Stephen-Argyle Central Schools

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.

Stephen, Minnesota - 2 schools

An equity score of 60/100 ranks Stephen-Argyle Central Schools #130 of 410 districts in Minnesota (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $18,007 per pupil, Stephen-Argyle Central Schools ranks #86 of 509 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending (Minnesota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

287
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$18,007
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Stephen-Argyle Central Schools operates 2 public schools serving 287 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 Marshall County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,007 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 509 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending. See how Minnesota compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 22.2% local, 60.5% state, and 17.3% 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 60/100, ranked #130 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 141:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 21.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 91.7% White, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Argyle Elementary, enrolling 158 students (56% of the district's total enrollment).

Argyle Elementary accounts for 55.1% of all Stephen-Argyle Central Schools student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Stephen-Argyle Central Schools a distant remainder — means Stephen-Argyle Central Schools-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

Stephen-Argyle Central Schools student-counselor ratio is 141:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Stephen-Argyle Central Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 21.6% — 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 Stephen-Argyle Central Schools is typically wider than the Stephen-Argyle Central Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

17.3%
Federal
60.5%
State
22.2%
Local

Funding Equity

60
Equity Score
130 / 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 Stephen-Argyle Central Schools.

White 91.7%
Hispanic or Latino 5.7%
African American 0.7%
Multiracial 1.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

141:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Stephen-Argyle Central Schools

School Enrollment
Argyle Elementary
158
Stephen Senior High
124

How Stephen-Argyle Central Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Minnesota districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Region 6 and 8-Sw/Wc Service Coop Similar size No spending data More locally funded
Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Sojourner Truth Academy Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Heron Lake-Okabena School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Mabel-Canton Public School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Stephen-Argyle Central Schools'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 Stephen-Argyle Central Schools

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 Stephen-Argyle Central Schools?

Stephen-Argyle Central Schools has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 287 students.

How much does Stephen-Argyle Central Schools spend per student?

Stephen-Argyle Central Schools spends $18,007 per student. The district has an equity score of 60/100, ranking #130 in Minnesota.

What is the demographic composition of Stephen-Argyle Central Schools?

Stephen-Argyle Central Schools students are 91.7% White, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Stephen-Argyle Central Schools?

Stephen-Argyle Central Schools has an equity score of 60/100, ranking #130 out of 410 districts in Minnesota.