Top Rankings
Cass Lake-Bena School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Minnesota for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public schools serving 1,112 students in Cass Lake-Bena School District. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Minnesota.
51±¬ÁÏs in Cass Lake-Bena School District have an average math proficiency score of 15% (versus the Minnesota public school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 24% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 96% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the Minnesota public school average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
4 Schools
2,732 Schools
# Students
1,112 Students
870,790 Students
# Teachers
111 Teachers
57,779 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
10:1
10:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Cass Lake-Bena School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 522 school districts in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 55-59% has increased from 50-54% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#476 out of 527 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
15%
45%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
22%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
15%
41%
Graduation Rate
55-59%
84%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.08
0.59
% American Indian
96%
2%
% Asian
n/a
7%
% Hispanic
n/a
12%
% Black
n/a
12%
% White
4%
61%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
n/a
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $28,303 is higher than the state median of $17,854. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $23,284 is higher than the state median of $18,580. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$32 MM
$15,547 MM
Spending
$26 MM
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student
$28,303
$17,854
Spending / Student
$23,284
$18,580
Best Cass Lake-Bena School District 51±¬ÁÏs (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cass Lake-bena Secondary
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
15308 State 371 Nw
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-2203
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-2203
Grades: 9-12
| 253 students
Rank: #22.
Cass Lake-bena Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
15 4th St Nw
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-2201
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-2201
Grades: PK-4
| 458 students
Rank: #33.
Cass Lake-bena Area Lrng. Cntr.
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
208 Central Ave Nw
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-2204
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-2204
Grades: 7-12
| 98 students
Rank: #44.
Cass Lake-bena Middle School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
15314 State 371 Nw
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-2203
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-2203
Grades: 5-8
| 303 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Cass Lake-Bena School District?
Cass Lake-Bena School District manages 4 public schools serving 1,112 students.
What is the rank of Cass Lake-Bena School District?
Cass Lake-Bena School District is ranked #481 out of 522 school districts in Minnesota (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Minnesota school districts for: Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Cass Lake-Bena School District?
96% of Cass Lake-Bena School District students are American Indian, and 4% of students are White.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Cass Lake-Bena School District?
Cass Lake-Bena School District has a student/teacher ratio of 10:1, which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 15:1.
What is Cass Lake-Bena School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $23,284 is higher than the state median of $18,580. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles

Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.

Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.

Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.