Best Public Schools in Barnum, MN

Barnum, Minnesota is served by two schools in the Barnum Public School District — Barnum Elementary (PK–6, 348 students) and Barnum Secondary (grades 7–12, 312 students) — with no separate middle school or alternative school, for a combined enrollment of 660 students. The district ranks 132 of 458 in Minnesota, at the 71st percentile with 4 stars.

Both schools read above the state average, and that is the district's clearest strength. Barnum Elementary posts 55.2% all-grade reading, 6.6 points above the state's 48.6%, with standout results in 6th-grade reading (67.9%) and 4th-grade reading (58.1%). Barnum Secondary reads at 50.3%, also above state, and its 10th-grade reading is 8.5 points ahead. Science is above state at both schools as well, though it fell sharply at each from the prior year while the state barely moved — a watch item for parents. Elementary math is slightly above state, but elementary 5th grade lags in both math (31.7%) and reading (43.9%).

The two schools diverge most in math and completion. Secondary math is 8.9 points below state, driven by 8th-grade math at 24.5% (17.8 points below state), even though 7th-grade math is 12.9 points above. Offsetting that, Barnum Secondary graduates 93.7% of students versus the state's 84.9% and reports a 0.0% dropout rate versus 4.2% statewide. On rankings, the elementary sits at the 60th percentile with 3 stars in 2025–2026, while the secondary is at the 70th percentile with 4 stars.