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

No. Use the Chisago 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 Chisago 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 Chisago County?

Start with the 24 listed public schools and 6 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Chisago County Schools & Education

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

Chisago County, Minnesota

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

School Score

35/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

85.3%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

85.3%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,245

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

35/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#84

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Chisago County

Measured School Summary

Chisago County faces educational challenges with a school score of 35/100 and a graduation rate of 85.3%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,245 per pupil, Chisago County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 36% below the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 14% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Chisago 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

24 public schools and 6 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

35/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #84 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

85.3%

1.3 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,245

$1,218 below the state average

School coverage

6 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Chisago County has 24 public schools across 6 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 Chisago 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.

Choice-program county

Chisago County has a visible charter, magnet, or virtual-school layer in NCES records. The practical question is eligibility, lottery timing, and transportation, not just whether a school appears nearby.

State position

#84

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 20 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.

CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

3,378 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 3Other 1

8 listed schools in this county slice.

North Branch Area Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

2,641 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 3Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

RUSH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

912 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

TRIO WOLF CREEK DISTANCE LEARNING

High school only in this slice

206 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 8 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 Chisago County?

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

A Diverse Educational Landscape

Chisago County oversees 24 schools across 6 districts, serving a total student population of 7,829. The system features 9 elementary and 10 high schools, along with 5 alternative learning centers.

Strong Graduation Performance

The graduation rate stands at 85.3%, nearly matching the state average of 86.6%. The county operates with a lean budget of $7,245 per pupil, which is lower than the state's average investment.

Chisago Lakes and North Branch Districts

Chisago Lakes School District is the largest, enrolling 3,378 students, followed closely by North Branch Area Public Schools with 2,641 students. Two charter schools offer specialized choices for local families.

A Blend of Town and Country

Education is split between 13 rural and 11 town locales, offering varied environments for students. Chisago Lakes Senior High is a major hub with 1,053 students, though the county average is a more modest 373.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Chisago County

Reported Enrollment

7,829

24 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

8% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary9

Middle2

High10

Other3

6 School Districts in Chisago County

CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT

North Branch Area Public Schools

7 schools

2,641 students

RUSH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

912 students

TRIO WOLF CREEK DISTANCE LEARNING

1 school

206 students

Phoenix Academy Charter School

1 school

160 students

ST. CROIX RIVER EDUCATION DISTRICT

5 schools

75 students

24 Public Schools in Chisago County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

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Level

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Showing 20 of 24 matching schools

Public schools in Chisago County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
CHISAGO LAKES SENIOR HIGH	Profile	CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHISAGO CITY, 55013Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,053
Sunrise River Elementary School	Record	North Branch Area Public Schools	NORTH BRANCH, 55056Town: Distant	1–5	Primary	875
CHISAGO LAKES MIDDLE	Record	CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT	LINDSTROM, 55045Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	796
North Branch Area High School	Record	North Branch Area Public Schools	NORTH BRANCH, 55056Town: Distant	9–12	High	781
LAKESIDE EL.	Record	CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHISAGO CITY, 55013Rural: Fringe	2–5	Primary	754
North Branch Area Middle School	Record	North Branch Area Public Schools	NORTH BRANCH, 55056Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	609
C.E. JACOBSON ELEMENTARY	Record	RUSH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	RUSH CITY, 55069Town: Distant	PK–6	Primary	493
Wyoming Elementary	Record	FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WYOMING, 55092Town: Fringe	PK–6	Primary	488
RUSH CITY SECONDARY	Record	RUSH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	RUSH CITY, 55069Rural: Fringe	7–12	High	419
CHISAGO LAKES EL.	Record	CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHISAGO CITY, 55013Town: Distant	PK–1	Primary	398
TAYLORS FALLS ELEMENTARY	Record	CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHISAGO CITY, 55013Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	341
North Branch Area Education Center	Record	North Branch Area Public Schools	NORTH BRANCH, 55056Rural: Fringe	PK–KG	Primary	233
TRIO WOLF CREEK DISTANCE LEARNING	Record	TRIO WOLF CREEK DISTANCE LEARNING	CHISAGO CITY, 55013Rural: Fringe	9–12	CharterVirtual	206
Phoenix Academy Charter School	Record	Phoenix Academy Charter School	NORTH BRANCH, 55056Town: Distant	KG–8	Charter	160
Distance Learning Academy Secondary	Record	North Branch Area Public Schools	NORTH BRANCH, 55056Rural: Fringe	6–12	Virtual	76
Norse Area Learning Center	Record	North Branch Area Public Schools	NORTH BRANCH, 55056Rural: Fringe	7–12	Alternative	56
CHISAGO LAKES FAMILY CENTER	Record	CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHISAGO CITY, 55013Town: Distant	PK	Alternative	36
Chisago County Schools' Life Work C	Record	ST. CROIX RIVER EDUCATION DISTRICT	NORTH BRANCH, 55056Rural: Fringe	9–12	Special Education	23
Pathway to Change	Record	ST. CROIX RIVER EDUCATION DISTRICT	LINDSTROM, 55045Town: Distant	KG–12	Special Education	14
Distance Learning Acadmy Elementary	Record	North Branch Area Public Schools	NORTH BRANCH, 55056Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Virtual	11

CHISAGO LAKES SENIOR HIGH

CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT

CHISAGO CITY, 55013 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,053 students

Sunrise River Elementary School

North Branch Area Public Schools

NORTH BRANCH, 55056 / Town: Distant

Record1–5Primary875 students

CHISAGO LAKES MIDDLE

CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT

LINDSTROM, 55045 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle796 students

North Branch Area High School

North Branch Area Public Schools

NORTH BRANCH, 55056 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High781 students

LAKESIDE EL.

CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT

CHISAGO CITY, 55013 / Rural: Fringe

Record2–5Primary754 students

North Branch Area Middle School

North Branch Area Public Schools

NORTH BRANCH, 55056 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle609 students

C.E. JACOBSON ELEMENTARY

RUSH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

RUSH CITY, 55069 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary493 students

Wyoming Elementary

FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WYOMING, 55092 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–6Primary488 students

RUSH CITY SECONDARY

RUSH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

RUSH CITY, 55069 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12High419 students

CHISAGO LAKES EL.

CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT

CHISAGO CITY, 55013 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–1Primary398 students

TAYLORS FALLS ELEMENTARY

CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT

CHISAGO CITY, 55013 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary341 students

North Branch Area Education Center

North Branch Area Public Schools

NORTH BRANCH, 55056 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–KGPrimary233 students

TRIO WOLF CREEK DISTANCE LEARNING

CHISAGO CITY, 55013 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12CharterVirtual206 students

Phoenix Academy Charter School

NORTH BRANCH, 55056 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–8Charter160 students

Distance Learning Academy Secondary

North Branch Area Public Schools

NORTH BRANCH, 55056 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–12Virtual76 students

Norse Area Learning Center

North Branch Area Public Schools

NORTH BRANCH, 55056 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12Alternative56 students

CHISAGO LAKES FAMILY CENTER

CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT

CHISAGO CITY, 55013 / Town: Distant

RecordPKAlternative36 students

Chisago County Schools' Life Work C

ST. CROIX RIVER EDUCATION DISTRICT

NORTH BRANCH, 55056 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Special Education23 students

Pathway to Change

ST. CROIX RIVER EDUCATION DISTRICT

LINDSTROM, 55045 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–12Special Education14 students

Distance Learning Acadmy Elementary

North Branch Area Public Schools

NORTH BRANCH, 55056 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Virtual11 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,245

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Chisago 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 Chisago County?

Chisago County has a school score of 35/100, which is a lower 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 Chisago County?

The high school graduation rate in Chisago County is 85.3%, 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 Chisago County spend per student?

Chisago County spends $7,245 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 Chisago County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

Chisago County oversees 24 schools across 6 districts, serving a total student population of 7,829. The system features 9 elementary and 10 high schools, along with 5 alternative learning centers.

How do schools in Chisago County perform academically?

The graduation rate stands at 85.3%, nearly matching the state average of 86.6%. The county operates with a lean budget of $7,245 per pupil, which is lower than the state's average investment.

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

What is the school experience like in Chisago County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Hubbard County

Minnesota

-0 pts

35/100

School score

Watonwan County

Minnesota

-1 pts

35/100

School score

Isanti County

Minnesota

+1 pts

37/100

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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