📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (MCA 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 12 Rated Districts in St. Louis County, MN
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hermantown Public School District | Hermantown | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #2 | Proctor Public School District | Proctor | 8/10 Good | 78th |
| #3 | Duluth Public School District | Duluth | 8/10 Good | 71st |
| #4 | Mountain Iron-Buhl School District | Mountain Iron | 7/10 Good | 68th |
| #5 | Ely Public School District | Ely | 7/10 Good | 67th |
| #6 | Hibbing Public School District | Hibbing | 7/10 Good | 65th |
| #7 | Rock Ridge Public Schools | Virginia | 6/10 Average | 57th |
| #8 | Floodwood Public School District | Floodwood | 6/10 Average | 52nd |
| #9 | Mesabi East School District | Aurora | 5/10 Average | 42nd |
| #10 | St. Louis County School District | Virginia | 4/10 Below Average | 35th |
| #11 | Chisholm Public School District | Chisholm | 3/10 Below Average | 27th |
| #12 | Nett Lake Public School District | Orr | 3/10 Below Average | 20th |
Best School Districts in St. Louis County, Minnesota (2026)
This page lists the 12 public school districts headquartered in St. Louis County, Minnesota that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using MCA 2024–25 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Minnesota, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in St. Louis County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in St. Louis County, Minnesota? ▼
Among the 12 rated districts in St. Louis County, Minnesota, the highest-rated is Hermantown Public School District (Hermantown), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 90th percentile of Minnesota districts on MCA 2024–25 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (MCA 2024–25), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Minnesota and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.