Public schools in Thief River Falls, MN
5 open public schools with an address in Thief River Falls, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,725
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.3:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Thief River Falls public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Thief River Falls, MN: 1 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,725 students, an average of 345 per school. The largest campus is Challenger Elementary (727 students).
Every listed school belongs to Thief River Falls School District. 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 15.3:1, higher 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.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 39% 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 Thief River Falls
Elementary schools in Thief River Falls
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Challenger Elementary Thief River Falls School District | PK–05 | 727 | 13.3:1 |
Middle schools in Thief River Falls
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Middle Thief River Falls School District | 06–08 | 454 | 17.5:1 |
High schools in Thief River Falls
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Senior High Thief River Falls School District | 09–12 | 521 | 15.9:1 | |
| Northwest Area Learning Center Thief River Falls School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 23 | 14.6:1 | |
| Summer NW Area Learning Center Thief River Falls School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White80.7%
- Hispanic9.2%
- Black0.2%
- Asian0.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial7%
Enrollment-weighted across 4 Thief River Falls schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,725 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Thief River Falls
How many public schools are in Thief River Falls, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Thief River Falls: 1 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. Together they reported 1,725 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Thief River Falls?
All listed public schools with an address in Thief River Falls belong to Thief River Falls School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Thief River Falls?
Lincoln Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Thief River Falls, with 521 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Thief River Falls?
No school with an address in Thief River Falls is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Minnesota.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Thief River Falls schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Thief River Falls public schools is 15.3:1, higher 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 Thief River Falls 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