Below Average
#1714 of 1,992 schools in MN
J.w. Smith Elementary
Elementary School · Bemidji Public School District · Bemidji, MN
A Bemidji Public School District elementary school where students score 17 points above what's typical for similar communities.
502 MINNESOTA AVE NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
- Math 45% proficient (2022)
- Reading 35% proficient (2022)
- 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at J.w. Smith Elementary score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MN average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 40% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
83.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where J.w. Smith Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 60Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 53Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,419/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Bemidji), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$69,782
Median home value
$242,400
Median rent
$1,033/mo
College educated
37.8%
Homeownership
66.9%
Poverty rate
13.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 56601; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Philip's SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.8private | PK–8 | 0.8 mi | 377 | Compare → |
| First City SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | 3–12 | 1.1 mi | 42 | Compare → |
| Aurora Waasakone Community of LearnCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.7 | K–8 | 1.2 mi | 141 | Compare → |
| Bemidji Regional Interdist. CouncilEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | PK | 1.4 mi | 24 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Bemidji Public School District
- Schools in district
- 15
- Rank in district
- #11 of 11
- District spending per student
- $15,202NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
J.w. Smith Elementary is listed in BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About J.w. Smith Elementary
J.w. Smith Elementary is a public elementary school in Bemidji, MN, part of Bemidji Public School District, serving approximately 258 students in grades Pre-K-3rd with a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,714 of 1,992 schools in MN.
State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about J.w. Smith Elementary
What grades does J.w. Smith Elementary serve?
J.w. Smith Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 3rd.
How many students attend J.w. Smith Elementary?
J.w. Smith Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 258 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J.w. Smith Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at J.w. Smith Elementary is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does J.w. Smith Elementary rank in MN?
J.w. Smith Elementary ranks #1,714 of 1,992 schools in MN.
What is J.w. Smith Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
J.w. Smith Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at J.w. Smith Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, J.w. Smith Elementary has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is J.w. Smith Elementary a charter school?
No, J.w. Smith Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is J.w. Smith Elementary a Title I school?
No, J.w. Smith Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for J.w. Smith Elementary?
83.7% of students at J.w. Smith Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 3rd
- Enrollment
- 258
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Beltrami County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.8%
- Phone
- (218) 333-3290
- Area population (ZIP 56601)
- 34,700
- Area average commute
- 19.5 min
- Area median age
- 36
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 56601; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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