Bemidji Public School District reports enrollment dip, mixed test results and FastBridge growth
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Summary
District staff presented 2024–25 assessment results: October 1 enrollment fell to 4,722; district math proficiency was 46% (state 45.7) while reading lagged at 47.7% (state 50.2); graduation rate for the district was 74.8% versus the state 84.2%; FastBridge showed fall-to-spring growth. Science MCA results remain pending.
Colleen, a district staff member, presented the Bemidji Public School District’s 2024–25 assessment and enrollment data at the Sept. 15 board meeting.
Colleen reported October 1, 2024 enrollment of 4,722 students, down from 4,812 the previous year. She said the district’s overall math proficiency on the MCA was 46% compared with the state’s 45.7%, while reading proficiency was 47.7% compared with the state at 50.2%.
By subgroup, Colleen said special education enrollment was 23.1% of the district, free- and reduced-price meal eligibility was 42.5%, and the district’s homeless population rose to 2.5% from 1.6% the prior year. She highlighted that Horace May, Lincoln and Northern elementary schools were notably above the state in math and reading proficiency in multiple cases.
Colleen also reviewed FastBridge growth measures, saying the district reduced the number of students in a high-risk skill range and increased the number in solid skill ranges for both reading and math across schools. She said each school will use these data to build action plans and continue a Tier 1 focus on standards-aligned instruction.
MCA science results are still pending and have been delayed, Colleen said, so the district will incorporate those results when they are released. On graduation, the districtwide rate combining Bemidji High School, Lumberjack High, First City and AEC stood at 74.8% versus the statewide 84.2%; isolating Bemidji High School, the rate was 80.6%.
Board members praised staff work and asked questions about next steps; Colleen emphasized continuing professional development and building-level plans to support student growth.
