High Schools in Onamia Public School District

The Onamia Public School District in Minnesota is home to two high schools: Onamia High School and Kokesh Area Learning Center. These schools serve a diverse student population, with a significant Native American enrollment of over 50% at both institutions.

Onamia High School, the larger of the two with 235 students, has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Minnesota high schools in recent years. Its four-year graduation rate of 72.9% is lower than the state average, and its math and reading proficiency scores on the MCA-III assessments are significantly below the state averages. In contrast, Kokesh Area Learning Center, with only 34 students, has an alarmingly low four-year graduation rate of 18.1% and a higher dropout rate of 9.0%.

Both schools face significant challenges, including resource constraints as evidenced by their high student-teacher ratios and high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. These factors likely contribute to the disparities in academic performance and student outcomes observed between the two high schools and the state averages. Addressing these issues will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach that focuses on targeted interventions, community engagement, and equitable resource allocation to support the diverse student populations in these schools.