South Koochiching 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.

Northome, Minnesota - 4 schools

An equity score of 86/100 ranks South Koochiching School District #22 of 410 districts in Minnesota (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $24,200 per pupil, South Koochiching School District ranks #24 of 509 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending (Minnesota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

265
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$24,200
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

South Koochiching School District operates 4 public schools serving 265 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Minnesota. The school portfolio breaks down into 4 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 Koochiching County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $24,200 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the top 51 of 509 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending. See how Minnesota compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 20.6% local, 61.2% state, and 18.2% 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 86/100, ranked #22 of 410 in Minnesota against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 204:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 35.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 66.4% White, 0.5% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Northome Elementary, enrolling 102 students (34% of the district's total enrollment).

Northome Elementary accounts for 34.0% of all South Koochiching School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means South Koochiching 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. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

South Koochiching School District school enrollment varies 2.2× across entities

South Koochiching School District school enrollment ranges from 47 students (lowest) to 102 students (highest), a spread of 55 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. 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

South Koochiching School District reports 52.9% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

South Koochiching School District student-counselor ratio is 204:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

South Koochiching School District chronic absenteeism rate is 35.1% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

18.2%
Federal
61.2%
State
20.6%
Local

Funding Equity

86
Equity Score
22 / 410
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in South Koochiching School District.

White 66.4%
Multiracial 6.9%
Other 26.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

204:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
35.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in South Koochiching School District

School Enrollment
Northome Elementary
102
Northome Secondary
101
Indus Secondary
50
Indus Elementary
47

How South Koochiching School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Minnesota districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Goodridge Public School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Agamim Classical Academy Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Treknorth High School Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Leroy-Ostrander Public Schools Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Ubah Medical Academy Charter School Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to South Koochiching 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 South Koochiching 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 South Koochiching School District?

South Koochiching School District has 4 schools, including 4 combined. Total enrollment is 265 students.

How much does South Koochiching School District spend per student?

South Koochiching School District spends $24,200 per student. The district has an equity score of 86/100, ranking #22 in Minnesota.

What is the demographic composition of South Koochiching School District?

South Koochiching School District students are 66.4% White, 0.5% Hispanic or Latino, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for South Koochiching School District?

South Koochiching School District has an equity score of 86/100, ranking #22 out of 410 districts in Minnesota.