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

No. Use the Nicollet 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 Nicollet 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 Nicollet County?

Start with the 24 listed public schools and 5 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Nicollet County Schools & Education

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

Nicollet County, Minnesota

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

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

91.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,226

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#25

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Nicollet County

Measured School Summary

Nicollet County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.1%.

Funding Context

Nicollet County spends $8,226 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 15% above the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Nicollet 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 5 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

64/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #25 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

91.1%

4.5 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,226

$237 below the state average

School coverage

5 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

Nicollet County has 24 public schools across 5 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 Nicollet 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

Nicollet 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

#25

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 9 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.

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

2,090 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 5Other 2

10 listed schools in this county slice.

NICOLLET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

347 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 1

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Minnesota Valley Education District

Other grade structure

72 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 4

4 listed schools in this county slice.

LAFAYETTE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

Elementary school only in this slice

0 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 10 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 Nicollet County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Nicollet 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 Nicollet 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 and Growing Academic Network

Nicollet County supports 4,584 students through 24 public schools and five distinct districts. The infrastructure is well-rounded, featuring seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and six high schools.

St. Peter and Mankato Districts Excel

St. Peter Public School District leads the county with 2,090 students across 10 schools. While traditional districts dominate, the county also hosts one charter school, offering families a specialized alternative to the standard curriculum.

A Blend of Town and Suburban Life

The county features a rare mix of 11 town, 8 rural, and 5 suburban school settings, with an average enrollment of 241 students. Dakota Meadows Middle School is the largest campus with 878 students, while the St. Peter schools provide a mid-sized community feel.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Nicollet County

Reported Enrollment

4,584

24 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

4% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary7

Middle2

High6

Other9

5 School Districts in Nicollet County

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

10 schools

2,090 students

NICOLLET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

347 students

Minnesota Valley Education District

4 schools

72 students

LAFAYETTE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

1 school

0 students

Socrates

1 school

0 students

24 Public Schools in Nicollet 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 20 of 24 matching schools

Public schools in Nicollet County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Dakota Meadows Middle School	Record	MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTH MANKATO, 56002Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	878
St. Peter High School	Record	ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAINT PETER, 56082Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	718
St. Peter Middle School	Record	ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	5–8	Middle	621
HOOVER ELEMENTARY	Record	MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTH MANKATO, 56003Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	503
MONROE ELEMENTARY	Record	MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTH MANKATO, 56003Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	428
North Elementary School	Record	ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	2–4	Primary	383
South Elementary School	Record	ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	KG–1	Primary	275
BRIDGES COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY	Record	MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTH MANKATO, 56003Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	233
Nicollet High School	Record	NICOLLET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NICOLLET, 56074Rural: Distant	7–12	High	177
NICOLLET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NICOLLET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NICOLLET, 56074Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	163
ST. PETER ECSE	Record	ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	PK	Special Education	56
FUTURES PROGRAM	Record	MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTH MANKATO, 56003Suburb: Small	KG–12	Special Education	33
Minnesota Valley School	Record	Minnesota Valley Education District	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	KG–12	Special Education	32
MN VALLEY ED. DIST. EARLY CHILDHOOD	Record	Minnesota Valley Education District	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	PK	Special Education	24
ROCK BEND HS ALC	Record	ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	9–12	Alternative	22
Oshawa Learning Academy	Record	ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	4–12	Alternative	15
Minnesota River School	Record	Minnesota Valley Education District	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	KG–12	Special Education	11
Nicollet Early Childhood Special Ed	Record	NICOLLET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NICOLLET, 56074Rural: Distant	PK	Special Education	7
Minnesota Prairie School	Record	Minnesota Valley Education District	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	KG–12	Special Education	5
HOFFMAN LEARNING CENTER	Record	ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAINT PETER, 56082Town: Fringe	5–12	Alternative	0

Dakota Meadows Middle School

MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTH MANKATO, 56002 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle878 students

St. Peter High School

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High718 students

St. Peter Middle School

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

Record5–8Middle621 students

HOOVER ELEMENTARY

MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTH MANKATO, 56003 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary503 students

MONROE ELEMENTARY

MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTH MANKATO, 56003 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary428 students

North Elementary School

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

Record2–4Primary383 students

South Elementary School

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–1Primary275 students

BRIDGES COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY

MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTH MANKATO, 56003 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary233 students

Nicollet High School

NICOLLET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NICOLLET, 56074 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High177 students

NICOLLET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NICOLLET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NICOLLET, 56074 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary163 students

ST. PETER ECSE

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

RecordPKSpecial Education56 students

FUTURES PROGRAM

MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTH MANKATO, 56003 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–12Special Education33 students

Minnesota Valley School

Minnesota Valley Education District

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–12Special Education32 students

MN VALLEY ED. DIST. EARLY CHILDHOOD

Minnesota Valley Education District

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

RecordPKSpecial Education24 students

ROCK BEND HS ALC

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12Alternative22 students

Oshawa Learning Academy

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

Record4–12Alternative15 students

Minnesota River School

Minnesota Valley Education District

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–12Special Education11 students

Nicollet Early Childhood Special Ed

NICOLLET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NICOLLET, 56074 / Rural: Distant

RecordPKSpecial Education7 students

Minnesota Prairie School

Minnesota Valley Education District

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–12Special Education5 students

HOFFMAN LEARNING CENTER

ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAINT PETER, 56082 / Town: Fringe

Record5–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,226

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Nicollet 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 Nicollet County?

Nicollet County has a school score of 64/100, 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 Nicollet County?

The high school graduation rate in Nicollet County is 91.1%, 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 Nicollet County spend per student?

Nicollet County spends $8,226 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 Nicollet County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Nicollet County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Aitkin County

Minnesota

+0 pts

64/100

School score

Traverse County

Minnesota

-0 pts

63/100

School score

Wright County

Minnesota

-0 pts

63/100

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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