Total enrollment
4,570
+304 (+7%) vs SY 2020-21
Cass County
Minnesota · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Cass County number 21, teaching approximately 4,570 Minnesota students against a population of 30,992. That works out to 7 elementary, 3 middle, and 9 high schools.
4-year change in Cass County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
18
+2 (+13%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Cass County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Minnesota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 34.1% | #70 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,570 | #37 of 80 | #1,426 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 18 | #33 of 80 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.7:1 | #12 of 80 | #784 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 60.7% | #2 of 80 | #1,087 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 53.1% | #17 of 80 | #948 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.
Cass County school rankings
Residents
30,992
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
21
9 districts
Enrollment
4,570
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$68,874
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
60.7%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
7
2,003 students
Middle
3
745 students
High
9
1,667 students
Combined / other
2
155 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,324 students · 9 districts in Cass County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Cass 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+
26.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.6%
civilian labor
Median age
50
20.0% under 18
Test scores in Cass County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- PINE RIVER-BACKUS ELEMENTARY· 57.7%
- Pillager Middle School· 51.9%
- PILLAGER ELEMENTARY· 51.7%
- W.H.A. Elementary· 38.3%
- Pillager Senior High School· 37.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Cass Lake-Bena Middle School· 18.8%
- CASS LAKE-BENA SECONDARY· 19.6%
- CASS LAKE-BENA ELEMENTARY· 25.8%
- Northland Elementary· 30.9%
- NORTHLAND SECONDARY· 31.5%
Cities in Cass County
About Cass County
In Minnesota, Cass County is a rural-scale county of about 30,992 residents. 21 public schools across the county serves about 4,570 students between them.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $68,874 a year, about 26% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 9%. That income level is 11% noticeably below the Minnesota median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Cass County is built around 7 elementary schools (2,003 students), 3 middle schools (745), 9 high schools (1,667), and 2 combined or other schools.
PILLAGER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,324 students across Cass County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,570 students, increased 7% from the 4,266 reported in SY 2020-21. Cass County now counts 18 public schools, up from 16 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Cass County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data