Best Public Schools in Deer River, MN

The city of Deer River, Minnesota, is home to 4 schools, including 2 elementary schools, 2 high schools (one of which is an alternative learning program), and no middle schools. The data reveals a stark contrast in academic performance, with King Elementary standing out as the top performer in the district, while Deer River Secondary lags behind in both math and reading proficiency.

King Elementary has impressive proficiency rates, with 63.46% of students proficient or better in math and 56.05% in reading for the 2024-2025 school year, significantly higher than the district and state averages. In contrast, Deer River Secondary has only 10.53% of 11th graders proficient or better in math and 50% in reading for the same year. Both Deer River Secondary and Deer River High School ALP have a respectable 84.2% four-year graduation rate, but Deer River Secondary has a slightly higher dropout rate of 4.4%.

The data also reveals that Deer River Public School District schools have a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 64.84% at Deer River Secondary to 75% at Deer River High School ALP. The presence of Deer River High School ALP, an alternative learning program, indicates that the district recognizes the need for specialized educational approaches to support students who may not thrive in a traditional high school setting.