I have heard from residents in other school districts who are wondering where they can find information such as audited financial reports, MCA test scores, enrollment data, and other district-level information. I have included Blue Earth, Maple River, St. Clair’s and Mankato’s district schools MCA test scores that were posted October on 2025 below.
One thing I have learned is that not every district makes this information as easy to find as Mankato Area Public Schools does. MAPS provides a significant amount of public reporting directly on its website, which is helpful for families, taxpayers, and community members who want to better understand their district.
That said, some basic information for every Minnesota school district can still be found through the state website linked below.
If your district does not publicly post its Audited Financial Report, as Mankato does, I have also included a sample process at the bottom of this page for requesting that information.
Yes — here is a Minnesota-specific process you could use for a blog, handout, or constituent guide.
How to Request School District Demographic Data or an Audited Financial Report in Minnesota
In Minnesota, school districts are covered by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, which applies to school districts and gives the public the right to request government data. The law generally treats government data as public unless another state or federal law classifies it as not public. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)
1. Search your district website
Look under sections such as:
Finance, Business Office, School Board, Budget, Audit, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Demographics, Enrollment, World’s Best Workforce, Strategic Plan, or Data Dashboard.
2. Check state sources
Before filing a request with the district, check the Minnesota Department of Education.
The MDE Data Center includes public reports such as enrollment, graduation, assessment results, financial reporting, and other commonly requested district and school data. (Minnesota Department of Education) MDE’s School Finance page also says school finance reports and spreadsheets have been moved to the Data Center. (Minnesota Department of Education)
For audited financial reports, MDE states that school districts, charter schools, and educational cooperatives are required to have an annual independent financial audit and submit required audit report components to both MDE and the Office of the State Auditor. (Minnesota Department of Education)
3. Find the district’s data practices contact
Each Minnesota government entity must have a public data access policy, and that policy must be made easily available either by distributing it, posting it in an accessible place, or posting it on the website. (MN Revisor’s Office)
If you cannot find the district’s data practices contact, Minnesota’s Data Practices Office says that for school districts, the responsible authority is the superintendent or an employee appointed by the school board. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)
4. Make a written public data request
Be specific. Ask for records, not explanations. Minnesota’s Data Practices Office notes that a government entity must respond to requests to inspect or receive copies of data, but it does not have to answer general questions or create data that does not already exist. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)
For example, instead of asking:
“Why isn’t the district publishing demographic data?”
Ask:
“Please provide existing district demographic reports, enrollment reports, or demographic data files for school years 2020–21 through 2025–26, including race/ethnicity, free/reduced-price lunch, English learner, special education, grade level, and school building, if maintained by the district.”
5. Ask for public, aggregate data
For demographic information, request aggregate or de-identified data, not student-level records. Minnesota law classifies educational data about individual students as private, with limited exceptions. (MN Revisor’s Office)
Good wording would be:
“Please provide public, aggregate demographic data. I am not requesting personally identifiable student information.”
6. Ask for electronic copies
Minnesota law allows a person to inspect and copy public government data. Inspection is free, but a district may charge actual costs for copies or electronic transmission in some situations. (MN Revisor’s Office)
A practical request would say:
“Electronic copies by email are preferred. Please let me know in advance if there will be any cost.”
7. Follow up if there is no response
If you are not requesting data about yourself, the district must respond within a “reasonable amount of time.” If you do not receive a response, Minnesota’s Data Practices Office says you may contact them for assistance. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)
You can also ask the district to identify:
the responsible authority, the data practices compliance official, whether the data exists, whether any portion is being withheld, and the legal reason for withholding it.
If access is denied, Minnesota law says the responsible authority or designee must cite the specific state statute, temporary classification, or federal law supporting the denial. (MN Revisor’s Office)
Sample Data Request
Hello,
I am making a public data request under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
Please provide electronic copies of the following public data, if maintained by the district:
- The district’s most recent audited financial report, annual comprehensive financial report, management letter, and any audit presentation provided to the school board.
- Existing district demographic reports, enrollment reports, or demographic data files for the past five school years, including any available aggregate data by school year, school building, grade level, race/ethnicity, English learner status, special education status, and free/reduced-price lunch or educational benefit status.
I am requesting public, aggregate data only. I am not requesting personally identifiable student information.
Electronic copies by email are preferred. Please let me know in advance if there will be any cost to fulfill this request.
If any portion of this request is denied, please identify the specific data being withheld and cite the specific state statute, federal law, or data classification that supports the denial.
Thank you.
Elizabeth Hanke for Mankato School Board 
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