The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Isd 361 - Alc Program
ISD 361 - ALC Program is an alternative school serving grades six through twelve in International Falls, Minnesota, operating as part of the Northland Learning Center cooperative. The school’s enrollment is small, with students concentrated in the upper high school grades; the majority of enrolled students are in eleventh and twelfth grade, while the lower grades each have very few or no students. The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of American Indian or Alaska Native students and a very small share of two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is an alternative setting, which often means it serves students who need a different learning environment than a traditional school provides, and this context matters for understanding the academic results described below.
State testing data for math and English language arts show a zero percent proficiency rate for the grade eight students who were tested, though it is important to note that the school’s eighth-grade enrollment was reported as zero, meaning these results may reflect a very small number of test-takers from a different grade band or a reporting nuance. Science assessment results for the same grade level were suppressed due to an extremely small testing population. With only a single year of testing data available, there is no trend to examine. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how student progress is measured and what alternative academic benchmarks are used, given that the school’s population and mission differ sharply from a comprehensive middle or high school.
The four-year graduation rate was not reported, which is not uncommon for alternative programs that follow individualized timelines for completion. Chronic absenteeism data were also absent. Civil rights topics such as discipline, course access, and staffing were not available in the data provided.
International Falls is a small border city on the Rainy River opposite Fort Frances, Ontario. Its economy has long centered on the paper and wood products industry, with the Packaging Corporation of America mill as the dominant employer, though the mill saw major layoffs in recent years. Tourism related to Voyageurs National Park, Rainy Lake, and cold-weather recreation provides a secondary economic base. The city is extremely cold in winter, giving it the nickname “Icebox of the Nation.” The population has declined over the past two decades, and no major new housing or commercial developments were identified in available sources. Housing values are low relative to state and national benchmarks, which may make the area more affordable for families. The community has modest civic anchors including a public library, a county courthouse, a community college, Smokey Bear Park, and a small airport with daily commercial flights to the Twin Cities.
The school is part of the Northland Learning Center, a nine-member district cooperative serving special education and alternative learning programs across the Iron Range. A new single-story building was approved in late 2024 with funding from the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board, with groundbreaking expected in spring 2025 and an opening targeted for the 2026-27 school year. This facility will consolidate services that are currently spread across multiple sites.
The school’s proficiency index, based on the limited state testing data available, places it in the bottom quartile relative to the three districts in Koochiching County. Given the alternative school context, this comparison may be less meaningful than it is for traditional schools. A family considering this program would want to speak directly with school staff about the academic pathways, credit recovery options, and individualized supports available, as those are the defining features of an alternative learning center, not its standardized test results.
See more original research from School Decision →