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

No. Use the Cass 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 Cass 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 Cass County?

Start with the 18 listed public schools and 7 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Cass County Schools & Education

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

Cass County, Minnesota

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

School Score

43/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

73.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

73.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,603

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

43/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#72

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Cass County

Measured School Summary

Cass County has midrange measured school signals (score: 43/100) with a graduation rate of 73.4%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Cass County spends $9,603 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 22% below the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 13.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Cass 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 7 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

43/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #72 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

73.4%

13.2 pts below the state average

Funding context

$9,603

$1,140 above the state average

School coverage

7 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

Cass County has 18 public schools across 7 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 Cass 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

Cass 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

#72

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 12 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.

PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,245 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

1,138 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 2Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

903 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 2Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SCHL. DIST

Elementary and high visible

736 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Cass County?

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

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

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

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

Education Overview

About Schools in Cass 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.

Rural Education Across Cass County

Cass County operates 18 public schools within 7 districts, providing education for 4,433 students. The system is comprised of 5 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 9 high schools.

Pillager and Cass Lake-Bena Highlights

The Pillager Public School District is the largest in the county, serving 1,245 students. One charter school provides an alternative option, making up about 5.6% of the county's total school inventory.

A Purely Rural Schooling Experience

All 18 schools in the county are situated in rural locales, offering a consistent environment for all students. The average school size is small at 261 students, with Pillager Elementary being one of the largest hubs at 478 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Cass County

Reported Enrollment

4,433

18 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

6% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5

Middle3

High9

Other1

7 School Districts in Cass County

PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

1,245 students

CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

4 schools

1,138 students

PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT

4 schools

903 students

WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SCHL. DIST

2 schools

736 students

NORTHLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

3 schools

362 students

PILLAGER AREA CHARTER SCHOOL

1 school

38 students

Up North Learning Center

1 school

11 students

18 Public Schools in Cass 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 Cass County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
CASS LAKE-BENA ELEMENTARY	Record	CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CASS LAKE, 56633Rural: Remote	PK–4	Primary	478
PILLAGER ELEMENTARY	Record	PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	PILLAGER, 56473Rural: Distant	PK–4	Primary	478
PINE RIVER-BACKUS ELEMENTARY	Record	PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE RIVER, 56474Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	477
W.H.A. ELEMENTARY	Record	WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SCHL. DIST	WALKER, 56484Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	416
Pillager Middle School	Record	PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	PILLAGER, 56473Rural: Distant	5–8	Middle	407
PINE RIVER-BACKUS HIGH SCHOOL	Record	PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE RIVER, 56474Rural: Remote	7–12	High	377
Pillager Senior High School	Record	PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	PILLAGER, 56473Rural: Distant	9–12	High	360
WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SEC.	Record	WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SCHL. DIST	WALKER, 56484Rural: Remote	7–12	High	320
CASS LAKE-BENA MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CASS LAKE, 56633Rural: Remote	5–8	Middle	305
CASS LAKE-BENA SECONDARY	Record	CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CASS LAKE, 56633Rural: Remote	9–12	High	256
Northland Elementary	Record	NORTHLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	REMER, 56672Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	197
NORTHLAND SECONDARY	Record	NORTHLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	REMER, 56672Rural: Remote	7–12	High	157
CASS LAKE-BENA AREA LRNG. CNTR.	Record	CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CASS LAKE, 56633Rural: Remote	7–12	Alternative	99
Pine River-Backus ALP	Record	PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE RIVER, 56474Rural: Remote	9–12	Alternative	49
PILLAGER AREA CHARTER SCHOOL	Record	PILLAGER AREA CHARTER SCHOOL	PILLAGER, 56473Rural: Distant	7–12	Charter	38
Up North Learning Center	Record	Up North Learning Center	WALKER, 56484Rural: Remote	KG–12	Special Education	11
LITTLE SAND	Record	NORTHLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	REMER, 56672Rural: Remote	7–12	Alternative	8
Pine River-Backus Midlevel ALP	Record	PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE RIVER, 56474Rural: Remote	7–8	Alternative	0

CASS LAKE-BENA ELEMENTARY

CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CASS LAKE, 56633 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary478 students

PILLAGER ELEMENTARY

PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

PILLAGER, 56473 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary478 students

PINE RIVER-BACKUS ELEMENTARY

PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE RIVER, 56474 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary477 students

W.H.A. ELEMENTARY

WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SCHL. DIST

WALKER, 56484 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary416 students

Pillager Middle School

PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

PILLAGER, 56473 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle407 students

PINE RIVER-BACKUS HIGH SCHOOL

PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE RIVER, 56474 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High377 students

Pillager Senior High School

PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

PILLAGER, 56473 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High360 students

WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SEC.

WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SCHL. DIST

WALKER, 56484 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High320 students

CASS LAKE-BENA MIDDLE SCHOOL

CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CASS LAKE, 56633 / Rural: Remote

Record5–8Middle305 students

CASS LAKE-BENA SECONDARY

CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CASS LAKE, 56633 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High256 students

Northland Elementary

NORTHLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

REMER, 56672 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary197 students

NORTHLAND SECONDARY

NORTHLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

REMER, 56672 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High157 students

CASS LAKE-BENA AREA LRNG. CNTR.

CASS LAKE-BENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CASS LAKE, 56633 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12Alternative99 students

Pine River-Backus ALP

PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE RIVER, 56474 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12Alternative49 students

PILLAGER AREA CHARTER SCHOOL

PILLAGER, 56473 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12Charter38 students

Up North Learning Center

WALKER, 56484 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–12Special Education11 students

LITTLE SAND

NORTHLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

REMER, 56672 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12Alternative8 students

Pine River-Backus Midlevel ALP

PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE RIVER, 56474 / Rural: Remote

Record7–8Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,603

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Cass 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.

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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 Cass County?

Cass County has a school score of 43/100, 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 Cass County?

The high school graduation rate in Cass County is 73.4%, 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 Cass County spend per student?

Cass County spends $9,603 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 Cass County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

Cass County operates 18 public schools within 7 districts, providing education for 4,433 students. The system is comprised of 5 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 9 high schools.

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

What is the school experience like in Cass County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Sibley County

Minnesota

-0 pts

43/100

School score

Mahnomen County

Minnesota

+0 pts

43/100

School score

Pine County

Minnesota

+1 pts

44/100

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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