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Education in Minnesota facts for kids

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Education in the US State of Minnesota comes from a number of public and private sources and encompasses pre-Kindergarten to post-secondary levels. Minnesota has a literate and well-educated population; the state ranked 13th on the 2006–07 Morgan Quitno Smartest State Award, and is first in the percentage of residents with at least a high school diploma. But while more than 90% of high school seniors graduated in 2006, about 6% of white, 28% of African American, 30% of Asian American and more than 34% of Hispanic and Native American students dropped out of school. In 2007 Minnesota students earned the highest average score in the nation on the ACT exam. While Minnesota has chosen not to implement school vouchers, it is home to the first charter school, the City Academy High School of Saint Paul.

The state supports two public university and college systems, including 37 institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, and five major campuses of the University of Minnesota. It is also home to more than 20 private colleges and universities, six of which rank among the nation's top 100 liberal arts colleges, according to U.S. News & World Report.

K-12

Public education in Minnesota is administered by School Districts and falls under the umbrella of the Minnesota Department of Education. Most School districts in the state are designated as "independent" and derive their authority from the Minnesota Legislature.

49 Minnesota high schools were ranked by Newsweek in their 2013 list of the best 1000 public high schools in America Edina High School was the top ranked Minnesota school and was 121st in the nation with a 99% graduation rate, 0.9 average AP/IB test score, and 96% college-bound rate.

Standardized testing proficiency

All students

Year Proficient in math  % proficient Proficient in reading  % proficient
2014 258,925 61 249,450 59
2013 256,059 61 242,736 58
2012 259,212 62 315,818 76
2011 234,813 57 309,555 75
2010 266,666 66 303,406 72
2009 256,009 64 300,881 72
2007 248,291 62 297,177 71
2007 240,378 61 288,105 68
2006 244,143 58 289,616 72
2005 171,068 71 182,787 79
2004 171,068 71 182,787 74
2003 87,052 73 89,083 75

Source

Public school student

Year Proficient in math  % proficient Proficient in reading  % proficient
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003

Federal involvement

Minnesota schools adhere to federal guidelines like those outlined in No Child Left Behind.

The United States Congress provides 6% of operating revenue for K-12 education in the state.

Higher education

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