Total enrollment
1,670
-101 (-6%) vs SY 2020-21
Aitkin County
Minnesota · Public K-12
Public K-12 enrollment in Aitkin County totals about 1,670 students across 10 schools, an average of 167 per school. Aitkin Public School District is the largest district. The level mix is 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Aitkin County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Aitkin County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Minnesota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 46.2% | #26 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,670 | #65 of 80 | #2,385 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 9 | #55 of 80 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.4:1 | #7 of 80 | #648 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 47.2% | #19 of 80 | #1,762 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 23.5% | #68 of 80 | #2,001 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Aitkin County school rankings
Residents
16,056
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
10
4 districts
Enrollment
1,670
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$60,833
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
47.2%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
4
808 students
Middle
1
83 students
High
5
779 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Aitkin Public School District
989 students · 4 districts in Aitkin County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Aitkin County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
20.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.8%
civilian labor
Median age
57
15.6% under 18
Test scores in Aitkin County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Rippleside Elementary· 58.8%
- McGregor Elementary· 54.8%
- Aitkin Secondary School· 51.3%
- Hill City Elementary· 45.2%
- McGregor Secondary· 39.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Hill City Middle School· 29.5%
- McGregor Secondary· 39.0%
- Hill City Elementary· 45.2%
- Aitkin Secondary School· 51.3%
- McGregor Elementary· 54.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin Secondary School | Aitkin | High | 07-12 | 509 | · |
| Rippleside Elementary | Aitkin | Elementary | PK-06 | 476 | · |
| McGregor Elementary | Mcgregor | Elementary | PK-06 | 220 | · |
| McGregor Secondary | Mcgregor | High | 07-12 | 193 | · |
| Hill City Elementary | Hill City | Elementary | PK-04 | 112 | · |
| Hill City Middle School | Hill City | Middle | 05-08 | 83 | · |
| Hill City Senior High | Hill City | High | 09-12 | 72 | · |
| Aitkin Alternative Learning Program | Aitkin | High | 08-12 | 4 | · |
| McGregor Area Learning Program | Mcgregor | High | 08-12 | 1 | · |
| F.E.D. Aitkin Credit Recovery | Aitkin | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Aitkin County
About Aitkin County
Aitkin County is a thinly populated county of about 16,056 residents in Minnesota. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 1,670 students across 10 schools.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $60,833 a year, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 22% below the Minnesota median.
On the school-mix side, Aitkin County spans 4 elementary schools (808 students), 1 middle school (83), and 5 high schools (779).
The largest single district in Aitkin County is Aitkin Public School District, which alone enrolls about 989 students.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 6%: 1,771 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,670 in SY 2024-25.
On allk12, the community for Aitkin County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data