schoolsbycounty

Lake County Schools & Education

School Score

72/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

92.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

92.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,984

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

72/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#10

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Lake County

Measured School Summary

Lake County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 72/100 and a graduation rate of 92.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Lake County spends $8,984 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 32% above the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Lake 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

4 public schools and 1 district 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

72/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #10 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

92.0%

5.4 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,984

$521 above the state average

School coverage

4

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Lake County has 4 public schools across 1 district, 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.

Parent decision brief

What Lake 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.

Small-system county

Lake County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.

State position

#10

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 17 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.

LAKE SUPERIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

Elementary and high visible

1,325 students

Elementary 2Middle 0High 2Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

LAKE SUPERIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST. 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 Lake County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?

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 Lake 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.

Consolidated Quality on the North Shore

Lake County operates a highly efficient school system with four public schools serving 1,325 students. The landscape is split evenly between two elementary schools and two high schools. All schools are managed under a single, unified district structure.

One District, One Mission

The Lake Superior Public School District manages all four schools and every student within the county. This unified approach allows for streamlined resources and a consistent curriculum from Two Harbors to Silver Bay. No charter schools exist in the county, ensuring all local educational energy is focused on the district's success.

A Blend of Small Town and Rugged Rural

The county features three rural schools and one town-based school, with an average size of 331 students. Two Harbors Secondary is the largest at 597 students, providing a comprehensive high school experience. In contrast, the William Kelley campuses in Silver Bay offer a more intimate setting with 173 students each.

School Overview

Total Schools

4

in Lake County

Reported Enrollment

1,325

4 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle0
High2
Other0

1 School District in Lake County

LAKE SUPERIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

4 schools
1,325 students enrolled

4 Public Schools in Lake 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

Level

Showing 4 of 4 matching schools

TWO HARBORS SECONDARY

LAKE SUPERIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

TWO HARBORS, 55616 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–12High597 students

MINNEHAHA ELEMENTARY

LAKE SUPERIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

TWO HARBORS, 55616 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary382 students

WILLIAM KELLEY ELEMENTARY

LAKE SUPERIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

SILVER BAY, 55614 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary173 students

Wm. M. Kelley Secondary

LAKE SUPERIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.

SILVER BAY, 55614 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High173 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,984

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Lake 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 Lake County?
Lake County has a school score of 72/100, which is a higher 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 Lake County?
The high school graduation rate in Lake County is 92.0%, 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 Lake County spend per student?
Lake County spends $8,984 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 Lake County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

Lake County operates a highly efficient school system with four public schools serving 1,325 students. The landscape is split evenly between two elementary schools and two high schools. All schools are managed under a single, unified district structure.

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

The Lake Superior Public School District manages all four schools and every student within the county. This unified approach allows for streamlined resources and a consistent curriculum from Two Harbors to Silver Bay. No charter schools exist in the county, ensuring all local educational energy is focused on the district's success.

What is the school experience like in Lake County?

The county features three rural schools and one town-based school, with an average size of 331 students. Two Harbors Secondary is the largest at 597 students, providing a comprehensive high school experience. In contrast, the William Kelley campuses in Silver Bay offer a more intimate setting with 173 students each.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed 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.