Total enrollment
11,470
+760 (+7%) vs SY 2020-21
Clay County
Minnesota · Public K-12
Clay County runs 32 public K-12 schools per the latest NCES counts, with an average school size of about 358 students. The level mix is 14 elementary, 2 middle, and 13 high schools.
4-year change in Clay County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
26
+2 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Clay County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Minnesota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 44.5% | #32 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 11,470 | #13 of 80 | #733 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 26 | #18 of 80 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.1:1 | #68 of 80 | #1,794 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 40.2% | #40 of 80 | #2,090 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 46.5% | #20 of 80 | #1,244 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.
Clay County school rankings
Residents
66,059
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
32
7 districts
Enrollment
11,470
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$81,172
Above Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.2%
Below Minnesota avg
Elementary
14
5,000 students
Middle
2
2,666 students
High
13
3,754 students
Combined / other
3
50 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Moorhead Area Public Schools
7,571 students · 7 districts in Clay County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Clay 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+
39.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.1%
civilian labor
Median age
34
24.7% under 18
Test scores in Clay County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 16 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- HAWLEY ELEMENTARY· 67.9%
- HAWLEY SECONDARY· 65.3%
- Barnesville Elementary School· 65.1%
- DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON SENIOR HIGH· 57.1%
- Probstfield Elementary· 55.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- ELLEN HOPKINS ELEMENTARY· 33.7%
- Robert Asp Elementary· 37.0%
- Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Elementary· 38.5%
- Dorothy Dodds Elementary School· 41.7%
- HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL· 44.3%
Cities in Clay County
About Clay County
In Minnesota, Clay County is a middle-population county of about 66,059 residents. 32 public schools across the county serves about 11,470 students between them.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $81,172, roughly 39% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 5% noticeably above the Minnesota median.
In terms of grade levels, Clay County is built around 14 elementary schools (5,000 students), 2 middle schools (2,666), 13 high schools (3,754), and 3 combined or other schools.
Moorhead Area Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 7,571 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 11,470 students, rose 7% from the 10,710 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Clay County opened 2 schools, going from 24 to 26.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Clay County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. 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