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

No. Use the Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County?

Start with the 20 listed public schools and 7 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Polk County Schools & Education

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

Polk County, Minnesota

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

School Score

49/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

86.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,274

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

49/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#51

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Polk County

Measured School Summary

Polk County performs at an average level with a school score of 49/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.5%.

Funding Context

Polk County spends $8,274 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 10% below the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Polk 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

20 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

49/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #51 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

86.5%

0.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,274

$189 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

Polk County has 20 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 Polk 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

Polk 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

#51

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 6 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.

East Grand Forks Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

1,889 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

1,135 students

Elementary 2Middle 0High 3Other 1

6 listed schools in this county slice.

FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

621 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

FERTILE-BELTRAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

504 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Polk County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Polk County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

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 Polk 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.

Education Across Seven Polk Districts

Polk County hosts a robust network of 20 public schools serving 5,002 students. These schools are spread across seven districts, featuring a mix of nine elementary schools and nine high schools to serve the region's expansive geography.

East Grand Forks and Crookston Lead the Way

East Grand Forks Public Schools is the largest district with 1,889 students, followed by the Crookston Public School District with 1,135 students. Despite the variety of districts, no charter schools operate within the county's boundaries.

A Predominantly Rural Learning Environment

Thirteen of the county's schools are located in rural areas, though two suburban locales exist near East Grand Forks. Crookston Secondary is the largest campus at 547 students, while the average school size countywide remains manageable at 278 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Polk County

Reported Enrollment

5,002

20 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary9

Middle1

High9

Other1

7 School Districts in Polk County

East Grand Forks Public Schools

4 schools

1,889 students

CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

6 schools

1,135 students

FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

621 students

FERTILE-BELTRAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

504 students

WIN-E-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

432 students

FISHER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

232 students

CLIMAX-SHELLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

189 students

20 Public Schools in Polk 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 20 matching schools

Public schools in Polk County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
CROOKSTON SECONDARY	Record	CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	CROOKSTON, 56716Town: Distant	7–12	High	547
EAST GRAND FORKS SENIOR HIGH	Record	East Grand Forks Public Schools	EAST GRAND FORKS, 56721Suburb: Small	9–12	High	541
NEW HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY	Record	East Grand Forks Public Schools	EAST GRAND FORKS, 56721Suburb: Small	PK–2	Primary	471
CENTRAL MIDDLE	Record	East Grand Forks Public Schools	EAST GRAND FORKS, 56721Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	444
HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY	Record	CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	CROOKSTON, 56716Town: Distant	1–6	Primary	435
SOUTH POINT ELEMENTARY	Record	East Grand Forks Public Schools	EAST GRAND FORKS, 56721Rural: Fringe	3–5	Primary	433
MAGELSSEN ELEMENTARY	Record	FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FOSSTON, 56542Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	343
FOSSTON SECONDARY	Record	FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FOSSTON, 56542Rural: Remote	7–12	High	278
FERTILE-BELTRAMI ELEMENTARY	Record	FERTILE-BELTRAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT	FERTILE, 56540Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	260
FERTILE-BELTRAMI SECONDARY	Record	FERTILE-BELTRAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT	FERTILE, 56540Rural: Remote	7–12	High	244
WIN-E-MAC ELEMENTARY	Record	WIN-E-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT	ERSKINE, 56535Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	227
WIN-E-MAC SECONDARY	Record	WIN-E-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT	ERSKINE, 56535Rural: Remote	7–12	High	205
FISHER ELEMENTARY	Record	FISHER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FISHER, 56723Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	140
WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY	Record	CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	CROOKSTON, 56716Town: Distant	PK–KG	Primary	128
CLIMAX ELEMENTARY	Record	CLIMAX-SHELLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CLIMAX, 56523Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	96
CLIMAX SECONDARY	Record	CLIMAX-SHELLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CLIMAX, 56523Rural: Distant	7–12	High	93
FISHER SECONDARY	Record	FISHER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FISHER, 56723Rural: Distant	7–12	High	92
CROOKSTON PRE-K PROGRAM	Record	CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	CROOKSTON, 56716Town: Distant	PK	Special Education	25
New Paths Alternative Learning Prgm	Record	CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	CROOKSTON, 56716Town: Distant	9–12	Alternative	0
NORTHERN LIGHTS ACADEMY	Record	CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	CROOKSTON, 56716Rural: Fringe	6–12	Alternative	0

CROOKSTON SECONDARY

CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

CROOKSTON, 56716 / Town: Distant

Record7–12High547 students

EAST GRAND FORKS SENIOR HIGH

East Grand Forks Public Schools

EAST GRAND FORKS, 56721 / Suburb: Small

Record9–12High541 students

NEW HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY

East Grand Forks Public Schools

EAST GRAND FORKS, 56721 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–2Primary471 students

CENTRAL MIDDLE

East Grand Forks Public Schools

EAST GRAND FORKS, 56721 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle444 students

HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY

CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

CROOKSTON, 56716 / Town: Distant

Record1–6Primary435 students

SOUTH POINT ELEMENTARY

East Grand Forks Public Schools

EAST GRAND FORKS, 56721 / Rural: Fringe

Record3–5Primary433 students

MAGELSSEN ELEMENTARY

FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FOSSTON, 56542 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary343 students

FOSSTON SECONDARY

FOSSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FOSSTON, 56542 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High278 students

FERTILE-BELTRAMI ELEMENTARY

FERTILE-BELTRAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT

FERTILE, 56540 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary260 students

FERTILE-BELTRAMI SECONDARY

FERTILE-BELTRAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT

FERTILE, 56540 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High244 students

WIN-E-MAC ELEMENTARY

WIN-E-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT

ERSKINE, 56535 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary227 students

WIN-E-MAC SECONDARY

WIN-E-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT

ERSKINE, 56535 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High205 students

FISHER ELEMENTARY

FISHER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FISHER, 56723 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary140 students

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY

CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

CROOKSTON, 56716 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–KGPrimary128 students

CLIMAX ELEMENTARY

CLIMAX-SHELLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CLIMAX, 56523 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary96 students

CLIMAX SECONDARY

CLIMAX-SHELLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CLIMAX, 56523 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High93 students

FISHER SECONDARY

FISHER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FISHER, 56723 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High92 students

CROOKSTON PRE-K PROGRAM

CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

CROOKSTON, 56716 / Town: Distant

RecordPKSpecial Education25 students

New Paths Alternative Learning Prgm

CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

CROOKSTON, 56716 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative0 students

NORTHERN LIGHTS ACADEMY

CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

CROOKSTON, 56716 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,274

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Polk 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 Polk County?

Polk County has a school score of 49/100, 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 Polk County?

The high school graduation rate in Polk County is 86.5%, 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 Polk County spend per student?

Polk County spends $8,274 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 Polk County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Polk County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Anoka County

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Le Sueur County

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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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