Grand Rapids Public School District

Independent School District 318 is a public school district located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, serving approximately 4,200 K-12 students across a large 1,948 square mile area in Itasca County. The district encompasses the communities of Bovey, Cohasset, Coleraine, and Grand Rapids, with a demographic composition that includes 15% students of color or American Indian, nearly 40% eligible for free or reduced-price meals, and 19% receiving special education services. As a registered U.S. government entity focused on local education, the district primarily receives federal grant awards that support targeted educational programming, with a particular emphasis on serving Native American students and addressing community-focused educational initiatives.

The district has consistently received federal grants, most notably Indian Education Formula Grants from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, which provide annual funding ranging from $113,716 to $119,584 to support comprehensive educational programs for American Indian and Alaska Native students. These grants fund academic instruction, cultural programming, teacher professional development, and targeted student support services designed to help Native American students meet academic standards while preserving their cultural heritage. Additionally, Independent School District 318 has been awarded a five-year Drug-Free Communities Support Program cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, focusing on addressing youth substance use in the Grand Rapids area. The district also receives numerous sub-awards from the Minnesota Department of Education, including emergency relief funds, fresh fruit and vegetable program claims, and other state-level educational support grants, demonstrating its multi-faceted approach to educational programming and community development.