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North Branch Area Middle School

Q: Is North Branch Area Middle School a good school?

North Branch Area Middle School ranks 281 st of 546 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

281^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 546 Minnesota Middle Schools

Better than 49% of Minnesota middle schools

Summary

North Branch Area Middle School is a grades 6–8 school in North Branch, Minnesota, a small city roughly 45 minutes northeast of the Twin Cities, serving 615 students in the North Branch Area Public Schools district. In 2025–2026 it ranked 281st of 546 Minnesota middle schools—the 49th percentile with 2 stars, a middle-of-the-pack position statewide. The school has been climbing: its percentile rose from 36th in 2023–2024 to 44th in 2024–2025 and 49th in 2025–2026, though it has not returned to its earlier 3-star stretch from 2016 to 2021, when it generally sat between the 50th and 58th percentiles.

Academically the picture is uneven. Reading is the clearest strength: 46.0% of students are proficient, above the district's 44.1% and close to the state's 48.6%, and 7th-grade reading (45.0%) tops the state's 43.5%. Math and science lag well behind—29.7% proficient in math versus 44.9% statewide, and 12.9% in science versus 25.5% statewide. The weakest area is 8th grade, where math is 24.1%, reading 40.2%, and science 12.9%, all below state averages.

Among five nearby middle schools, North Branch sits near the bottom academically. Chisago Lakes Middle (93rd percentile, 5 stars), Cambridge Middle (82nd, 4 stars), and Forest Lake Area Middle (78th, 4 stars) post much higher math and reading scores, and Isanti Middle (54th, 3 stars) is ahead in math while roughly comparable in reading. North Branch outperforms only Art & Science Academy Middle School (27th, 1 star). The school is not the highest-poverty in the group—29.11% of students receive free/reduced lunch, down from 37.6%—yet its math scores still trail Cambridge and Isanti, so poverty alone does not explain the gap. The student/teacher ratio improved to 18.7 from 21.3 but remains higher than most peers. Results also vary by student group: low-income and male students rank above the school overall, while special education students rank far below and have done so for several years.

615

Students ?

18.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,068

Per pupil spending ?

29.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

38431 Lincoln Tr
North Branch, MN 55056-0370

(651) 674-1305

District: North Branch Area Public Schools

Students who attend North Branch Area Middle School usually attend:

High:

North Branch Area High School

Feeder schools for North Branch Area Middle School:

Elementary:

Sunrise River Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.8%

Asian:

5.7%

Two or more races:

5.0%

See top rated Minnesota middle schools

Compare North Branch Area Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 49th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (35% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Math scores 15 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg38%

Minnesota avg43%

281^st of 546

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Bottom 49%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to bottom 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	48.5	281 of 546	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.8	290 of 519	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.6	350 of 545	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.5	326 of 529	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.9	238 of 520	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.9	221 of 521	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.3	265 of 533	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.5	226 of 518	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	59.7	220 of 523	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	54.3	239 of 508	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	57.2	223 of 516	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	65.3	159 of 490	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.3	167 of 488	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.2	191 of 469	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	55.5	225 of 478	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	62.7	175 of 454	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	68.5	65 of 230	71.7%	★★★★☆
2008	73.5	85 of 409	79.2%	★★★★☆
2007	73.7	77 of 403	80.9%	★★★★☆
2006	50.8	244 of 406	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2005	65.3	157 of 396	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	71.5	116 of 387	70.0%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	24.8	83 of 112	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.8	87 of 106	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.1	94 of 111	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.4	96 of 116	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.2	77 of 110	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	34.2	122 of 170	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	36.9	309 of 467	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.6	284 of 450	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.6	341 of 474	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.5	308 of 455	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.1	204 of 467	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.0	187 of 443	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.7	266 of 439	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.1	210 of 436	51.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	42.4	96 of 186	48.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	50.0	220 of 458	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.6	223 of 432	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.5	313 of 473	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.9	297 of 459	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.5	215 of 404	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.8	164 of 399	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.4	262 of 415	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.7	186 of 401	53.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	54.0	210 of 483	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.6	256 of 452	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.8	304 of 479	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.8	302 of 464	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.9	254 of 476	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.0	215 of 437	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.1	224 of 454	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.1	213 of 438	51.4%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	28.4	98 of 124	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.0	100 of 116	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	52.9	60 of 131	54.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	25.1	254 of 296	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.6	236 of 265	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.9	282 of 307	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	25.9	239 of 298	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.7	226 of 288	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.5	210 of 260	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.2	214 of 282	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.1	224 of 253	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	35.2	293 of 435	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.6	323 of 415	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.5	373 of 440	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.5	358 of 436	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.8	272 of 438	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.0	255 of 422	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.1	312 of 428	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.7	275 of 428	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2026)57th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)52nd percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2024)48th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2026)34th percentile-15 vs school

White (2026)33rd percentile-16 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)28th percentile-20 vs school

Asian (2026)26th percentile-23 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)21st percentile-28 vs school

Special Education (2026)14th percentile-34 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading46%-3 vs state

Math30%-15 vs state

Science13%-13 vs state

1.5

2 ratings

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Schools Near North Branch Area Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)					MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 5th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
North Branch Area Middle School	Public	6-8	38431 Lincoln Tr	North Branch	55056	Chisago County	North Branch Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 674-1305	615	33	18.7	29.1%	509 (82.8%)	7 (1.1%)	29 (4.7%)	35 (5.7%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.0%)	48.5	281^st of 546 public middle schools	48.5%		44.8	290^th of 519 public middle schools	44.1%	9		52.0	45.0	40.2	46.0		12.9	12.9		27.0	37.2	24.1	29.7	$11,068
Chisago Lakes Middle	Public	6-8	13750 Lake Blvd	Lindstrom	55013	Chisago County	Chisago Lakes School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 213-2400	742	50	14.9	24.9%	668 (90.0%)	4 (0.5%)	27 (3.6%)	15 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (3.8%)	88.1	37^th of 546 public middle schools	93.2%		87.7	39^th of 519 public middle schools	92.5%	2		62.8	57.1	67.9	62.8		21.9	21.9		61.3	66.7	59.7	62.4	$10,614
Cambridge Middle School	Public	6-8	31374 Xylite St NE	Cambridge	55008	Isanti County	Cambridge-Isanti Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 552-6301	607	35	17.1	32.5%	508 (83.7%)	14 (2.3%)	25 (4.1%)	22 (3.6%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.8%)	75.1	96^th of 546 public middle schools	82.4%		79.8	77^th of 519 public middle schools	85.2%	19		53.6	48.7	59.0	53.6		20.4	20.4		42.1	50.0	56.4	49.3	$10,750
Riverside Academy MLP	Public	6-8	1700 305th Ave NE	Cambridge	55040	Isanti County	Cambridge-Isanti Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 552-6262	3	2	1.5		3 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)														$10,020
Art & Science Academy Middle School	Public, Charter	5-8	1005 7th Avenue Court NE	Isanti	55040	Isanti County	Art and Science Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(763) 444-0039	125	13	9.8	34.4%	108 (86.4%)	1 (0.8%)	5 (4.0%)	3 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (6.4%)	30.9	399^th of 546 public middle schools	26.9%		33.5	370^th of 519 public middle schools	28.7%	29	45.5	50.0		37.5	41.8	22.7	7.7	17.1	18.2	20.0		7.1	18.5	$7,446
Isanti Middle School	Public	6-8	201 Centennial Dr	Isanti	55040	Isanti County	Cambridge-Isanti Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 691-8600	449	32	14.1	33.0%	373 (83.1%)	13 (2.9%)	24 (5.3%)	17 (3.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.5%)	52.7	250^th of 546 public middle schools	54.2%		56.3	213^th of 519 public middle schools	59.0%	37		46.5	34.6	50.7	44.1		10.8	10.8		35.9	36.1	44.5	38.8	$11,378
Forest Lake Area Middle School	Public	6-8	21395 Goodview Ave N	Forest Lake	55025	Washington County	Forest Lake Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 982-3000	916	48	19.2	26.1%	721 (78.7%)	21 (2.3%)	50 (5.5%)	74 (8.1%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (5.0%)	70.8	119^th of 546 public middle schools	78.2%		72.1	127^th of 519 public middle schools	75.5%	8		55.9	45.8	53.1	51.6		15.2	15.2		41.3	55.4	52.2	49.6	$11,297

Frequently Asked Questions about North Branch Area Middle School

Is North Branch Area Middle School a good school?

North Branch Area Middle School ranks 281^st of 546 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of North Branch Area Middle School attend?

Students who attend North Branch Area Middle School usually go on to attend North Branch Area High School

What is the racial makeup of North Branch Area Middle School?

Students at North Branch Area Middle School are 83% White, 6% Asian, 5% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 1% African American.

How many students attend North Branch Area Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 615 students attended North Branch Area Middle School.

What district is North Branch Area Middle School in?

North Branch Area Public Schools

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresNewSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.