NW Minnesota News

The largest number of students in Mahnomen County districts were American Indian in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Of the 1,536 students attending Mahnomen County district schools, 87.3% were American Indian. White students made up the second largest ethnic group among Mahnomen County districts' students (11.8%).

In the previous school year, American Indian students were also the most common group in Mahnomen County districts, representing 85.9% of the student body.

Waubun-Ogema-White Earth Schools had the most diverse student body in the county, including American Indian, white, Hispanic, Black and Asian.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in school districts in the county increased 0.5% compared to the previous year.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Mahnomen County.

According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Minnesota's fourth graders scored 241 in math, just above the national average of 237. Their reading score of 216 was on par with the U.S. average, but shows a slight decline over recent years. Eighth graders scored 284 in math and 264 in reading, both above the national averages. 

However, despite these results, both grade levels remain below pre-pandemic levels in math and reading.

As of 2024, according to Public School Review, the student-to-teacher ratio in Minnesota's public schools stands at 1:16, slightly worse than the national average of 1:15. This is part of a larger framework within Minnesota's educational system, which is the 10th largest in the United States, accommodating over 869,000 students across 2,709 public schools.

District	Most Prevalent Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Waubun-Ogema-White Earth Schools	American Indian	83%	741
Mahnomen Public School District	American Indian	89.4%	650
Naytahwaush Community School	American Indian	100%	145