What share of students in Minnesota are proficient in math?

In 2024, 34% of eighth graders in Minnesota public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (5th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 28% in reading, compared with 44% and 34% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Minnesota, United States: official figures

83.6% of public high school students in Minnesota graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 15th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

83.6%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

214

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

282

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$17,098

FY2024

Public school enrollment

869,967

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

40.0%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Minnesota rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Minnesota was 83.6% in 2021-22, compared with 78% in 2011-12 and 83.7% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Minnesota?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Minnesota was 71.1% for economically disadvantaged students, 65.6% for students with disabilities and 65.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Minnesota?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Minnesota was 73.5% for Black, 69.0% for Hispanic and 88.5% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Minnesota score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Minnesota averaged 214 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 222 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 39% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Minnesota score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Minnesota averaged 260 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 12th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 264 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 28% scored at or above Proficient and 29% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Minnesota score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Minnesota averaged 241 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 6th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 248 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 45% scored at or above Proficient and 22% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Minnesota score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Minnesota averaged 282 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 291 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 34% scored at or above Proficient and 29% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Minnesota spend per student?

Public school systems in Minnesota spent $17,098 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 25th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Minnesota going up?

Current spending per pupil in Minnesota rose from $13,387 in fiscal 2019 to $17,098 in fiscal 2024, up 27.7% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 6.1%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Minnesota spend school money on?

Of the $17,098 spent per pupil in Minnesota in fiscal 2024, $10,887 went on instruction and $5,432 on support services; salaries and wages came to $10,466 per pupil and employee benefits $3,638.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Minnesota come from?

Public school systems in Minnesota received $17.0 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 8.1% from the federal government, 61.7% from the state and 30.2% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Minnesota spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Minnesota was $17.1 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $14.2 billion was current spending and $2.3 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $14.2 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Minnesota?

869,967 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Minnesota in fall 2023, down 2.6% on fall 2019 (893,203) and up 2.2% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Minnesota?

Public schools in Minnesota had 56,124 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 15.5 pupils per teacher, 17th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Minnesota in fall 2019: 16.1).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Minnesota have a college degree?

40.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Minnesota, about 1,594,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 12th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.1 percentage points on 2021 (38.9%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Minnesota have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 14.0% of adults 25 and over in Minnesota had a graduate or professional degree and 12.0% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Minnesota did not finish high school?

94.2% of adults 25 and over in Minnesota had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 5.8% without one; that share is 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Minnesota compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Minnesota ranks 36 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
33	Georgia	84.1%
34	South Carolina	83.8%
35	Washington	83.6%
36	Minnesota	83.6%
37	Rhode Island	83.3%
38	Louisiana	83.1%
39	Vermont	82.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Minnesota ranks 41 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
38	Arizona	73.3%
39	New Hampshire	73.3%
40	Colorado	71.9%
41	Minnesota	71.1%
42	Alaska	70.2%
43	Michigan	69.6%
44	Idaho	69.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Minnesota ranks 30 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
27	Illinois	214
28	Georgia	214
29	Virginia	214
30	Minnesota	214
31	South Dakota	214
32	North Carolina	213
33	Alabama	213

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Minnesota ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
11	Montana	261
12	Ohio	260
13	Wisconsin	260
14	Minnesota	260
15	South Dakota	260
16	Wyoming	260
17	Pennsylvania	259

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Minnesota ranks 7 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
4	Utah	242
5	New Hampshire	242
6	Texas	241
7	Minnesota	241
8	North Dakota	241
9	New Jersey	240
10	Tennessee	240

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Minnesota ranks 4 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
1	Massachusetts	283
2	Wisconsin	283
3	New Jersey	282
4	Minnesota	282
5	Utah	282
6	South Dakota	281
7	Nebraska	280

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Minnesota ranks 5 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
2	New Jersey	36.8%
3	Wisconsin	36.5%
4	Utah	35.1%
5	Minnesota	34.0%
6	South Dakota	33.3%
7	Colorado	32.5%
8	Nebraska	32.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Minnesota ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
29	Washington	39.5%
30	Iowa	39.5%
31	Rhode Island	39.3%
32	Minnesota	39.1%
33	Hawaii	39.1%
34	Tennessee	38.9%
35	Wisconsin	38.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Minnesota ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
22	Ohio	$17,257
23	Virginia	$17,104
24	North Dakota	$17,102
25	Minnesota	$17,098
26	Nebraska	$16,147
27	Wisconsin	$15,952
28	Colorado	$15,908

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Minnesota ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
35	Kansas	+30.5%
36	West Virginia	+30.2%
37	Kentucky	+29.3%
38	Minnesota	+27.7%
39	Ohio	+27.5%
40	Missouri	+27.1%
41	New York	+27.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Minnesota ranks 41 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
38	Michigan	32.4%
39	Delaware	31.8%
40	Alabama	31.3%
41	Minnesota	30.2%
42	Kansas	26.5%
43	Washington	26.1%
44	North Carolina	25.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Minnesota ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
14	Ohio	16.4
15	Colorado	16.3
16	Indiana	15.8
17	Minnesota	15.5
18	North Carolina	15.4
19	Tennessee	15.3
20	Kentucky	15.3

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Minnesota ranks 28 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
25	Connecticut	-2.1%
26	Pennsylvania	-2.3%
27	Arkansas	-2.4%
28	Minnesota	-2.6%
29	Virginia	-2.9%
30	Kansas	-2.9%
31	Arizona	-3.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Minnesota ranks 12 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
9	New Hampshire	41.5%
10	New York	41.2%
11	Washington	41.0%
12	Minnesota	40.0%
13	Illinois	39.2%
14	Utah	39.1%
15	Rhode Island	39.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Minnesota ranks 46 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
43	Hawaii	6.3%
44	South Dakota	6.0%
45	North Dakota	5.9%
46	Minnesota	5.8%
47	Wyoming	5.6%
48	Montana	5.4%
49	Vermont	5.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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