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

No. Use the Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele County?

Start with the 20 listed public schools and 4 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Steele County Schools & Education

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

Steele 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

86.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,240

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

49/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#54

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Steele County

Measured School Summary

Steele County performs at an average level with a school score of 49/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.2%.

Funding Context

Steele County spends $8,240 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 11% below the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Steele 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 4 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 #54 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

86.2%

0.4 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,240

$223 below the state average

School coverage

4 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

Steele County has 20 public schools across 4 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 Steele 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.

Dominant-district county

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT carries most of the listed public-school system, with 14 of 20 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#54

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.

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

4,926 students

Elementary 5Middle 3High 5Other 1

14 listed schools in this county slice.

MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

912 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

BLOOMING PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST

Elementary and high visible

853 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

NRHEG SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary school only in this slice

363 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 14 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 Steele County?

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

Steele County’s Focused District Network

Steele County manages 20 public schools across four districts, serving a total student population of 7,105. The system is well-balanced with 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 8 high schools. This structured environment ensures a clear path from early childhood through graduation.

Owatonna Public Schools Lead the Way

The Owatonna Public School District is the largest in the county, educating 4,926 students across 14 schools. The county hosts one charter school, making up 5% of the total public school options. Other notable districts serving the area include Blooming Prairie and NRHEG.

The Feel of Town-Centered Education

Schooling in Steele County has a strong community feel, with 15 schools located in town settings and 5 in rural areas. Owatonna Senior High is the county’s largest school with 1,475 students, while the average school size is 418. Most families attend schools that are integrated closely with local town life.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Steele County

Reported Enrollment

7,105

20 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

5% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary8

Middle3

High8

Other1

4 School Districts in Steele County

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

912 students

BLOOMING PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST

2 schools

853 students

NRHEG SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

818 students

20 Public Schools in Steele 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 20 matching schools

Public schools in Steele County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
OWATONNA SENIOR HIGH	Profile	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	9–12	High	1,475
Owatonna Middle School	Profile	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	999
LINCOLN ELEMENTARY	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	KG–6	Primary	593
WILSON ELEMENTARY	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	537
MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	525
MEDFORD ELEMENTARY	Record	MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	MEDFORD, 55049Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	491
WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	487
BLOOMING PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY	Record	BLOOMING PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	BLOOMING PRAIRIE, 55917Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	478
MEDFORD SECONDARY	Record	MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	MEDFORD, 55049Rural: Distant	7–12	High	421
BLOOMING PRAIRIE SECONDARY	Record	BLOOMING PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	BLOOMING PRAIRIE, 55917Rural: Remote	7–12	High	375
NRHEG ELEMENTARY	Record	NRHEG SCHOOL DISTRICT	ELLENDALE, 56026Rural: Remote	PK–5	Primary	363
OWATONNA ECSE	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	PK	Special Education	104
OWATONNA ALC 9-12	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	9–12	Alternative	98
CHOICE Technical Academy	Record	TECHNICAL ACADEMIES OF MINNESOTA	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	7–12	Charter	51
Owatonna Online 9-12	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	9–12	Virtual	43
Owatonna Online 6-8	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	6–8	Virtual	39
Owatonna Online K-5	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	KG–5	Virtual	26
Owatonna Night School	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	9–12	Alternative	0
Owatonna Summer School 6-8	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	6–8	Alternative	0
OWATONNA SUMMER SCHOOL 9-12	Record	OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	OWATONNA, 55060Town: Distant	9–12	Alternative	0

OWATONNA SENIOR HIGH

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High1,475 students

Owatonna Middle School

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

Profile6–8Middle999 students

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary593 students

WILSON ELEMENTARY

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary537 students

MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary525 students

MEDFORD ELEMENTARY

MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

MEDFORD, 55049 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary491 students

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary487 students

BLOOMING PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY

BLOOMING PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST

BLOOMING PRAIRIE, 55917 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary478 students

MEDFORD SECONDARY

MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

MEDFORD, 55049 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High421 students

BLOOMING PRAIRIE SECONDARY

BLOOMING PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST

BLOOMING PRAIRIE, 55917 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High375 students

NRHEG ELEMENTARY

NRHEG SCHOOL DISTRICT

ELLENDALE, 56026 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary363 students

OWATONNA ECSE

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

RecordPKSpecial Education104 students

OWATONNA ALC 9-12

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative98 students

CHOICE Technical Academy

TECHNICAL ACADEMIES OF MINNESOTA

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

Record7–12Charter51 students

Owatonna Online 9-12

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Virtual43 students

Owatonna Online 6-8

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Virtual39 students

Owatonna Online K-5

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Virtual26 students

Owatonna Night School

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative0 students

Owatonna Summer School 6-8

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Alternative0 students

OWATONNA SUMMER SCHOOL 9-12

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, 55060 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,240

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Steele 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 Steele County?

Steele 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 Steele County?

The high school graduation rate in Steele County is 86.2%, 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 Steele County spend per student?

Steele County spends $8,240 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 Steele County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Steele County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Le Sueur County

Minnesota

+1 pts

49/100

School score

Anoka County

Minnesota

+1 pts

49/100

School score

Polk County

Minnesota

+1 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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