North Branch Area Middle School, North Branch MN

Original Research by School Decision on North Branch Area Middle School

North Branch Area Middle School serves sixth through eighth graders in the North Branch Area Public Schools district, a regular public school located in the small city of North Branch at the junction of Interstate 35 and Minnesota State Highway 95. The school draws from a community that is a mix of residential subdivisions and rural lots, with many adults commuting south toward the Twin Cities metro for work. Housing here is moderately priced relative to the broader region, and the city has seen steady population growth tied to its corridor location.

Academically, the school’s state assessment results place it in the bottom quarter relative to districts in Chisago County. Math proficiency rates across the three grades are below the county midpoint, and reading proficiency shows a clear grade-level drop: sixth graders post a stronger showing, but seventh and eighth graders score lower. Science proficiency for eighth graders, the only grade tested in that subject, is very low. Only one year of assessment data is available, so it is not possible to see a trend. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate or college-going data to consider.

The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Slightly more than a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of moderate economic diversity. No data on special education or English learner populations was reported, and information on discipline, attendance, and staffing is also absent from the available record.

North Branch is growing, and the district recently secured new operating levy funding approved by voters in 2024. That levy provides additional annual revenue for class sizes, student support services, and mental health resources, and it replaces a levy that was set to expire. District-wide, the system has also moved to evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with Minnesota’s READ Act, though that shift primarily affects elementary reading instruction rather than the middle school directly.

For a family considering this school, the academic profile is the most important consideration. Proficiency rates lag behind many other middle schools in the county, and the downward trajectory in reading between sixth and eighth grade is something a parent may want to discuss with the school. On the positive side, the newly approved levy suggests the district has community backing to invest in support services and keep class sizes manageable. The town itself offers a relatively affordable, family-oriented setting with parks, trails, and a short commute to the metro for those who work there. The school’s size is moderate for a middle school, and its demographic makeup reflects the broader community. Without data on advanced coursework, extracurriculars, or student discipline, it is difficult to assess the full student experience beyond test scores. A parent would likely want to visit, speak with teachers and current families, and ask about how the school supports students who are not yet proficient, especially as they move toward high school.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 630%

School 30% · District 29%

▲ 2 pts above state median

Grade 733%

School 33% · District 32% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median

Grade 824%

School 24% · District 25%

▼ 1 pts below state median

English language arts

Grade 658%

School 58% · District 57% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median

Grade 742%

School 42% · District 42%

▲ 6 pts above state median

Grade 836%

School 36% · District 36%

▲ 1 pts above state median

Science

Grade 811%

School 11% · District 11%

▼ 1 pts below state median

This schoolNorth Branch Area Public Schools, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income46%Higher-income73%27 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income45%Higher-income63%18 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income30%Higher-income48%19 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income32%Higher-income38%6 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income33%Higher-income55%22 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income18%Higher-income34%16 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income25%Higher-income37%13 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income21%Higher-income26%5 pp gap