These Are The Most, Least 'Equitable' MN School Districts: Report

MINNESOTA — A new study investigates funding disparities between school districts across Minnesota and the nation.

Minnesota has the seventh most equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts are better funded than others, the report from WalletHub notes.

In order to find out where school funding is distributed the most fairly, WalletHub scored 328 districts in Minnesota based on two metrics:

• Average household income
• Expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil

In the study, school districts scored a better score if their income and per-pupil funding were closer to the state average.

Districts scored worse the further away (either much higher or much lower)from the state average.

"If we make sure that every school district has equitable funding, students in less affluent communities will have a level playing field with students in wealthy districts. As a result, their graduation rates will increase, as will their likelihood to pursue higher education and earn larger incomes," said Jill Gonzalez, a WalletHub analyst.

"College graduates have $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree."

These are the most equitable school districts in Minnesota, according to the study:

1. Rothsay Public School District

2. Alden-Conger Public School District

3. LeRoy-Ostrander Public Schools

4. Goodhue Public School District

5. Lancaster Public School District

6. Spring Lake Park Public Schools

7. South St. Paul Public School District

8. Brooklyn Center School District

9. Comfrey Public School District

10. Annandale Public School District

These are the least equitable school districts in Minnesota, the report found:

319. Milroy Public School District

320. Mahtomedi Public School District

321. Norman County West School District

322. Eden Prairie Public School District

323. Lakeville Public School District

324. Minnetonka Public School District

325. Wayzata Public School District

326. Edina Public School District

327. Orono Public School District

328. Nett Lake Public School District

Read the full study here.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article was edited for clarity