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

No. Use the Clay 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 Clay 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 Clay County?

Start with the 30 listed public schools and 7 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Clay County Schools & Education

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

Clay County, Minnesota

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

School Score

57/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

89.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

89.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,284

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

57/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#36

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Clay County

Measured School Summary

Clay County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 89.1%.

Funding Context

Clay County spends $8,284 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 4% above the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Clay 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

30 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

57/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #36 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

89.1%

2.5 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,284

$179 below 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

Clay County has 30 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 Clay 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

Clay 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

#36

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points above 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.

Moorhead Area Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

7,412 students

Elementary 6Middle 1High 6Other 3

16 listed schools in this county slice.

DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON

Elementary to high school visible

1,561 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

HAWLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

1,048 students

Elementary 2Middle 0High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

BARNESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

Elementary and high visible

912 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Moorhead Area Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 16 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 Clay County?

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

Extensive Infrastructure in Clay County

Clay County supports 30 schools across 7 districts, educating 11,326 students. The system is well-equipped with 11 elementary schools and 13 high schools.

Graduation Rates Above the Curve

The 89.1% graduation rate surpasses both the state average of 86.6% and the national average of 87%. Per-pupil spending is efficient at $8,284, just under the state average of $8,463.

Moorhead Area Schools Dominance

Moorhead Area Public Schools is the largest district, serving 7,412 students across 16 schools. The county currently hosts no charter schools, keeping the focus on its robust traditional districts.

Suburban Reach and Large Campuses

The county features 13 schools in suburban settings and 17 in rural areas. Horizon Middle School is a notable outlier in size, serving 2,158 students, while the countywide average is 453.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Clay County

Reported Enrollment

11,326

30 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary11

Middle2

High13

Other4

7 School Districts in Clay County

Moorhead Area Public Schools

DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON

3 schools

1,561 students

HAWLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

1,048 students

BARNESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

2 schools

912 students

ULEN-HITTERDAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST

2 schools

276 students

Lake Agassiz Education Cooperative

3 schools

77 students

REGION 4-LAKES COUNTRY SERVICE COOP

3 schools

69 students

30 Public Schools in Clay 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

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Showing 20 of 30 matching schools

Public schools in Clay County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Suburb: Midsize	5–8	Middle	2,158
MOORHEAD HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,937
S.G. Reinertsen Elementary	Record	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Suburb: Midsize	KG–4	Primary	692
Dorothy Dodds Elementary School	Record	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Rural: Fringe	KG–4	Primary	658
ELLEN HOPKINS ELEMENTARY	Record	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Suburb: Midsize	KG–4	Primary	643
HAWLEY ELEMENTARY	Record	HAWLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	HAWLEY, 56549Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	614
Robert Asp Elementary	Record	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Suburb: Midsize	KG–4	Primary	611
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Elementary	Record	DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON	DILWORTH, 56529Suburb: Midsize	PK–4	Primary	606
DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON MIDDLE SCH	Record	DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON	GLYNDON, 56547Rural: Fringe	5–8	Middle	506
BARNESVILLE ELEMENTARY	Record	BARNESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.	BARNESVILLE, 56514Rural: Distant	KG–6	Primary	504
DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON SENIOR HIGH	Record	DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON	GLYNDON, 56547Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	449
HAWLEY SECONDARY	Record	HAWLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	HAWLEY, 56549Rural: Distant	7–12	High	414
BARNESVILLE SECONDARY	Record	BARNESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.	BARNESVILLE, 56514Rural: Distant	6–12	High	408
Probstfield Elementary	Record	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Suburb: Midsize	KG–4	Primary	262
PROBSTFIELD CENTER FOR EDUCATION	Record	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Suburb: Midsize	PK	Special Education	215
Moorhead ALC	Record	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Rural: Fringe	5–12	Alternative	179
ULEN-HITTERDAL ELEMENTARY	Record	ULEN-HITTERDAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	ULEN, 56585Rural: Distant	KG–6	Primary	150
ULEN-HITTERDAL SECONDARY	Record	ULEN-HITTERDAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	ULEN, 56585Rural: Distant	7–12	High	126
Lake Agassiz Education Cooperative	Record	Lake Agassiz Education Cooperative	HAWLEY, 56549Rural: Distant	PK	Special Education	51
West Central Academy-S	Record	Moorhead Area Public Schools	MOORHEAD, 56560Suburb: Midsize	4–12	Alternative	43

HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile5–8Middle2,158 students

MOORHEAD HIGH SCHOOL

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,937 students

S.G. Reinertsen Elementary

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–4Primary692 students

Dorothy Dodds Elementary School

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–4Primary658 students

ELLEN HOPKINS ELEMENTARY

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–4Primary643 students

HAWLEY ELEMENTARY

HAWLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

HAWLEY, 56549 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary614 students

Robert Asp Elementary

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–4Primary611 students

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Elementary

DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON

DILWORTH, 56529 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–4Primary606 students

DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON MIDDLE SCH

DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON

GLYNDON, 56547 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle506 students

BARNESVILLE ELEMENTARY

BARNESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

BARNESVILLE, 56514 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary504 students

DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON SENIOR HIGH

DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON

GLYNDON, 56547 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High449 students

HAWLEY SECONDARY

HAWLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

HAWLEY, 56549 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High414 students

BARNESVILLE SECONDARY

BARNESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

BARNESVILLE, 56514 / Rural: Distant

Record6–12High408 students

Probstfield Elementary

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–4Primary262 students

PROBSTFIELD CENTER FOR EDUCATION

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPKSpecial Education215 students

Moorhead ALC

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–12Alternative179 students

ULEN-HITTERDAL ELEMENTARY

ULEN-HITTERDAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST

ULEN, 56585 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary150 students

ULEN-HITTERDAL SECONDARY

ULEN-HITTERDAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST

ULEN, 56585 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High126 students

Lake Agassiz Education Cooperative

HAWLEY, 56549 / Rural: Distant

RecordPKSpecial Education51 students

West Central Academy-S

Moorhead Area Public Schools

MOORHEAD, 56560 / Suburb: Midsize

Record4–12Alternative43 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,284

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Clay 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 Clay County?

Clay County has a school score of 57/100, 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 Clay County?

The high school graduation rate in Clay County is 89.1%, 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 Clay County spend per student?

Clay County spends $8,284 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 Clay County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

Clay County supports 30 schools across 7 districts, educating 11,326 students. The system is well-equipped with 11 elementary schools and 13 high schools.

How do schools in Clay County perform academically?

The 89.1% graduation rate surpasses both the state average of 86.6% and the national average of 87%. Per-pupil spending is efficient at $8,284, just under the state average of $8,463.

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

Moorhead Area Public Schools is the largest district, serving 7,412 students across 16 schools. The county currently hosts no charter schools, keeping the focus on its robust traditional districts.

What is the school experience like in Clay County?

The county features 13 schools in suburban settings and 17 in rural areas. Horizon Middle School is a notable outlier in size, serving 2,158 students, while the countywide average is 453.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Itasca County

Minnesota

-0 pts

57/100

School score

Carlton County

Minnesota

+0 pts

57/100

School score

Koochiching County

Minnesota

+1 pts

58/100

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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