Public schools in Brainerd, MN
11 open public schools with an address in Brainerd, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
11
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,433
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.1:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Brainerd public schools
The federal directory lists 11 public schools in Brainerd, MN: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,433 students, an average of 343 per school. The largest campus is Brainerd Senior High (1,805 students), and the largest elementary school is Riverside Elementary (407).
Brainerd Public School District operates the most schools here (10), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.1:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 42% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Brainerd
Elementary schools in Brainerd
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery Woods Discovery Woods · Charter | PK–06 | 101 | 8.9:1 | |
| Garfield Elementary Brainerd Public School District | PK–04 | 250 | 12.1:1 | |
| Harrison Elementary Brainerd Public School District | PK–04 | 230 | 12.1:1 | |
| Lowell Elementary Brainerd Public School District | KG–04 | 355 | 13.9:1 | |
| Riverside Elementary Brainerd Public School District | PK–04 | 407 | 10.2:1 |
Middle schools in Brainerd
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Level Alternative Program Brainerd Public School District · Alternative School | 05–08 | 14 | 7:1 |
High schools in Brainerd
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brainerd Online School Brainerd Public School District | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Brainerd Senior High Brainerd Public School District | 09–12 | 1,805 | 20:1 | |
| ISD 181 Learning Center Brainerd Public School District · Alternative School | 08–12 | 166 | 14.9:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Brainerd
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Ed Center Summer C&T Brainerd Public School District · Alternative School | 02–12 | — | — | |
| Lincoln Education Center Brainerd Public School District · Alternative School | 03–12 | 105 | 6.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White86.8%
- Hispanic3%
- Black1.1%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Brainerd schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,433 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Brainerd
How many public schools are in Brainerd, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 11 open public schools with a location address in Brainerd: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 3,433 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Brainerd?
Schools with an address in Brainerd belong to 2 education agencies, led by Brainerd Public School District (10 schools), Discovery Woods (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Brainerd?
Brainerd Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Brainerd, with 1,805 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Brainerd?
Yes. 1 of the 11 public schools in Brainerd are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Discovery Woods. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Brainerd schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Brainerd public schools is 12.1:1, lower than the Minnesota school median of 13.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Brainerd guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Minnesota cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Minnesota cities