St. Paul Kids Get 9x More Fed Dollars Than Wayzata Kids: Rankings

ST. PAUL, MN — Federal dollars make up a far bigger share of the budget in St. Paul Public Schools than in most other large Minnesota districts, according to a USAFacts analysis of 2022-23 school finance data.

The gap between districts largely tracks with student poverty levels and demographics, since many federal education dollars are tied to programs like Title I and special education funding.

St. Paul received 21.2 percent of its funding from federal sources that year, the highest share among Minnesota's 10 largest school districts, USAFacts found.

That worked out to $5,580 per student, also the highest total in the group.

Wayzata Public Schools sat at the opposite end. Federal funding accounted for just 3.3 percent of its budget, or $629 per student, the lowest share and lowest total among the state's 10 largest districts.

St. Paul's per-student federal funding was roughly nine times higher than Wayzata's.

Minneapolis Public Schools ranked second among the 10 largest districts, with federal money making up 17.7 percent of its budget, according to the analysis.

The remaining large districts fell well below St. Paul and Minneapolis. Osseo received 9.3 percent of its funding from federal sources, followed by Rochester at 9.2 percent, Anoka-Hennepin at 7.9 percent, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan at 6.1 percent, South Washington County at 4.7 percent, Elk River at 4.5 percent and Lakeville at 3.9 percent.

Statewide, federal funding made up about 10.1 percent of Minnesota's public school revenue in 2022-23, below the national average of 12.9 percent, USAFacts found.

Minnesota's 10 largest school districts by share of budget funded with federal dollars:

• St. Paul Public Schools — 21.2% ($5,580/student)
• Minneapolis Public Schools — 17.7% ($4,822/student)
• Osseo Public Schools — 9.3% ($1,773/student)
• Rochester Public Schools — 9.2% ($1,658/student)
• Anoka-Hennepin Public Schools — 7.9% ($1,335/student)
• Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools — 6.1% ($1,059/student)
• South Washington County Schools — 4.7% ($850/student)
• Elk River Public Schools — 4.5% ($755/student)
• Lakeville Public Schools — 3.9% ($709/student)
• Wayzata Public Schools — 3.3% ($629/student)