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Dakota County

Minnesota · Public K-12

The schools list below covers the full public K-12 directory for Dakota County: 170 campuses, 74,687 students, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan as the largest district. By grade band, the county runs 80 elementary, 25 middle, and 51 high schools.

7-year change in Dakota County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
74,658
+1,017 (+1%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
150
+16 (+12%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
56%
was 66%
% Hispanic
16%
was 12%
% Black
14%
was 10%
% Asian
6%
was 6%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
445,771
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
170
21 districts
Enrollment
74,687
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$106,318
Above Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
34.3%
Below Minnesota avg
Elementary
80
32,804 students
Middle
25
15,204 students
High
51
26,317 students
Combined / other
14
362 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN
29,224 students · 21 districts in Dakota County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Dakota 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
74%
Hispanic
9%
Black
8%
Asian
5%
Two or more
8%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
56%
Hispanic
16%
Black
14%
Asian
6%
Two or more
8%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
45.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.6%
civilian labor
Median age
39
24.0% under 18

Test scores in Dakota County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 97 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.

See all 97 schools in Dakota County ranked by score →

All schools (170)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
ROSEMOUNT SENIOR HIGHRosemountHigh09-122,364·
EASTVIEW SENIOR HIGHApple ValleyHigh09-122,328·
EAGAN SENIOR HIGHEaganHigh09-122,274·
FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOLFarmingtonHigh09-122,153·
Burnsville High SchoolBurnsvilleHigh09-122,029·
APPLE VALLEY SENIOR HIGHApple ValleyHigh09-121,999·
LAKEVILLE NORTH HIGHLakevilleHigh09-121,871·
LAKEVILLE SOUTH HIGHLakevilleHigh09-121,816·
Two Rivers High SchoolMendota HeightsHigh09-121,710·
Burnsville Area Learning CenterBurnsvilleHigh06-121,350·
Hastings High SchoolHastingsHigh09-121,301·
SCOTT HIGHLANDS MIDDLEApple ValleyMiddle06-081,228·
DAKOTA HILLS MIDDLEEaganMiddle06-081,184·
Hastings Middle SchoolHastingsMiddle05-081,183·
ROSEMOUNT MIDDLERosemountMiddle06-081,141·
Valley Middle School of STEMApple ValleyMiddle06-081,090·
FALCON RIDGE MIDDLEApple ValleyMiddle06-081,088·
SIMLEY SENIOR HIGHInver Grove HeightsHigh09-121,030·
CENTURY MIDDLE SCHOOLLakevilleMiddle06-08950·
BLACK HAWK MIDDLEEaganMiddle06-08889·
South St. Paul High SchoolSouth Saint PaulHigh09-12866·
ROBERT BOECKMAN MIDDLE SCHOOLFarmingtonMiddle06-08855·
KENWOOD TRAIL MIDDLE SCHOOLLakevilleMiddle06-08854·
East Lake Elementary SchoolLakevilleElementaryPK-05844·
MCGUIRE MIDDLELakevilleMiddle06-08844·
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS MIDDLEInver Grove HeightsMiddle06-08817·
ROSEMOUNT ELEMENTARYRosemountElementaryKG-05803·
FRIENDLY HILLS MIDDLEMendota HeightsMiddle05-08785·
HERITAGE E-STEM MAGNET SCHOOLWest Saint PaulMiddle05-08761·
GREENLEAF ELEMENTARYApple ValleyElementaryPK-05747·
RED PINE ELEMENTARYEaganElementaryKG-05740·
ECHO PARK LEADERSHIP ENGINEER/TECHBurnsvilleElementaryPK-05732·
LAKE MARION ELEMENTARYLakevilleElementaryKG-05727·
Cedar Park Elementary STEM SchoolApple ValleyElementaryKG-05722·
WOODLAND ELEMENTARYEaganElementaryKG-05720·
GLACIER HILLS SCHOOL - ARTS/SCIENCEEaganElementaryKG-05707·
LEVI P. DODGE MIDDLE SCHOOLFarmingtonMiddle06-08692·
DIAMOND PATH EL SCH OF INTL STUDIESApple ValleyElementaryKG-05686·
PARKVIEW ELEMENTARYRosemountElementaryKG-05674·
Lincoln Center ElementarySouth Saint PaulElementaryPK-05670·
HIGHLAND ELEMENTARYApple ValleyElementaryKG-05662·
Highview Elementary SchoolLakevilleElementaryKG-05658·
KENNEDY ELEMENTARYLakevilleElementaryKG-05638·
BLUESKY CHARTER SCHOOLBloomingtonHigh06-12634·
HILLTOP ELEMENTARYInver Grove HeightsElementaryPK-05626·
Kaposia Education Center ElementarySouth Saint PaulElementaryPK-05620·
NORTH TRAIL ELEMENTARYFarmingtonElementaryPK-05612·
MEADOWVIEW ELEMENTARYFarmingtonElementaryPK-05600·
CHERRY VIEW ELEMENTARYLakevilleElementaryKG-05599·
LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARYLakevilleElementaryKG-05588·
Dakota Valley Learning CenterApple ValleyElementaryPK-PK584·
OAK RIDGE LEADERSHIPENVIRON/HEALTHEaganElementaryPK-05583·
SOUTHVIEW ELEMENTARYApple ValleyElementaryKG-05576·
THOMAS LAKE ELEMENTARYEaganElementaryKG-05575·
RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARYFarmingtonElementaryPK-05573·
OAK HILLS ELEMENTARYLakevilleElementaryKG-05571·
William Byrne ElementaryBurnsvilleElementaryPK-05569·
EASTVIEW ELEMENTARYLakevilleElementaryKG-05543·
South St. Paul Middle SchoolSouth Saint PaulMiddle06-08535·
DEERWOOD ELEMENTARYEaganElementaryKG-05528·
Sky Oaks ElementaryBurnsvilleElementaryPK-05524·
Pinewood Community ElementaryEaganElementaryKG-05519·
PINE BEND ELEMENTARYInver Grove HeightsElementaryPK-05511·
SHANNON PARK ELEMENTARYRosemountElementaryKG-05508·
WESTVIEW ELEMENTARYApple ValleyElementaryKG-05500·
FARMINGTON ELEMENTARYFarmingtonElementaryPK-05493·
Seven Hills - Burnsville ElementaryBurnsvilleElementaryKG-05480·
AKIN ROAD ELEMENTARYFarmingtonElementaryPK-05479·
Christa McAuliffe ElementaryHastingsElementaryKG-04470·
Kennedy ElementaryHastingsElementaryKG-04461·
RANDOLPH ELEMENTARYRandolphElementaryPK-06445·
Pinecrest ElementaryHastingsElementaryKG-04436·
Great Oaks Academy - GrammarFarmingtonElementaryKG-05430·
HUDDLESTON ELEMENTARYLakevilleElementaryKG-05430·
RANDOLPH SECONDARYRandolphHigh07-12430·
GARLOUGH ENVIRONMENTAL MAGNETWest Saint PaulElementaryKG-04414·
SOMERSET ELEMENTARYMendota HeightsElementaryPK-04412·
NORTHVIEW ELEMENTARYEaganElementaryKG-05396·
Orchard Lake ElementaryLakevilleElementaryKG-05390·
PILOT KNOB STEM MAGNET SCHOOLEaganElementaryPK-04387·
Rahn ElementaryEaganElementaryPK-05383·
Edward Neill ElementaryBurnsvilleElementaryPK-05377·
MORELAND ART/HEALTH SCIENCE MAGNETWest Saint PaulElementaryPK-04369·
Gideon Pond ElementaryBurnsvilleElementaryPK-05361·
MENDOTA ELEMENTARYMendota HeightsElementaryPK-04358·
SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIESApple ValleyHigh11-12334·
Vista View ElementaryBurnsvilleElementaryPK-05311·
SALEM HILLS ELEMENTARYInver Grove HeightsElementaryPK-05281·
FIT AcademyApple ValleyElementaryKG-05264·
LAKEVILLE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMLakevilleElementaryPK-PK237·
Early Education Program & ServicesBurnsvilleElementaryPK-PK203·
Burnsville Alternative High SchoolEaganHigh09-12198·
FIT Academy High SchoolApple ValleyHigh06-12194·
Early Learning Resource CenterWest Saint PaulElementaryPK-PK187·
PRAIRIE CREEK COMMUNITY SCHOOLNorthfieldElementaryKG-05180·
STEP Academy Kg-5th - BurnsvilleBurnsvilleElementaryKG-05171·
Discovery Charter Elementary SchoolInver Grove HeightsElementaryKG-08166·
TRANSITION PLUSApple ValleyHigh11-12154·
Lakeville Online Academy-HighLakevilleHigh09-12153·
ONE91 Virtual Academy SecondaryBurnsvilleHigh06-12151·

Cities in Dakota County

Lakeville23 schoolsBurnsville22 schoolsApple Valley21 schoolsRosemount19 schoolsEagan17 schoolsHastings15 schoolsFarmington14 schoolsInver Grove Heights11 schoolsWest Saint Paul9 schoolsSouth Saint Paul8 schoolsMendota Heights7 schoolsRandolph2 schoolsBloomington1 schoolNorthfield1 school

About Dakota County

Dakota County is an expansive county of about 445,771 residents in Minnesota. Its public-school system teaches approximately 74,687 students across 170 schools.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $106,318 a year, about 45% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 37% higher than the Minnesota median.

In terms of grade levels, Dakota County comprises 80 elementary schools (32,804 students), 25 middle schools (15,204), 51 high schools (26,317), and 14 combined or other schools.

ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 29,224 students across Dakota County.

Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 74,658 students, stayed largely flat from the 73,641 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Dakota County gained 16 schools, going from 134 to 150. The White share of public-school enrollment decreased from 66% to 56%.

On this page, the community for Dakota 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

How many K-12 schools serve Dakota County?
There are 170 public K-12 schools in Dakota County, Minnesota, with a combined enrollment of about 74,687.
How many high schools are in Dakota County?
Dakota County, Minnesota has 51 public high schools, serving approximately 26,317 students.
How many middle schools are in Dakota County?
Dakota County, Minnesota has 25 public middle schools, serving approximately 15,204 students.
How many elementary schools are in Dakota County?
Dakota County, Minnesota has 80 public elementary schools, serving approximately 32,804 students.
What is the largest school district in Dakota County?
ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN is the largest school district in Dakota County, serving approximately 29,224 students. The county contains 21 school districts overall.
What is the population of Dakota County?
Dakota County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 445,771, with a median age of 39. About 24.0% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Dakota County?
Median household income in Dakota County is $106,318, above the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 3.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Dakota County?
Approximately 45.0% of adults 25 and older in Dakota County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Dakota County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 34.3% of students in Dakota 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 Dakota County schools?
Across Dakota County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 16.4 to 1.

Dakota County school rankings

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