The state of Minnesota saw a 2.3 percent drop in enrollment between 2006 and 2011, but still manged to increase the K-12 teacher workforce 3.1 percent.
The largest disparity was in Minneapolis, where enrollment fell 9.4 percent during that five-year period, but the number of teachers grew 6.4 percent.
Enrollment decreased significantly in every one of the state’s five largest school districts, but South Washington County, Rochester and Elk River – ranked 6th through 8th – all defied the trend.
Spending patterns among school districts were typical, with one notable exception. As with most states, the large urban districts spent much more per-pupil than other districts. In Minnesota, expenditures for both Minneapolis and St. Paul were more than $3,000 per-pupil higher than the state average.