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The largest number of students in Rice County districts were white in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Of the 7,650 students attending Rice County district schools, 58.6% were white. Hispanic students made up the second largest ethnic group among Rice County districts' students (22%).

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Rice County districts, representing 60.3% of the student body.

Faribault Public School District had the most diverse student body in the county, including white, Hispanic, Black, multiracial, American Indian, Asian and Other Indigenous Peoples.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in school districts in the county dropped 1.5% compared to the previous year.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Rice County.

According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Minnesota's fourth graders scored 241 in math, just above the national average of 237. Their reading score of 216 was on par with the U.S. average, but shows a slight decline over recent years. Eighth graders scored 284 in math and 264 in reading, both above the national averages. 

However, despite these results, both grade levels remain below pre-pandemic levels in math and reading.

As of 2024, according to Public School Review, the student-to-teacher ratio in Minnesota's public schools stands at 1:16, slightly worse than the national average of 1:15. This is part of a larger framework within Minnesota's educational system, which is the 10th largest in the United States, accommodating over 869,000 students across 2,709 public schools.

District	Most Prevalent Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Northfield Public School District	White	75.2%	3,875
Faribault Public School District	White	36.3%	3,107
Cannon River STEM School	White	65.8%	234
Minnesota State Academies	White	63.9%	122
Arcadia Charter School	White	79%	100
Nerstrand Charter School	White	92.9%	98
Surad Academy	Black	100%	66
Discovery Public School of Faribault	White	72.9%	48