenteeism rate is 29.6% — 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 Mountain Iron-Buhl School District is typically wider than the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

12.5%
Federal
68.8%
State
18.7%
Local

Funding Equity

45
Equity Score
242 / 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 2 schools in Mountain Iron-Buhl School District.

White 85.2%
Hispanic or Latino 3.8%
African American 0.8%
Multiracial 8.1%
Other 1.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

318.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Mountain Iron-Buhl School District

School Enrollment
Merritt Elementary
354
Mountain Iron-Buhl Secondary
283

How Mountain Iron-Buhl School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Minnesota districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Bluesky Charter School Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Best Academy Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Breckenridge Public School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Yellow Medicine East Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Rtr Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Mountain Iron-Buhl 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.

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Mountain Iron-Buhl 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 Mountain Iron-Buhl School District?

Mountain Iron-Buhl School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 618 students.

How much does Mountain Iron-Buhl School District spend per student?

Mountain Iron-Buhl School District spends $13,976 per student. The district has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #242 in Minnesota.

What is the demographic composition of Mountain Iron-Buhl School District?

Mountain Iron-Buhl School District students are 85.2% White, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Mountain Iron-Buhl School District?

Mountain Iron-Buhl School District has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #242 out of 410 districts in Minnesota.