Can I use Benton County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Benton County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Benton County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Benton County?

Start with the 15 listed public schools and 3 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Benton County Schools & Education

Name: Benton County, Minnesota Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Benton County, Minnesota

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

52/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

88.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

88.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,908

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

52/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#43

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Benton County

Measured School Summary

Benton County performs at an average level with a school score of 52/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.4%.

Funding Context

At $7,908 per pupil, Benton County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 6% below the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Benton County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

15 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

52/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #43 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

88.4%

1.8 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,908

$555 below the state average

School coverage

3 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Benton County has 15 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Benton County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Benton County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#43

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 3 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

4,423 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 2

7 listed schools in this county slice.

FOLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,925 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Benton-Stearns Education District

High school only in this slice

34 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 2Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 7 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Benton County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Benton County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Benton County, Minnesota

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Benton County's Focused Three-District System

Just three districts manage the education of 6,778 students across 15 public schools in Benton County. The landscape includes five elementary schools, two middle schools, and six high schools, primarily concentrated in suburban and rural pockets.

Strong Graduation Rates with Lean Spending

Benton County achieves an impressive 88.4% graduation rate, outperforming both the state and national averages. This success comes despite a leaner per-pupil expenditure of $7,908, which is lower than the Minnesota average of $8,463.

Sauk Rapids-Rice Leads Enrollment

The Sauk Rapids-Rice Public School District serves 4,423 students across seven schools, making it the county's largest educational provider. There are currently no charter schools in Benton County, with all 6,778 students enrolled in traditional district programs.

Large Campus Feel in a Suburban-Rural Split

Schools in Benton County are larger than average, with a mean enrollment of 565 students. The setting is evenly split between suburban and rural locales, ranging from the 1,394-student Sauk Rapids-Rice Senior High to smaller specialized centers.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Benton County

Reported Enrollment

6,778

15 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5

Middle2

High6

Other2

3 School Districts in Benton County

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FOLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

1,925 students

Benton-Stearns Education District

6 schools

142 students

15 Public Schools in Benton County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 15 of 15 matching schools

Public schools in Benton County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
SAUK RAPIDS-RICE SENIOR HIGH	Profile	SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	SAUK RAPIDS, 56379Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,394
SAUK RAPIDS-RICE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	SAUK RAPIDS, 56379Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	1,045
MISSISSIPPI HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY	Record	SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	SAUK RAPIDS, 56379Suburb: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	848
FOLEY INTERMEDIATE ELEMENTARY	Record	FOLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FOLEY, 56329Rural: Distant	4–8	Middle	735
Pleasantview Elementary	Record	SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	SAUK RAPIDS, 56379Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	712
FOLEY SENIOR HIGH	Record	FOLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FOLEY, 56329Rural: Distant	9–12	High	621
FOLEY ELEMENTARY	Record	FOLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FOLEY, 56329Rural: Distant	PK–3	Primary	569
LINCOLN ELEMENTARY	Record	ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAINT CLOUD, 56304City: Small	3–5	Primary	396
RICE ELEMENTARY	Record	SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	RICE, 56367Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	372
Hillside Early Childhood Center	Record	SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	SAUK RAPIDS, 56379Suburb: Midsize	PK	Special Education	52
Benton-Stearns Education District	Record	Benton-Stearns Education District	SAUK RAPIDS, 56379Suburb: Midsize	5–12	Special Education	19
Benton Stearns Education District 1	Record	Benton-Stearns Education District	SAUK RAPIDS, 56379Suburb: Midsize	12	Special Education	15
ALC - Foley	Record	ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FOLEY, 56329Rural: Distant	7–12	Alternative	0
ALC - Sauk Rapids	Record	ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAUK RAPIDS, 56379Rural: Fringe	7–12	Alternative	0
Sauk Rapids ECFE	Record	SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	SAUK RAPIDS, 56379Suburb: Midsize	PK	Alternative	0

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE SENIOR HIGH

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SAUK RAPIDS, 56379 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,394 students

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE MIDDLE SCHOOL

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SAUK RAPIDS, 56379 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,045 students

MISSISSIPPI HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SAUK RAPIDS, 56379 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary848 students

FOLEY INTERMEDIATE ELEMENTARY

FOLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FOLEY, 56329 / Rural: Distant

Record4–8Middle735 students

Pleasantview Elementary

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SAUK RAPIDS, 56379 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary712 students

FOLEY SENIOR HIGH

FOLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FOLEY, 56329 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High621 students

FOLEY ELEMENTARY

FOLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FOLEY, 56329 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–3Primary569 students

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY

ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAINT CLOUD, 56304 / City: Small

Record3–5Primary396 students

RICE ELEMENTARY

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

RICE, 56367 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary372 students

Hillside Early Childhood Center

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SAUK RAPIDS, 56379 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPKSpecial Education52 students

Benton-Stearns Education District

SAUK RAPIDS, 56379 / Suburb: Midsize

Record5–12Special Education19 students

Benton Stearns Education District 1

Benton-Stearns Education District

SAUK RAPIDS, 56379 / Suburb: Midsize

Record12Special Education15 students

ALC - Foley

ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FOLEY, 56329 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12Alternative0 students

ALC - Sauk Rapids

ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAUK RAPIDS, 56379 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12Alternative0 students

Sauk Rapids ECFE

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SAUK RAPIDS, 56379 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPKAlternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,908

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Benton County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Minnesota counties have the highest graduation rates?

Jackson County (95.7%), Cottonwood County (95.3%), and Cook County (95.0%) currently lead Minnesota among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Minnesota?

Across Minnesota counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,463. The highest current county values are Cook County ($12,089), Kittson County ($10,301), and Beltrami County ($10,167). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Benton County?

Benton County has a school score of 52/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Benton County?

The high school graduation rate in Benton County is 88.4%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Benton County spend per student?

Benton County spends $7,908 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Benton County, Minnesota — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Benton County, Minnesota?

How do schools in Benton County perform academically?

What are the major school districts in Benton County, Minnesota?

What is the school experience like in Benton County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Blue Earth County

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Martin County

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-1 pts

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School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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