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

No. Use the Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County?

Start with the 97 listed public schools and 13 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Washington County Schools & Education

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

Washington 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

91.3%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.3%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,228

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#23

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Washington County

Measured School Summary

Washington County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.3%.

Funding Context

Washington County spends $8,228 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 17% above the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Washington 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

97 public schools and 13 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 #23 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

91.3%

4.7 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,228

$235 below the state average

School coverage

13 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

Washington County has 97 public schools across 13 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 Washington 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

Washington 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

#23

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.

South Washington County Schools

Elementary to high school visible

19,159 students

Elementary 17Middle 4High 7Other 1

29 listed schools in this county slice.

Stillwater Area Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

8,285 students

Elementary 8Middle 2High 4Other 2

16 listed schools in this county slice.

FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

4,105 students

Elementary 3Middle 2High 4Other 1

10 listed schools in this county slice.

MAHTOMEDI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

3,176 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 1

6 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

South Washington County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 29 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 Washington County?

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

An Expansive Suburban School Network

Washington County hosts a massive educational infrastructure with 97 public schools serving 45,515 students. The county is divided into 13 districts featuring 45 elementary and 31 high schools. This high-capacity system supports a diverse range of learners across suburban and town locales.

Major Districts and Charter Options

South Washington County Schools is the region's powerhouse, managing 29 schools and 19,159 students. Stillwater Area Public Schools follows with 8,285 students across 16 schools. The county also offers substantial choice, with 16 charter schools making up over 16% of the total public school inventory.

Suburban Life and Large High Schools

Education in Washington County is primarily suburban, with 73 schools located in developed residential hubs. Massive institutions like Stillwater Area High School, which enrolls 2,647 students, define the scale of the secondary school experience here. Average school sizes are large at 529 students, offering students wide-ranging extracurricular and academic programs.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Washington County

Reported Enrollment

45,515

97 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

16% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary45

Middle14

High31

Other7

13 School Districts in Washington County

South Washington County Schools

Stillwater Area Public Schools

FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

MAHTOMEDI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

6 schools

3,176 students

Lakes International Language Academ

4 schools

1,301 students

ST. CROIX PREPARATORY ACADEMY

3 schools

1,213 students

Woodbury Leadership Academy

1 school

666 students

MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY

1 school

609 students

NORTH LAKES ACADEMY

3 schools

599 students

Marine Area Community School

1 school

219 students

97 Public Schools in Washington County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 11 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 97 matching schools

Public schools in Washington County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	Stillwater Area Public Schools	STILLWATER, 55082Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,647
EAST RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	South Washington County Schools	WOODBURY, 55129Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	2,021
Woodbury High School	Profile	South Washington County Schools	WOODBURY, 55125Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,979
Park High School	Profile	South Washington County Schools	COTTAGE GROVE, 55016Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,938
Forest Lake Area High School	Profile	FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FOREST LAKE, 55025Town: Fringe	9–12	High	1,876
TARTAN SENIOR HIGH	Profile	North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale	OAKDALE, 55128Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,683
LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	South Washington County Schools	WOODBURY, 55125Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	1,145
MAHTOMEDI SENIOR HIGH	Profile	MAHTOMEDI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	MAHTOMEDI, 55115Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,142
WOODBURY MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	South Washington County Schools	WOODBURY, 55125Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	1,108
SKYVIEW COMMUNITY MIDDLE	Profile	North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale	OAKDALE, 55128Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	1,004
OLTMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	South Washington County Schools	COTTAGE GROVE, 55016Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	969
Oak-Land Middle School	Record	Stillwater Area Public Schools	LAKE ELMO, 55042Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	933
COTTAGE GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	South Washington County Schools	COTTAGE GROVE, 55016Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	924
Stillwater Middle School	Record	Stillwater Area Public Schools	STILLWATER, 55082Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	906
Forest Lake Area Middle School	Record	FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	FOREST LAKE, 55025Town: Fringe	7–8	Middle	853
LIBERTY RIDGE ELEMENTARY	Record	South Washington County Schools	WOODBURY, 55129Suburb: Large	KG–5	Primary	788
EAGLE POINT ELEMENTARY	Record	North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale	OAKDALE, 55128Suburb: Large	PK–5	Primary	771
MAHTOMEDI MIDDLE	Record	MAHTOMEDI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	MAHTOMEDI, 55115Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	765
GREY CLOUD ELEMENTARY	Record	South Washington County Schools	COTTAGE GROVE, 55016Suburb: Large	KG–5	Primary	763
Valley Crossing Elementary	Record	South Washington County Schools	WOODBURY, 55125Suburb: Large	KG–5	Primary	712

STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL

Stillwater Area Public Schools

STILLWATER, 55082 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,647 students

EAST RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

South Washington County Schools

WOODBURY, 55129 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High2,021 students

Woodbury High School

South Washington County Schools

WOODBURY, 55125 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,979 students

Park High School

South Washington County Schools

COTTAGE GROVE, 55016 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,938 students

Forest Lake Area High School

FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FOREST LAKE, 55025 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,876 students

TARTAN SENIOR HIGH

North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale

OAKDALE, 55128 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,683 students

LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL

South Washington County Schools

WOODBURY, 55125 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,145 students

MAHTOMEDI SENIOR HIGH

MAHTOMEDI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

MAHTOMEDI, 55115 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,142 students

WOODBURY MIDDLE SCHOOL

South Washington County Schools

WOODBURY, 55125 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,108 students

SKYVIEW COMMUNITY MIDDLE

North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale

OAKDALE, 55128 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,004 students

OLTMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

South Washington County Schools

COTTAGE GROVE, 55016 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle969 students

Oak-Land Middle School

Stillwater Area Public Schools

LAKE ELMO, 55042 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle933 students

COTTAGE GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL

South Washington County Schools

COTTAGE GROVE, 55016 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle924 students

Stillwater Middle School

Stillwater Area Public Schools

STILLWATER, 55082 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle906 students

Forest Lake Area Middle School

FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FOREST LAKE, 55025 / Town: Fringe

Record7–8Middle853 students

LIBERTY RIDGE ELEMENTARY

South Washington County Schools

WOODBURY, 55129 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–5Primary788 students

EAGLE POINT ELEMENTARY

North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale

OAKDALE, 55128 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary771 students

MAHTOMEDI MIDDLE

MAHTOMEDI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

MAHTOMEDI, 55115 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle765 students

GREY CLOUD ELEMENTARY

South Washington County Schools

COTTAGE GROVE, 55016 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–5Primary763 students

Valley Crossing Elementary

South Washington County Schools

WOODBURY, 55125 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–5Primary712 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,228

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Washington 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 Washington County?

Washington 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 Washington County?

The high school graduation rate in Washington County is 91.3%, 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 Washington County spend per student?

Washington County spends $8,228 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 Washington County, Minnesota — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Washington County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Grant County

Minnesota

+0 pts

64/100

School score

Aitkin County

Minnesota

-0 pts

64/100

School score

Nicollet County

Minnesota

-1 pts

64/100

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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