Bemidji Public School District

Public school district · Beltrami County · Minnesota · NCES district ID 2704440

Bemidji Public School District spent $15,202 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 75% of the other Minnesota districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $14,091). Its 14 schools enrolled 4,781 students in 2024-25; 66.1% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $15,715 per student, up 3.4% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 78% (Minnesota: 83.3%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Minnesota districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Bemidji in enrollment (4,312 to 5,313 students) and Bemidji itself.

Current spending per student, Minnesota districts closest in size to Bemidji, FY23West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan $16,864; St. Louis Park Public Schools $16,723; Austin Public Schools $15,309; Bemidji $15,202; Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools $13,682; Owatonna Public Schools $13,596; Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools ISD47 $13,374; Minnesota Transitions Charter School $12,992; St. Francis Area Schools $12,644; Cambridge-Isanti Schools $12,306; State median, 1,000+ students $14,091.10k12k14k16k18kWest St. Paul-Mendota Heights-…$16,864St. Louis Park Public Schools$16,723Austin Public Schools$15,309Bemidji$15,202Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schoo…$13,682Owatonna Public Schools$13,596Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools ISD47$13,374Minnesota Transitions Charter …$12,992St. Francis Area Schools$12,644Cambridge-Isanti Schools$12,306State median, 1,000+ students $14,091
Current spending per student, Minnesota districts closest in size to Bemidji, FY23West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan $16,864; St. Louis Park Public Schools $16,723; Austin Public Schools $15,309; Bemidji $15,202; Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools $13,682; Owatonna Public Schools $13,596; Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools ISD47 $13,374; Minnesota Transitions Charter School $12,992; St. Francis Area Schools $12,644; Cambridge-Isanti Schools $12,306; State median, 1,000+ students $14,091.10k12k14k16k18kWest St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan$16,864St. Louis Park Public Schools$16,723Austin Public Schools$15,309Bemidji$15,202Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools$13,682Owatonna Public Schools$13,596Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools ISD47$13,374Minnesota Transitions Charter School$12,992St. Francis Area Schools$12,644Cambridge-Isanti Schools$12,306State median, 1,000+ students $14,091
Current spending per student, Minnesota districts closest in size to Bemidji, FY23West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan $16,864; St. Louis Park Public Schools $16,723; Austin Public Schools $15,309; Bemidji $15,202; Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools $13,682; Owatonna Public Schools $13,596; Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools ISD47 $13,374; Minnesota Transitions Charter School $12,992; St. Francis Area Schools $12,644; Cambridge-Isanti Schools $12,306; State median, 1,000+ students $14,091.10k14k18kWest St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan$16,864St. Louis Park Public Schools$16,723Austin Public Schools$15,309Bemidji$15,202Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools$13,682Owatonna Public Schools$13,596Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools ISD47$13,374Minnesota Transitions Charter School$12,992St. Francis Area Schools$12,644Cambridge-Isanti Schools$12,306State median, 1,000+ students $14,091
Current spending per student, Minnesota districts closest in size to Bemidji, FY23West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan $16,864; St. Louis Park Public Schools $16,723; Austin Public Schools $15,309; Bemidji $15,202; Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools $13,682; Owatonna Public Schools $13,596; Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools ISD47 $13,374; Minnesota Transitions Charter School $12,992; St. Francis Area Schools $12,644; Cambridge-Isanti Schools $12,306; State median, 1,000+ students $14,091.10k14k18kWest St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan$16,864St. Louis Park Public Schools$16,723Austin Public Schools$15,309Bemidji$15,202Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools$13,682Owatonna Public Schools$13,596Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools ISD47$13,374Minnesota Transitions Charter School$12,992St. Francis Area Schools$12,644Cambridge-Isanti Schools$12,306State median, 1,000+ students $14,091

Where the money came from

$85,623,000 in revenue: 66.1% state, 18.9% local and 15.1% federal. Total spending including $5,692,000 of capital outlay was $83,212,000, or $17,207 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Bemidji Public School District revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $56,564,000; Local $16,156,000; Federal $12,903,000; total $85,623,000.
  • State$56,564,000 66%
  • Local$16,156,000 19%
  • Federal$12,903,000 15%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 163 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

4,836 students in 2022-23, 4,811 students in 2023-24, 4,721 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Bemidji Public School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 4,836, 2023-24: 4,811, 2024-25: 4,72102k4k6k2022-234,8362023-244,8112024-254,721
Bemidji Public School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 4,836, 2023-24: 4,811, 2024-25: 4,72102k4k6k2022-234,8362023-244,8112024-254,721
Bemidji Public School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 4,836, 2023-24: 4,811, 2024-25: 4,72102k4k6k2022-234,8362023-244,8112024-254,721
Bemidji Public School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 4,836, 2023-24: 4,811, 2024-25: 4,72102k4k6k2022-234,8362023-244,8112024-254,721

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-234,836321.615.0
2023-244,811325.614.8
2024-254,721316.614.9

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$23,383,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,835 per student

Bemidji Public School District booked $23,383,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 328 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $71,285 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 76 in 100 Minnesota districts with a figure (state median $62,418, 464 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Minnesota teacher salary at $68,491 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$17,339,00074.2%
Special education$5,304,00022.7%
Vocational$483,0002.1%
Other programs$257,0001.1%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $4,325 in 2018-19, $4,304 in 2019-20, $4,636 in 2020-21, $4,695 in 2021-22, $4,835 in 2022-23.

Bemidji Public School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,325, 2019-20: $4,304, 2020-21: $4,636, 2021-22: $4,695, 2022-23: $4,83502k4k6k2018-19$4,3252019-20$4,3042020-21$4,6362021-22$4,6952022-23$4,835
Bemidji Public School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,325, 2019-20: $4,304, 2020-21: $4,636, 2021-22: $4,695, 2022-23: $4,83502k4k6k2018-19$4,3252019-20$4,3042020-21$4,6362021-22$4,6952022-23$4,835
Bemidji Public School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,325, 2019-20: $4,304, 2020-21: $4,636, 2021-22: $4,695, 2022-23: $4,83502k4k6k2018-19$4,3252019-20$4,3042020-21$4,6362021-22$4,6952022-23$4,835
Bemidji Public School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,325, 2019-20: $4,304, 2020-21: $4,636, 2021-22: $4,695, 2022-23: $4,83502k4k6k2018-19$4,3252019-20$4,3042020-21$4,6362021-22$4,6952022-23$4,835

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Bemidji Public School District scored proficient or above: 49% in reading and 45% in math, against 51.1% in reading and 44.8% in math across Minnesota. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Minnesota, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMinnesotaStudents tested
Reading and language arts49%51.1%2,299
Math45%44.8%2,211

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

78% of the 406 students in Bemidji Public School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 83.3% across Minnesota. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtMinnesota
Four-year graduation rate78%83.3%
Students in the class40669,945

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

6 elementary schools, 1,955 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Gene Dillon Elementary School66714.837.3%Targeted program
Lincoln Elementary32013.838.8%Schoolwide program
Horace May Elementary30011.833.7%Targeted program
Northern Elementary28214.229.1%Eligible, no program
J.W. Smith Elementary23811.676.9%Schoolwide program
Solway Elementary14812.635.1%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 middle school, 967 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Bemidji Middle96715.733.0%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

5 high schools, 1,693 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Bemidji Senior High1,53719.828.3%Eligible, no program
Bemidji Senior Lumberjack Alc8521.242.4%Eligible, no program
Bemidji Area Learning Center6029.446.7%Eligible, no program
Lakeside Learning Center75.066.7%Eligible, no program
Oshki Manidoo Center4not reportednot reportedEligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 other schools, 166 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Paul Bunyan Center1187.358.5%Eligible, no program
First City School484.893.8%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

One more school on file: small, closed or in an earlier directory

These records carry fewer federal fields than a full school page needs, so each is summarized here with what NCES reports.

Oshki Manidoo Center

High school in Bemidji; open in 2024-25; 4 students.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 and earlier directories: the last year each school was listed, its students and its teachers.

Contact Bemidji Public School District

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Bemidji Public School District

  1. Minnesota districts by spending per studentBemidji Public School District ranks 42 of 163 Minnesota districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($15,202).#42 of 163
  2. Every school district in MinnesotaBemidji Public School District is the number 42 by size of 543 Minnesota districts, with 4,836 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#42 of 543
  3. Minnesota Transitions Charter SchoolThe next larger Minnesota district: 4,879 students in fall 2022, $12,992 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$12,992
  4. St. Louis Park Public SchoolsThe next smaller Minnesota district: 4,509 students in fall 2022, $16,723 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$16,723
  5. Compare Bemidji Public School District with Minnesota Transitions Charter SchoolEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Bemidji Senior High, its largest high school1,537 students in 2024-25, 19.8 per teacher.1,537
  7. Teacher salary spending across MinnesotaBemidji Public School District spent $71,285 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $62,418); spending, not a salary.$71,285
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Bemidji Public School District

  1. How many schools and students are in Bemidji Public School District?
    14 schools were open in 2024-25 (6 elementary, 1 middle, 5 high, 2 other), enrolling 4,781 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Bemidji Public School District spend per student?
    $15,202 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Minnesota median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $14,091 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $15,715 per student, up 3.4% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Bemidji Public School District's money come from?
    $85,623,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 66.1% state, 18.9% local and 15.1% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Bemidji Public School District live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 892 of the 6,769 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 13.2%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Bemidji Public School District spend on teacher salaries?
    $23,383,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,835 per student. Divided by the 328 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $71,285 per teacher, more than 76 in 100 Minnesota districts (state median $62,418). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Minnesota teacher salary at $68,491 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Bemidji Public School District do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Bemidji Public School District scored proficient or above: 49% in reading and 45% in math, against 51.1% in reading and 44.8% in math across Minnesota. Minnesota's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Bemidji Public School District?
    78% of the 406 students in Bemidji Public School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 83.3% across Minnesota. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Bemidji Public School District's NCES district ID?
    2704440. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .