Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

Summary:

Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center is a small public high school serving grades 9-12 in the Detroit Lakes Public School District, with a diverse student population that includes a significant Native American representation.

Despite its small size, the school has struggled academically, consistently ranking among the lowest-performing high schools in Minnesota. Its students perform significantly below district and state averages on standardized tests, and the school has a high dropout rate and low graduation rate, hovering around 40-60% compared to the 87.3% rate at the nearby Detroit Lakes Senior High. Additionally, a large majority of the students, around 70%, come from low-income families, which is much higher than the 36.88% at Detroit Lakes Senior High.

The performance gaps between Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center and surrounding schools, both within the district and in other nearby districts like Lake Park Audubon Secondary and Frazee Secondary, are quite stark. The school's struggles are particularly pronounced for its low socioeconomic status students, who rank 367th out of 389 Minnesota high schools in this category. Despite its proximity to the higher-performing Detroit Lakes Senior High, Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center has not been able to leverage this advantage to improve its own outcomes, suggesting that factors beyond just district affiliation, such as school culture, resources, and targeted interventions, play a crucial role in student success.

Detail:

Public 9-12

900 Highway 34 E
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-8888

(218) 844-5687

District: Detroit Lakes Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
453^rd of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $26,262

Student/teacher ratio: 8.8

Number of students: 56

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.3%

American Indian:

30.4%

Two or more races:

3.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 66.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center ranks worse than 94.4% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 5.92. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (64.3%), American Indian (30.4%), two or more races (3.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 66.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Detroit Lakes Public School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center is 8.8, which is the 2^nd best among 2 high schools in the Detroit Lakes Public School District. (See more...)

Compare Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center employs 6.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center is $26,262, which is the highest among 5 high schools in the Detroit Lakes Public School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center:

SchoolDigger ranks Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center 453^rd of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Detroit Lakes Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Detroit Lakes Public School District 187^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

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Rank History for all students at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2004	1.98	421^st	433	2.8%
2005	8.62	415^th	452	8.2%
2007	6.47	442^nd	463	4.5%
2009	3.02	232^nd	234	0.9%
2010	12.09	434^th	540	19.6%
2011	6.81	490^th	545	10.1%
2012	10.99	449^th	539	16.7%
2014	6.24	438^th	483	9.3%
2015	5.78	461^st	504	8.5%
2019	5.59	465^th	492	5.5%
2021	3.93	411^th	428	4.0%
2022	9.92	424^th	472	10.2%
2023	12.25	416^th	476	12.6%
2024	5.92	453^rd	480	5.6%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2021	2.83	268^th	270	0.7%
2023	16.10	353^rd	393	10.2%
2024	9.84	367^th	389	5.7%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	6.36	372^nd	396	6.1%
2024	3.55	393^rd	403	2.5%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	14.36	357^th	398	10.3%
2024	8.12	380^th	405	6.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	7.60	381^st	398	4.3%
2024	2.11	394^th	402	2.0%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2002	31	1	0	0	20	n/a	n/a	52
2003	31	1	0	0	20	n/a	n/a	52
2004	34	0	0	2	15	n/a	n/a	51
2005	19	1	0	2	11	n/a	n/a	33
2006	39	1	0	1	20	n/a	n/a	61
2007	26	1	0	3	10	n/a	n/a	40
2008	23	0	0	2	12	n/a	n/a	37
2009	23	0	0	0	9	n/a	n/a	32
2010	5	0	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	6
2011	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012	6	0	0	0	4	0	1	11
2013	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
2014	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2015	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2
2016	1	0	0	0	2	0	1	4
2017	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
2018	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2
2019	24	0	1	2	13	0	4	44
2020	27	0	0	2	18	0	7	54
2021	28	0	1	1	23	0	0	53
2022	34	0	1	1	17	0	2	55
2023	36	0	0	1	21	0	4	62
2024	36	1	0	0	17	0	2	56

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	52	3.8	13.7	69.2
2003	52	3.8	13.7	69.2
2004	51	5.4	9.4	58.8
2005	33	7.8	4.2	51.5
2006	61	7.0	8.7	21.3
2007	40	6.8	5.9	65
2008	37	7.4	5.0	81.1
2009	32	6.1	5.2	59.4
2010	6	6.6	0.9	50
2011	0	7.8	n/a	n/a
2012	11	7.8	1.4	72.7
2013	3	7.9	0.3	0
2014	1	7.4	0.1	0
2015	2	7.0	0.2	n/a
2016	4	8.0	0.5	n/a
2017	4	8.6	0.4	n/a
2018	2	8.0	0.2	n/a
2019	44	6.0	7.2	56.8
2020	54	6.3	8.4	74.1
2021	53	5.8	9.1	69.8
2022	55	6.1	8.9	45.5
2023	62	5.6	10.9	72.6
2024	56	6.3	8.8	66.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	52	3.8	13.7	69.2
2003	52	3.8	13.7	69.2
2004	51	5.4	9.4	58.8
2005	33	7.8	4.2	51.5
2006	61	7.0	8.7	21.3
2007	40	6.8	5.9	65
2008	37	7.4	5.0	81.1
2009	32	6.1	5.2	59.4
2010	6	6.6	0.9	50
2011	0	7.8	n/a	n/a
2012	11	7.8	1.4	72.7
2013	3	7.9	0.3	0
2014	1	7.4	0.1	0
2015	2	7.0	0.2	n/a
2016	4	8.0	0.5	n/a
2017	4	8.6	0.4	n/a
2018	2	8.0	0.2	n/a
2019	44	6.0	7.2	56.8
2020	54	6.3	8.4	74.1
2021	53	5.8	9.1	69.8
2022	55	6.1	8.9	45.5
2023	62	5.6	10.9	72.6
2024	56	6.3	8.8	66.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$26,262

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 465^th of 492 High schools	Ranks 416^th of 476 High schools	7.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade Reading (Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center)	14.3	20.8	6.5%
10th Grade Reading (Detroit Lakes Public School District)	69.4	50	19.4%
10th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	60.4	51.7	8.7%
11th Grade Math (Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center)	0	10	10%
11th Grade Math (Detroit Lakes Public School District)	64.5	48.6	15.9%
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36	9%
End of Course Science (Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center)	18.2	16	2.2%
End of Course Science (Detroit Lakes Public School District)	68.8	47.8	21%
End of Course Science (Minnesota)	54.4	41.8	12.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	44	62	40.9%
African American	0	0
American Indian	13	21	61.5%
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	2	1	50%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	24	36	50%
Two or More Races	4	4
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	56.8%	72.6%	15.8%

Schools Near Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)				MCA-III Reading (2024)				MCA-III Science (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science End of Course	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center	Public	9-12	900 Highway 34 E	Detroit Lakes	56501	Becker County	Detroit Lakes Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 844-5687	56	6	8.8	66.1%	36 (64.3%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (30.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.6%)	5.9	453^rd of 480 public high schools	5.6%		12.2	416^th of 476 public high schools	12.6%	37			4.0	4.0			6.7	6.7		4.6	4.6	$26,262
Detroit Lakes Alternative Program	Public	9-12	900 Highway 34 E	Detroit Lakes	56501	Becker County	Detroit Lakes Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 844-5687	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Laker Transitions	Public	12	1104 West River Road	Detroit Lakes	56501	Becker County	Detroit Lakes Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 844-4760	11	3	3.7	72.7%	7 (63.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (27.3%)	1 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Afterschool Program	Public	9-12	702 Lake Ave	Detroit Lakes	56501	Becker County	Detroit Lakes Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 844-5687	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)												$3,151
High School Extended Year Program	Public	9-12	702 Lake Ave	Detroit Lakes	56501	Becker County	Detroit Lakes Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 844-5687	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)												$4,097
E-Laker Online School	Public, Virtual	9-12	702 Lake Avenue	Detroit Lakes	56501	Becker County	Detroit Lakes Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(218) 844-4761	14	1	13.2	50.0%	7 (50.0%)	1 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (35.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (7.1%)								(n/a)
Detroit Lakes Senior High	Public	9-12	1301 Roosevelt Ave	Detroit Lakes	56501	Becker County	Detroit Lakes Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 847-4491	851	54	15.6	37.7%	652 (76.6%)	8 (0.9%)	24 (2.8%)	6 (0.7%)	129 (15.2%)	1 (0.1%)	31 (3.6%)	77.8	87^th of 480 public high schools	81.9%		79.9	77^th of 476 public high schools	83.8%	10			43.7	43.7			60.3	60.3		46.6	46.6	$13,724
Frazee Secondary	Public	7-12	305 N Lake St	Frazee	56544	Becker County	Frazee-Vergas Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 334-3181	388	23	16.5	43.8%	325 (83.8%)	2 (0.5%)	12 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.2%)	23.2	379^th of 480 public high schools	21.0%		43.8	284^th of 476 public high schools	40.3%	95	13.1	34.9	20.0	21.6	26.2	41.3	27.5	31.0	31.9	25.0	28.3	$12,823
Lake Park Audubon Secondary	Public	7-12	611 Vigen Rd	Lake Park	56554	Becker County	Lake Park Audubon School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 325-0754	349	23	15.2	37.2%	305 (87.4%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (2.0%)	3 (0.9%)	14 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.4%)	56	230^th of 480 public high schools	52.1%		34.8	338^th of 476 public high schools	29.0%	108	17.5	7.1	20.0	14.0	44.4	25.7	55.6	40.6	10.0	40.4	23.0	$11,349

Frequently Asked Questions about Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center

What district is Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center in?

Detroit Lakes Public School District

What is the racial makeup of Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center?

Students at Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center are 64% White, 30% American Indian, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center a good school?

Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center ranks in the bottom 5.6% of Minnesota high schools.

How many students attend Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center?

In the 2023-24 school year, 56 students attended Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center.

Rate Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center!

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Schools in Detroit Lakes, MN

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.