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St. Louis County – School Districts 2023-2024

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Public school systems play a crucial role in shaping local economies, influencing everything from property values to workforce development. The economic impact of local public schools extends far beyond education, affecting businesses, government budgets, and community well-being. Below are key ways in which public schools contribute to local economic health.

  1. Boosting Property Values and Municipal Revenue A strong public school system increases demand for housing in the district, driving up property values. Studies consistently show that homes in high-performing school districts command higher prices than comparable homes in weaker districts. Higher property values, in turn, generate more property tax revenue for local governments, which can be reinvested in infrastructure, public safety, and other community services.

    Additionally, businesses are more likely to establish themselves in areas with well-regarded schools, knowing that educated communities attract skilled workers and stable families. This creates a positive feedback loop where better schools lead to economic growth, which then further supports school funding.

  2. Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness Public schools are the primary source of skilled labor for local industries. By providing foundational education, vocational training, and college preparation, schools ensure that businesses have access to qualified employees. Areas with strong school systems tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher average incomes because educated workers are more productive and adaptable to changing job markets.

    Investments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, career and technical education (CTE), and partnerships with local businesses further enhance workforce readiness. Companies often consider school quality when deciding where to locate, as they need a pipeline of talent to sustain operations.

  3. Direct Employment and Local Spending Public schools are among the largest employers in many communities, providing jobs for teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff. These employees spend their salaries locally, supporting restaurants, retail stores, and service providers. The multiplier effect means that every dollar spent on school payroll circulates through the economy multiple times, stimulating additional business activity.

    Beyond salaries, schools also contribute to local economies through construction projects (e.g., building new facilities or renovating old ones), purchasing supplies from area vendors, and contracting services like transportation and food supply. These expenditures create jobs and generate tax revenue.

  4. Reducing Long-Term Public Costs Quality education correlates with lower crime rates, reduced reliance on social welfare programs, and better public health outcomes. Students who graduate from strong school systems are less likely to require government assistance, engage in criminal activity, or face chronic unemployment. This reduces the burden on taxpayers, who would otherwise fund prisons, healthcare for the uninsured, and social services.

    Early childhood education programs, in particular, have been shown to yield high long-term returns by improving graduation rates and future earnings while decreasing incarceration costs.

  5. Attracting and Retaining Families and Businesses Families with children prioritize school quality when choosing where to live. Communities with reputable schools experience population growth, which sustains local businesses and services. Conversely, declining school performance can lead to outmigration, shrinking the tax base and harming economic vitality.

    Similarly, corporations evaluating relocation opportunities assess school systems to ensure employees will have access to good education for their children. A weak school system can deter investment, while a strong one can attract high-paying jobs and stimulate economic diversification.

Conclusion

The local public school system is not just an educational institution but a cornerstone of economic stability and growth. By enhancing property values, developing a skilled workforce, employing residents, reducing public costs, and attracting businesses, schools create a thriving economic ecosystem. Policymakers and community leaders must recognize that investing in education yields broad economic benefits, making it one of the most impactful ways to ensure long-term prosperity.

The following report contains those school districts that are completely or partially within the county. The school districts are sorted in a left to right order based on the number of students that are estimated to live in the county, although they may actually attend a school outside the county boundary. Except where noted all figures are for the entire disctrict population and not just that portion that are in the county.

Where available, the district's name contains a link to that district's website.
 
Lake Superior Public School District
Floodwood Public School District  
Ely Public School District  
Mountain Iron-Buhl School District  
Cloquet Public School District  
Chisholm Public School District  
Mesabi East School District  
Proctor Public School District  
St. Louis County School District  
Hermantown Public School District  
Hibbing Public School District  
Rock Ridge Public Schools  
Duluth Public School District  
Grade Span of Agency
Number of Schools
Total Classroom Teachers
Student/Teachers

    Prekindergarten
    Kindergarten
    Grade 1
    Grade 2
    Grade 3
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
PK thru 12 Students
Ungraded Students
Adult Education and Other Students
Special Ed IEP Students
Total Students

White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Native American
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Undefined or Multiple Races

Prekindergarten Teachers
Kindergarten Teachers
Elementary Teachers
Secondary Teachers
Ungraded Class Teachers
Total FTE Teachers

Elementary School Counselors
Secondary School Counselors
School Counselors
Total Counselors

School Administrators
School Administrative Support Staff
Instr. Coord. and Super. to Staff
Student Support Services Staff
Librarians/media specialists
Library/Media Support Staff
School Psychologists
Paraprofessionals/Instructional Aides
Total School Staff

LEA Administrators
LEA Administrative Support Staff
Total LEA Staff

All Other Support Staff
Total Other Staff
PK-12
27
616
14.59

291
609
620
594
613
604
606
639
557
608
680
742
714
880
8,757
0
0
233
8,990

6,793
368
85
333
279
7
892

41
28
249
179
119
616

1
18
0
19

35
31
25
109
12
0
8
233
427

49
21
95

129
129
PK-12
4
150
15.95

110
168
142
162
139
168
173
155
194
180
168
220
174
178
2,331
0
0
62
2,393

1,965
28
8
59
60
0
211

10
9
65
49
17
150

3
4
0
7

6
7
4
34
0
3
1
62
113

5
7
16

43
43
PK-12
6
139
15.97

46
172
217
143
105
140
167
162
178
176
177
166
162
186
2,197
0
0
22
2,219

1,828
55
12
81
29
3
189

8
8
70
48
5
139

0
4
0
4

7
11
2
12
2
1
1
22
57

5
2
9

17
17
PK-12
5
130
16.55

46
133
142
135
155
158
153
167
167
159
185
170
158
172
2,100
0
0
52
2,152

1,888
17
31
43
12
0
109

9
6
55
59
1
130

2
3
0
5

6
5
2
40
0
3
2
52
108

6
5
13

24
24
PK-12
9
164
12.37

99
134
137
115
150
127
139
131
147
146
153
172
157
140
1,947
0
0
82
2,029

1,521
7
5
46
163
2
203

17
9
65
58
15
164

0
3
0
3

8
8
7
48
0
2
2
82
150

4
3
14

51
51
PK-12
7
116
16.43

42
119
137
148
151
148
138
150
152
131
167
137
133
118
1,871
0
0
35
1,906

1,668
16
6
46
13
0
122

3
8
54
48
3
116

2
3
0
5

7
5
2
32
0
0
1
35
80

6
2
10

33
33
PK-12
2
63
14.29

47
59
53
60
59
75
59
64
66
69
74
67
70
49
871
0
0
29
900

774
4
2
18
27
0
46

6
3
30
23
1
63

1
1
0
2

3
2
0
8
0
0
1
29
42

2
2
4

19
19
PK-12
3
46
14.61

26
51
48
40
50
39
51
37
47
41
75
53
49
51
658
0
0
14
672

575
15
2
19
12
0
35

3
3
19
20
1
46

0
1
0
1

2
3
0
3
0
2
1
14
25

2
0
2

9
9
PK-12
8
165
16.04

91
176
180
181
134
188
181
186
204
198
223
203
220
233
2,598
0
0
48
2,646

1,826
13
15
77
288
1
378

7
10
76
69
3
165

2
6
0
8

9
13
10
67
0
4
2
48
144

7
5
22

33
33
PK-12
2
45
13.65

29
45
38
36
45
46
47
46
44
48
51
36
38
42
591
0
0
23
614

505
3
0
22
14
0
47

3
3
18
20
1
45

0
1
0
1

2
1
2
4
0
0
0
23
31

1
0
3

11
11
PK-12
3
38
14.64

4
19
30
36
42
35
35
55
61
43
48
38
51
39
536
0
0
20
556

493
1
2
6
0
0
34

2
1
16
15
4
38

1
1
0
2

2
2
1
5
1
1
0
20
30

2
2
4

12
12
PK-12
3
15
10.90

12
6
7
14
12
12
9
18
9
14
9
14
11
11
158
0
0
5
163

137
2
0
4
0
0
15

0
1
7
7
0
15

0
0
0
0

0
0
1
4
0
0
0
5
10

3
3
7

2
2
PK-12
4
86
15.46

19
73
92
91
80
78
79
97
132
119
132
103
109
96
1,300
0
0
29
1,329

1,195
10
5
24
9
0
57

2
4
36
42
2
86

1
2
0
3

5
5
1
21
1
2
0
29
63

3
4
8

21
21


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus