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Brown County

Minnesota · Public K-12

From the largest high school to the smallest elementary campus, Brown County's 20 public schools collectively enroll about 3,672 K-12 students, with New Ulm Public School District the heaviest district by enrollment. The level mix is 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 9 high schools.

7-year change in Brown County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,672
+74 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
17
+2 (+13%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
83%
was 86%
% Hispanic
14%
was 11%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
20
5 districts
Enrollment
3,672
NCES CCD
Median income
$69,378
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
35.8%
Below Minnesota avg
Elementary
6
1,633 students
Middle
1
617 students
High
9
1,360 students
Combined / other
4
62 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
2,127 students · 5 districts in Brown County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Brown 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
White
93%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
83%
Hispanic
14%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
24.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.9%
civilian labor
Median age
42
21.9% under 18

Test scores in Brown County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.

See all 7 schools in Brown County ranked by score →

All schools (20)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOLNew UlmHigh09-12687·
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARYNew UlmElementary01-04643·
New Ulm Middle SchoolNew UlmMiddle05-08617·
SPRINGFIELD ELEMENTARYSpringfieldElementaryPK-06339·
SLEEPY EYE ELEMENTARYSleepy EyeElementaryPK-06324·
SPRINGFIELD SECONDARYSpringfieldHigh07-12314·
SLEEPY EYE SEC.Sleepy EyeHigh07-12238·
Washington Learning CenterNew UlmElementaryPK-KG180·
RIVER BEND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROG.New UlmElementaryPK-PK90·
COMFREY ELEMENTARYComfreyElementaryPK-0657·
COMFREY SECONDARYComfreyHigh07-1247·
RIVER BEND AREA LEARNING CENTERNew UlmHigh07-1243·
IMPRINTS PROGRAMNew UlmCombinedKG-1230·
River Bend Online ALCNew UlmHigh09-1223·
R.I.S.E. ProgramNew UlmCombinedKG-1217·
Raptor ProgramNew UlmCombined01-1215·
W.O.R.K. ProgramNew UlmHigh10-128·
New Ulm CTE CenterNew UlmHigh11-120·
Out of State Care and TreatmentNew UlmCombinedKG-120·
River Bend ALC Credit Recovery ProgNew UlmHigh09-120·

Cities in Brown County

New Ulm14 schoolsComfrey2 schoolsSleepy Eye2 schoolsSpringfield2 schools

About Brown County

Brown County is a compact county of about 25,800 residents in Minnesota. Its public-school system teaches approximately 3,672 students across 20 schools.

For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $69,378, about 25% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 5%. That income level is 10% meaningfully below the Minnesota median.

On the school-mix side, Brown County comprises 6 elementary schools (1,633 students), 1 middle school (617), 9 high schools (1,360), and 4 combined or other schools.

NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,127 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 3,598 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,672 in SY 2024-25. Brown County now counts 17 public schools, up from 15 in SY 2017-18.

On allk12, the community for Brown County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Brown County?
There are 20 public K-12 schools in Brown County, Minnesota, with a combined enrollment of about 3,672.
How many high schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, Minnesota has 9 public high schools, serving approximately 1,360 students.
How many middle schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, Minnesota has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 617 students.
How many elementary schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, Minnesota has 6 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,633 students.
What is the largest school district in Brown County?
NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Brown County, serving approximately 2,127 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
How many people live in Brown County?
Brown County has roughly 25,800 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Brown County?
Median household income in Brown County is $69,378, below the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 4.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Brown County?
Approximately 24.5% of adults 25 and older in Brown County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Brown County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 35.8% of students in Brown County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Minnesota county average of 41.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Brown County schools?
Across Brown County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.2 to 1.

Brown County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data