Public School Review - Established 2003

Best St. Louis County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 36 public middle schools serving 8,371 students in St. Louis County, MN.
The top-ranked public middle schools in St. Louis County, MN are Lincoln Middle School, Hermantown Middle School and Ordean East Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
St. Louis County, MN public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the Minnesota public middle school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 49% statewide average). Middle schools in St. Louis County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Minnesota public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority American Indian and Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public middle school average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Middle Schools in St. Louis County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lincoln Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1114 E 23rd St
Hibbing, MN 55746
(218) 208-0842
Gr: 4-7 | 647 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #22.
Hermantown Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4335 Hawk Circle Drive
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 729-6690
Gr: 5-8 | 677 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #33.
Ordean East Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2900 E 4th St
Duluth, MN 55812
(218) 336-8940
Gr: 6-8 | 1,037 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #44.
Arrowhead Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1918 Arlington Ave N
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 625-6766
Gr: 4-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #55.
Nlc 6076 Alc Program
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1201 S 13th Ave
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 741-9201
Gr: 7-12 | 48 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #66.
Memorial Middle School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
600 E Harvey St
Ely, MN 55731
(218) 365-6166
Gr: 6-8 | 146 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #77.
Hibbing High School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
800 E 21st St
Hibbing, MN 55746
(218) 208-0841
Gr: 8-12 | 829 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #88.
Mountain Iron-buhl Secondary
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
8659 Unity Drive
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
(218) 735-8271
Gr: 7-12 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #99.
Rockridge Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
4849 Ivanhoe St
Duluth, MN 55804
(218) 336-8955
Gr: K-12 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1010.
Rock Ridge High School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1403 Progress Pkwy
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 735-3500
Gr: 7-12 | 1,048 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1111.
North Star Academy
Charter School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3301 Technology Dr
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 728-9556
Gr: PK-8 | 572 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1212.
A.i. Jedlicka Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
131 9th Ave
Duluth, MN 55810
(218) 628-4926
Gr: 6-8 | 450 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #1313.
Cherry Secondary
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3943 Tamminen Rd
Iron, MN 55751
(218) 258-8991
Gr: 7-12 | 273 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1414.
Duluth Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
11 E Superior St, Ste 450
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 336-8756
Gr: 6-12 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Mesabi East Secondary
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
601 N 1st St W
Aurora, MN 55705
(218) 229-3321
Gr: 7-12 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
South Ridge Secondary
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
8162 Swan Lake Rd
Saginaw, MN 55779
(218) 345-6789
Gr: 7-12 | 258 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1717.
North Woods Secondary
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
10248 Olson Rd E
Cook, MN 55723
(218) 666-5221
Gr: 7-12 | 245 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1818.
Northeast Range Secondary
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
30 South Dr
Babbitt, MN 55706
(218) 827-3101
Gr: 7-12 | 114 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1919.
Lincoln Park Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3215 W 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55806
(218) 336-8880
Gr: 6-8 | 606 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #2020.
Chisholm Secondary
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
301 4th St Sw
Chisholm, MN 55719
(218) 254-5726
Gr: 7-12 | 291 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #2121.
Chester Creek Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
714 1/2 W College St
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 216-8325
Gr: K-12 | 31 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2222.
Floodwood Secondary
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
115 4th Ave W
Floodwood, MN 55736
(218) 476-2285
Gr: 7-12 | 80 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #2323.
Vermilion Country School
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1 Enterprise Dr
Tower, MN 55790
(218) 753-1246
Gr: 7-12 | 50 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #2424.
Nlc 6076 Special Education Program
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1201 S 13th Ave
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 741-9201
Gr: PK-12 | 64 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #2525.
Merritt Creek Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4000 W 9th St
Duluth, MN 55807
(218) 625-2689
Gr: K-12 | 75 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: n/an/a
Academic Excellence Online
11 E Superior St, Ste 450
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 336-8766
Gr: 6-12 | 54 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: n/an/a
Alc Sws Lincoln Park
Alternative School
3215 W 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55806
(218) 336-8756
Gr: 6-8 | 65 students Student-teacher ratio: 65:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: n/an/a
Alc Sws Ordean East
Alternative School
2900 E 4th St
Duluth, MN 55812
(218) 336-8756
Gr: 6-8 | 47 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: n/an/a
Bethany Crisis Shelter
Alternative School
4849 Ivanhoe St
Duluth, MN 55804
(218) 336-8955
Gr: K-12 | 2 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: n/an/a
Int'l Falls Isd 361 Alc Program
Alternative School
1001 5th St
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 741-9201
Gr: 6-12 | 26 students Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: n/an/a
Laurentian Environmental Center
Alternative School
8950 Peppard Rd
Britt, MN 55710
(888) 749-1288
Gr: 7-12
Rank: n/an/a
N.e. Regional Correction Cntr.
Alternative School
6102 Abramson Rd
Saginaw, MN 55779
(218) 729-8673
Gr: 8-12
Rank: n/an/a
Northeast Service Cooperative Oll
5525 Emerald Ave
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
(218) 741-0750
Gr: 7-12
Rank: n/an/a
Rock Ridge High School Alp
Alternative School
1405 Progress Pkwy
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 735-3510
Gr: 7-12 | 27 students Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: n/an/a
Special Ed. N.p.
Special Education School
709 Portia Johnson Dr
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 336-8740
Gr: PK-12 | 25 students Minority enrollment: 4%
Show 1 more public schools in St. Louis County, MN (out of 36 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in St. Louis County, MN?
The top-ranked public middle schools in St. Louis County, MN include Lincoln Middle School, Hermantown Middle School and Ordean East Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in St. Louis County?
33 public middle schools are located in St. Louis County.
What is the racial composition of students in St. Louis County?
St. Louis County public middle schools minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority American Indian and Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public middle schools average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in St. Louis County are often viewed compared to one another?

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