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

No. Use the Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown County?

Start with the 18 listed public schools and 5 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Brown County Schools & Education

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

Brown County, Minnesota

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

School Score

47/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

85.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

85.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,198

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

47/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#59

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Brown County

Measured School Summary

Brown County performs at an average level with a school score of 47/100 and a solid graduation rate of 85.5%.

Funding Context

Brown County spends $8,198 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 15% below the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Brown 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

18 public schools and 5 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

47/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #59 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

85.5%

1.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,198

$265 below the state average

School coverage

5 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

Brown County has 18 public schools across 5 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 Brown 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

Brown 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

#59

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 8 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.

NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

2,162 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

591 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

589 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT

High school only in this slice

179 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 3Other 4

7 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT 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 Brown County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Brown 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 Brown 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.

Community-Focused Learning in Brown County

Brown County supports 3,636 students across 18 public schools and 5 districts. The system is heavily weighted toward secondary education, with eight high schools and five elementary schools serving the local population.

Consistent Outcomes and Disciplined Spending

Graduation rates in Brown County stand at 85.5%, which is slightly lower than the state's 86.6% average. Per-pupil expenditure is $8,198, representing a disciplined approach compared to the national average of $13,000.

New Ulm Leads the District Hierarchy

New Ulm Public School District is the county's largest, enrolling 2,162 students across five specialized campuses. The county relies exclusively on traditional public districts, as there are no charter schools currently available.

Town-Based Schools with Intimate Sizes

Thirteen of the county's schools are located in town settings, contributing to an average school size of 214 students. New Ulm High School is the largest campus with 706 students, while many other facilities serve fewer than 300 children.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Brown County

Reported Enrollment

3,636

18 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5

Middle1

High8

Other4

5 School Districts in Brown County

NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

5 schools

2,162 students

SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

591 students

SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

589 students

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT

7 schools

179 students

COMFREY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

115 students

18 Public Schools in Brown County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 18 of 18 matching schools

Public schools in Brown County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL	Record	NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	706
NEW ULM MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	5–8	Middle	648
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY	Record	NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	1–4	Primary	619
SLEEPY EYE ELEMENTARY	Record	SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SLEEPY EYE, 56085Town: Distant	PK–6	Primary	338
SPRINGFIELD ELEMENTARY	Record	SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPRINGFIELD, 56087Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	302
SPRINGFIELD SECONDARY	Record	SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPRINGFIELD, 56087Rural: Remote	7–12	High	289
SLEEPY EYE SEC.	Record	SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SLEEPY EYE, 56085Town: Distant	7–12	High	251
Washington Learning Center	Record	NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	PK–KG	Primary	188
RIVER BEND AREA LEARNING CENTER	Record	RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	7–12	Alternative	63
RIVER BEND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROG.	Record	RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	PK	Special Education	62
COMFREY SECONDARY	Record	COMFREY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	COMFREY, 56019Rural: Remote	7–12	High	60
COMFREY ELEMENTARY	Record	COMFREY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	COMFREY, 56019Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	55
IMPRINTS PROGRAM	Record	RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	KG–12	Special Education	28
R.I.S.E. Program	Record	RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	KG–12	Special Education	11
Raptor Program	Record	RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	2–12	Special Education	10
W.O.R.K. Program	Record	RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	10–12	Special Education	5
New Ulm CTE Center	Record	NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	11–12	Vocational	1
River Bend ALC Credit Recovery Prog	Record	RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT	NEW ULM, 56073Town: Distant	9–12	Alternative	0

NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL

NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High706 students

NEW ULM MIDDLE SCHOOL

NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

Record5–8Middle648 students

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY

NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

Record1–4Primary619 students

SLEEPY EYE ELEMENTARY

SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SLEEPY EYE, 56085 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary338 students

SPRINGFIELD ELEMENTARY

SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPRINGFIELD, 56087 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary302 students

SPRINGFIELD SECONDARY

SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPRINGFIELD, 56087 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High289 students

SLEEPY EYE SEC.

SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SLEEPY EYE, 56085 / Town: Distant

Record7–12High251 students

Washington Learning Center

NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–KGPrimary188 students

RIVER BEND AREA LEARNING CENTER

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

Record7–12Alternative63 students

RIVER BEND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROG.

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

RecordPKSpecial Education62 students

COMFREY SECONDARY

COMFREY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

COMFREY, 56019 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High60 students

COMFREY ELEMENTARY

COMFREY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

COMFREY, 56019 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary55 students

IMPRINTS PROGRAM

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–12Special Education28 students

R.I.S.E. Program

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–12Special Education11 students

Raptor Program

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

Record2–12Special Education10 students

W.O.R.K. Program

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

Record10–12Special Education5 students

New Ulm CTE Center

NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

Record11–12Vocational1 students

River Bend ALC Credit Recovery Prog

RIVER BEND EDUCATION DISTRICT

NEW ULM, 56073 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,198

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Brown 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 Brown County?

Brown County has a school score of 47/100, 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 Brown County?

The high school graduation rate in Brown County is 85.5%, which is below 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 Brown County spend per student?

Brown County spends $8,198 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 Brown County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

How do schools in Brown County perform academically?

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

What is the school experience like in Brown County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Morrison County

Minnesota

-0 pts

46/100

School score

Ramsey County

Minnesota

-0 pts

46/100

School score

Lincoln County

Minnesota

-1 pts

46/100

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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