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

No. Use the Rice 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 Rice 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 Rice County?

Start with the 36 listed public schools and 10 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Rice County Schools & Education

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

Rice 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

81.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

81.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,922

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

49/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#52

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Rice County

Measured School Summary

Rice County has midrange measured school signals (score: 49/100) with a graduation rate of 81.1%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Rice County spends $9,922 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 5.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 17% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Rice 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

36 public schools and 10 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 #52 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

81.1%

5.5 pts below the state average

Funding context

$9,922

$1,459 above the state average

School coverage

10 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

Rice County has 36 public schools across 10 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 Rice 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.

Choice-program county

Rice County has a visible charter, magnet, or virtual-school layer in NCES records. The practical question is eligibility, lottery timing, and transportation, not just whether a school appears nearby.

State position

#52

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.

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

3,857 students

Elementary 5Middle 2High 3Other 1

11 listed schools in this county slice.

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

3,312 students

Elementary 3Middle 3High 4Other 2

12 listed schools in this county slice.

WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN

Middle school only in this slice

234 students

Elementary 0Middle 2High 0Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

CANNON RIVER STEM SCHOOL

Elementary school only in this slice

220 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 12 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 Rice County?

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

Diverse Districts Serving Rice County Students

Rice County features a robust educational system with 36 public schools spread across 10 different districts. The landscape includes 11 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 11 high schools, supporting a total of 8,395 students. The county also offers a specialized mix of alternative and special education facilities.

Northfield and Faribault Lead the Way

The Northfield Public School District and Faribault Public School District are the primary providers, serving 3,857 and 3,312 students respectively. Charter schools play a notable role here, with 4 institutions representing 11.1% of the total school count. These options provide families with a variety of pedagogical approaches within the public system.

A Blend of Town and Rural Learning

The county's schools are primarily located in 'Town' settings, with 27 schools fitting this description and 9 classified as rural. Northfield Senior High is the largest school with 1,246 students, offering a traditional large-campus experience. Conversely, the average school size across the county is 262 students, ensuring many smaller learning environments exist.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Rice County

Reported Enrollment

8,395

36 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

11% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary11

Middle7

High11

Other7

10 School Districts in Rice County

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN

4 schools

767 students

CANNON RIVER STEM SCHOOL

1 school

220 students

ARCADIA CHARTER SCHOOL

1 school

115 students

MINNESOTA STATE ACADEMIES

2 schools

112 students

NERSTRAND CHARTER SCHOOL

1 school

101 students

Cannon Valley Special Education Coo

3 schools

90 students

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

9 schools

81 students

Discovery Public School - Faribault

1 school

49 students

36 Public Schools in Rice 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 36 matching schools

Public schools in Rice County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
NORTHFIELD SENIOR HIGH	Profile	NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTHFIELD, 55057Town: Distant	9–12	High	1,246
FARIBAULT SENIOR HIGH	Profile	FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FARIBAULT, 55021Town: Distant	9–12	High	981
NORTHFIELD MIDDLE	Record	NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTHFIELD, 55057Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	846
FARIBAULT MIDDLE	Record	FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FARIBAULT, 55021Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	717
BRIDGEWATER ELEMENTARY	Record	NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTHFIELD, 55057Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	527
GREENVALE PARK ELEMENTARY	Record	NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTHFIELD, 55057Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	496
Spring Creek Elementary	Record	NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTHFIELD, 55057Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	462
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY	Record	FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FARIBAULT, 55021Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	458
LINCOLN ELEMENTARY	Record	FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FARIBAULT, 55021Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	445
ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY	Record	FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FARIBAULT, 55021Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	425
LONSDALE PRE K-6	Record	TRI-CITY UNITED SCHOOL DISTRICT	LONSDALE, 56046Rural: Fringe	PK–6	Primary	305
CANNON RIVER STEM SCHOOL	Record	CANNON RIVER STEM SCHOOL	FARIBAULT, 55021Rural: Fringe	KG–8	Charter	220
NORTHFIELD AREA LEARNING CENTER	Record	NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTHFIELD, 55057Town: Distant	6–12	Alternative	124
WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN JR.	Record	WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN	MORRISTOWN, 55052Rural: Distant	7–8	Middle	122
FARIBAULT AREA LEARNING CENTER	Record	FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FARIBAULT, 55021Rural: Fringe	9–12	Alternative	120
ARCADIA CHARTER SCHOOL	Record	ARCADIA CHARTER SCHOOL	NORTHFIELD, 55057Town: Distant	6–12	Charter	115
MORRISTOWN ELEMENTARY	Record	WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN	MORRISTOWN, 55052Rural: Distant	5–6	Middle	112
NERSTRAND CHARTER SCHOOL	Record	NERSTRAND CHARTER SCHOOL	NERSTRAND, 55053Rural: Distant	KG–5	Charter	101
Northfield Community Education Cntr	Record	NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTHFIELD, 55057Town: Distant	PK	Other	88
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION	Record	FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FARIBAULT, 55021Town: Distant	PK	Special Education	80

NORTHFIELD SENIOR HIGH

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTHFIELD, 55057 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High1,246 students

FARIBAULT SENIOR HIGH

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FARIBAULT, 55021 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High981 students

NORTHFIELD MIDDLE

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTHFIELD, 55057 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle846 students

FARIBAULT MIDDLE

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FARIBAULT, 55021 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle717 students

BRIDGEWATER ELEMENTARY

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTHFIELD, 55057 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary527 students

GREENVALE PARK ELEMENTARY

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTHFIELD, 55057 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary496 students

Spring Creek Elementary

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTHFIELD, 55057 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary462 students

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FARIBAULT, 55021 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary458 students

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FARIBAULT, 55021 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary445 students

ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FARIBAULT, 55021 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary425 students

LONSDALE PRE K-6

TRI-CITY UNITED SCHOOL DISTRICT

LONSDALE, 56046 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–6Primary305 students

CANNON RIVER STEM SCHOOL

FARIBAULT, 55021 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–8Charter220 students

NORTHFIELD AREA LEARNING CENTER

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTHFIELD, 55057 / Town: Distant

Record6–12Alternative124 students

WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN JR.

WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN

MORRISTOWN, 55052 / Rural: Distant

Record7–8Middle122 students

FARIBAULT AREA LEARNING CENTER

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FARIBAULT, 55021 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Alternative120 students

ARCADIA CHARTER SCHOOL

NORTHFIELD, 55057 / Town: Distant

Record6–12Charter115 students

MORRISTOWN ELEMENTARY

WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN

MORRISTOWN, 55052 / Rural: Distant

Record5–6Middle112 students

NERSTRAND CHARTER SCHOOL

NERSTRAND, 55053 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Charter101 students

Northfield Community Education Cntr

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTHFIELD, 55057 / Town: Distant

RecordPKOther88 students

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION

FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FARIBAULT, 55021 / Town: Distant

RecordPKSpecial Education80 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,922

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Rice 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 Rice County?

Rice 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 Rice County?

The high school graduation rate in Rice County is 81.1%, 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 Rice County spend per student?

Rice County spends $9,922 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 Rice County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Rice County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Anoka County

Minnesota

0 pts

49/100

School score

Polk County

Minnesota

0 pts

49/100

School score

Le Sueur County

Minnesota

-0 pts

49/100

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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