schoolsbycounty

Traverse County Schools & Education

School Score

63/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

90.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,783

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

63/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#26

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Traverse County

Measured School Summary

Traverse County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.

Funding Context

Traverse County spends $8,783 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 3.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Traverse 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 2 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

63/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #26 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

90.0%

3.4 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,783

$320 above the state average

School coverage

4

2 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

Traverse County has 4 public schools across 2 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.

Parent decision brief

What Traverse 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

Traverse 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

#26

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 8 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.

WHEATON AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

366 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Browns Valley Public School Dist

Elementary and middle visible

180 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 0Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Browns Valley Public School Dist is the largest listed district slice, with 2 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 Traverse County?

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

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 Traverse 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.

Small and Specialized: Traverse County Schools

Traverse County has one of the smallest school systems in the state, with just 4 schools serving 546 total students. These schools are managed by 2 districts and cover elementary, middle, and high school levels. The tiny scale allows for a highly personalized education for every student.

Leading Districts in Traverse County

The Wheaton Area Public School District is the county's largest, serving 366 students in its elementary and secondary schools. The Browns Valley Public School District serves the remaining 180 students. There are no charter schools, as the two local districts provide all necessary public education services.

A Truly Rural Learning Environment

All 4 schools in the county are located in rural areas, reflecting the county’s agricultural character. Wheaton Secondary is the largest school with 192 students, while the average school size is just 137. It is a place where teachers and students form deep, multi-year connections.

School Overview

Total Schools

4

in Traverse County

Reported Enrollment

546

4 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle1
High1
Other0

2 School Districts in Traverse County

WHEATON AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools
366 students

Browns Valley Public School Dist

2 schools
180 students

4 Public Schools in Traverse 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

WHEATON SECONDARY

WHEATON AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WHEATON, 56296 / Rural: Remote

Record6–12High192 students

PEARSON ELEMENTARY

WHEATON AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WHEATON, 56296 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary174 students

BROWNS VALLEY ELEMENTARY

Browns Valley Public School Dist

BROWNS VALLEY, 56219 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary118 students

BROWNS VALLEY MIDDLE

Browns Valley Public School Dist

BROWNS VALLEY, 56219 / Rural: Remote

Record5–10Middle62 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,783

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Traverse 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.

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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 Traverse County?
Traverse County has a school score of 63/100, 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 Traverse County?
The high school graduation rate in Traverse County is 90.0%, 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 Traverse County spend per student?
Traverse County spends $8,783 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 Traverse County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

Traverse County has one of the smallest school systems in the state, with just 4 schools serving 546 total students. These schools are managed by 2 districts and cover elementary, middle, and high school levels. The tiny scale allows for a highly personalized education for every student.

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

The Wheaton Area Public School District is the county's largest, serving 366 students in its elementary and secondary schools. The Browns Valley Public School District serves the remaining 180 students. There are no charter schools, as the two local districts provide all necessary public education services.

What is the school experience like in Traverse County?

All 4 schools in the county are located in rural areas, reflecting the county’s agricultural character. Wheaton Secondary is the largest school with 192 students, while the average school size is just 137. It is a place where teachers and students form deep, multi-year connections.

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.