State district guide

Minnesota public school districts

Compare district systems across Minnesota by enrollment scale, school count, county context, generated guide coverage, and the parent checks that matter before choosing where to live.

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Direct answer for parents

What this district ranking can and cannot tell you

If you are searching for the best school districts in Minnesota, start with the largest and most data-rich district systems below, then verify the specific school assigned to each address. SchoolsByCounty orders districts by reported enrollment and school count because those fields are consistent in NCES. It does not convert district size into a quality rating.

Start with scale

Anoka-Hennepin School District

38,590 reported students

Check county context

Cook County

91/100 county score

Verify locally

Address fit

Attendance boundaries and transfers are not in NCES

District table

Largest public school districts in Minnesota

The first 60 rows show the largest district systems by reported enrollment. Open district guides where available, or use the county profile when a detailed district page is not generated yet.

555 districts in state file

Minnesota public school districts ranked by reported enrollment.
Rank	District	County context	Students	Schools	Parent lens
1	Anoka-Hennepin School District LEA ID 2703180 Anoka County52 schools	Anoka County 49/100 county score	38,590	52	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
2	Saint Paul Public Schools LEA ID 2733840 Ramsey County99 schools	Ramsey County 46/100 county score	32,316	99	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
3	ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN LEA ID 2732390 Dakota County41 schools	Dakota County 53/100 county score	29,221	41	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
4	Minneapolis Public School District LEA ID 2721240 Hennepin County97 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	29,205	97	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
5	OSSEO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2725200 Hennepin County33 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	20,737	33	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
6	South Washington County Schools LEA ID 2733810 Washington County29 schools	Washington County 64/100 county score	19,159	29	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
7	ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2731800 Olmsted County48 schools	Olmsted County 46/100 county score	17,492	48	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
8	Elk River Public School District LEA ID 2711370 Sherburne County31 schools	Sherburne County 67/100 county score	14,152	31	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
9	WAYZATA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2742160 Hennepin County20 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	12,318	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
10	Lakeville Area Schools LEA ID 2717780 Dakota County19 schools	Dakota County 53/100 county score	11,816	19	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
11	MOUNDS VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2722950 Ramsey County28 schools	Ramsey County 46/100 county score	11,792	28	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
12	MINNETONKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2711670 Hennepin County13 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	11,248	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
13	ROBBINSDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2731780 Hennepin County28 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	11,010	28	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
14	North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale LEA ID 2723850 Ramsey County24 schools	Ramsey County 46/100 county score	10,368	24	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
15	BLOOMINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2705790 Hennepin County24 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	10,361	24	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
16	EASTERN CARVER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL LEA ID 2708190 Carver County20 schools	Carver County 67/100 county score	9,320	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
17	ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2733510 Stearns County25 schools	Stearns County 38/100 county score	9,286	25	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
18	EDEN PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2714220 Hennepin County12 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	8,939	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
19	PRIOR LAKE-SAVAGE AREA SCHOOLS LEA ID 2730060 Scott County12 schools	Scott County 48/100 county score	8,741	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
20	EDINA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2711250 Hennepin County13 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	8,572	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
21	DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2711040 St. Louis County28 schools	St. Louis County 50/100 county score	8,554	28	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
22	WHITE BEAR LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2742360 Ramsey County25 schools	Ramsey County 46/100 county score	8,543	25	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
23	MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2718780 Blue Earth County23 schools	Blue Earth County 51/100 county score	8,362	23	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
24	Stillwater Area Public Schools LEA ID 2738190 Washington County16 schools	Washington County 64/100 county score	8,285	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
25	SHAKOPEE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2733000 Scott County14 schools	Scott County 48/100 county score	7,867	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
26	Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Schools LEA ID 2707290 Dakota County20 schools	Dakota County 53/100 county score	7,822	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
27	Moorhead Area Public Schools LEA ID 2721420 Clay County16 schools	Clay County 57/100 county score	7,412	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
28	ROSEVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2732430 Ramsey County15 schools	Ramsey County 46/100 county score	7,356	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
29	HOPKINS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2714260 Hennepin County15 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	6,833	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
30	FARMINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2711820 Dakota County9 schools	Dakota County 53/100 county score	6,800	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
31	CENTENNIAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2708100 Anoka County18 schools	Anoka County 49/100 county score	6,764	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
32	St. Michael-Albertville Schools LEA ID 2733790 Wright County11 schools	Wright County 63/100 county score	6,670	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
33	BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2706090 Crow Wing County13 schools	Crow Wing County 46/100 county score	6,232	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
34	SPRING LAKE PARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEA ID 2733330 Anoka County12 schools	Anoka County 49/100 county score	6,143	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
35	FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2712270 Washington County14 schools	Washington County 64/100 county score	5,855	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
36	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools LEA ID 2707200 Wright County11 schools	Wright County 63/100 county score	5,313	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
37	AUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2703450 Mower County14 schools	Mower County 47/100 county score	5,120	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
38	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan LEA ID 2742270 Dakota County12 schools	Dakota County 53/100 county score	5,116	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
39	CAMBRIDGE-ISANTI PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2707410 Isanti County17 schools	Isanti County 37/100 county score	5,062	17	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
40	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2728050 Steele County14 schools	Steele County 49/100 county score	4,926	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
41	Minnesota Transitions Charter Sch LEA ID 2700117 Hennepin County9 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	4,879	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records 9 charter, 3 virtual Open district guide
42	BEMIDJI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2704440 Beltrami County15 schools	Beltrami County 45/100 county score	4,836	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
43	ST. LOUIS PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST. LEA ID 2733780 Hennepin County9 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	4,509	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
44	SAUK RAPIDS-RICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEA ID 2732880 Benton County7 schools	Benton County 52/100 county score	4,423	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
45	St. Francis Area Schools LEA ID 2733540 Anoka County14 schools	Anoka County 49/100 county score	4,312	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
46	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2742720 Kandiyohi County12 schools	Kandiyohi County 41/100 county score	4,279	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
47	NEW PRAGUE AREA SCHOOLS LEA ID 2723430 Scott County9 schools	Scott County 48/100 county score	4,146	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
48	MONTICELLO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2721390 Wright County10 schools	Wright County 63/100 county score	4,142	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
49	RICHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2731750 Hennepin County10 schools	Hennepin County 48/100 county score	4,139	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
50	HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2713530 Dakota County11 schools	Dakota County 53/100 county score	4,116	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
51	SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2732820 Stearns County5 schools	Stearns County 38/100 county score	4,098	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
52	ALEXANDRIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2703060 Douglas County9 schools	Douglas County 58/100 county score	4,046	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
53	WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2741460 Carver County9 schools	Carver County 67/100 county score	4,045	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
54	GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2713170 Itasca County11 schools	Itasca County 57/100 county score	4,023	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
55	NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2723880 Rice County11 schools	Rice County 49/100 county score	3,857	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
56	ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2702970 Freeborn County9 schools	Freeborn County 51/100 county score	3,460	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
57	INVER GROVE HEIGHTS SCHOOLS LEA ID 2715030 Dakota County9 schools	Dakota County 53/100 county score	3,441	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
58	CHISAGO LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2700017 Chisago County8 schools	Chisago County 35/100 county score	3,378	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
59	WORTHINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2744160 Nobles County7 schools	Nobles County 37/100 county score	3,343	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
60	PRINCETON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2730030 Mille Lacs County9 schools	Mille Lacs County 55/100 county score	3,342	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide

— = enrollment not reported in the district record. District rows are informational and must be paired with local assignment tools before a housing decision.

Methodology

How to use district rankings without overreading them

District-level data is useful because it shows the operating system around a public school search: how many schools exist, which county record anchors the district, how much enrollment is reported, and whether a detailed district guide is available. It is not enough to decide where a student should enroll.

Ranking basis

Rows are ordered by reported enrollment, then school count. The method favors broad, data-rich systems because those are the districts parents most often need to research before relocation.

County context

Each district is attached to a primary county record when available. County school scores are context signals, not district ratings, and nearby counties can still matter for commute and housing decisions.

Grade pathway

Elementary, middle, and high school counts help parents spot whether a district looks like a full K-12 pathway or a narrower operating unit. Feeder patterns still require local verification.

Address verification

The final decision happens at the address level. Confirm attendance zones, open-enrollment rules, magnet admissions, charter lotteries, and transfer windows with official district sources.

County context

Districts anchored in higher-scoring county contexts

These rows pair district records with the county-level SchoolsByCounty score. Treat this as a shortlist for deeper research, not a district quality ranking.

COOK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Cook County

Students: 459
Schools: 4

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Cook County

Students: 136
Schools: 1

BIRCH GROVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Cook County

Students: 42
Schools: 1

OSHKI OGIMAAG CHARTER SCHOOL

Cook County

Students: 25
Schools: 1

WINDOM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Cottonwood County

Students: 1,166
Schools: 4

MOUNTAIN LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Cottonwood County

Students: 501
Schools: 2

Parent checklist before relying on a district ranking

Use this page to narrow the field, then answer these local questions before treating any district as a fit for a specific home.

Which school does this address actually feed into?

Use the district address lookup and confirm edge cases near attendance-zone borders.

What happens at transition grades?

A strong elementary fit can split into several middle or high school paths.

Are choice programs realistic for this student?

Magnet, charter, virtual, and transfer options can involve lotteries, applications, or deadlines.

Is the county context aligned with housing tradeoffs?

Pair school research with taxes, commute, home prices, and safety before choosing where to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota School Districts

What are the best school districts in Minnesota?

Anoka-Hennepin School District, Saint Paul Public Schools, ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN are the largest Minnesota district systems by reported enrollment in the NCES file. SchoolsByCounty does not call them the best districts; use this page to find data-rich district systems, then verify assigned schools, program rules, and local fit.

How are Minnesota districts ranked here?

Districts are ordered by reported student enrollment, then school count, using NCES public school district records. This is a research-priority ranking, not a quality rating.

Why do only 61 Minnesota districts have district guide links?

SchoolsByCounty statically generates detailed district guides for the largest district systems nationally so the pages stay fast and substantive. Districts without guide links remain represented through county and state context pages.

Do these district pages show attendance boundaries?

No. Attendance zones, transfer rules, magnet eligibility, charter admission, transportation, and program availability must be verified with official district or local assignment tools before choosing a home.

Does a large district mean better schools?

No. Larger districts usually have more school options and more public data, but enrollment size is not a school-quality measure. Compare school-level records and official local sources before treating a district as a fit.

How many districts are included for Minnesota?

This page includes 555 Minnesota public school districts from the current NCES district file, alongside county context and generated district-guide availability where available.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jun 9, 2026

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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