Total enrollment
4,061
-226 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Freeborn County
Minnesota · Public K-12
Freeborn County's public schools total 19 across the county, with enrollment of about 4,061 and Albert Lea Public School District the largest single district. By level, that breaks down as 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 6 high schools.
7-year change in Freeborn County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
18
+4 (+29%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
61%
was 71%
% Hispanic
22%
was 19%
% Black
3%
was 3%
% Asian
10%
was 5%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
19
5 districts
Enrollment
4,061
NCES CCD
Median income
$71,023
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.5%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
8
1,867 students
Middle
1
486 students
High
6
1,671 students
Combined / other
4
37 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Albert Lea Public School District
3,335 students · 5 districts in Freeborn County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Freeborn 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+
18.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.6%
civilian labor
Median age
44
21.8% under 18
Test scores in Freeborn County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- ALDEN-CONGER SECONDARY· 56.1%
- Lakeview Elementary· 43.8%
- ALDEN-CONGER ELEMENTARY· 43.0%
- Albert Lea Senior High· 41.8%
- Halverson Elementary· 38.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Hawthorne Elementary· 32.2%
- Sibley Elementary· 32.3%
- Southwest Middle· 34.0%
- GLENVILLE-EMMONS SECONDARY· 35.6%
- GLENVILLE EMMONS ELEMENTARY· 36.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Lea Senior High | Albert Lea | High | 08-12 | 1,196 | · |
| Southwest Middle | Albert Lea | Middle | 06-07 | 486 | · |
| Hawthorne Elementary | Albert Lea | Elementary | PK-05 | 400 | · |
| Lakeview Elementary | Albert Lea | Elementary | PK-05 | 400 | · |
| Halverson Elementary | Albert Lea | Elementary | PK-05 | 360 | · |
| Sibley Elementary | Albert Lea | Elementary | PK-05 | 275 | · |
| ALDEN-CONGER ELEMENTARY | Alden | Elementary | PK-06 | 229 | · |
| ALDEN-CONGER SECONDARY | Alden | High | 07-12 | 215 | · |
| GLENVILLE EMMONS ELEMENTARY | Glenville | Elementary | PK-06 | 132 | · |
| Albert Lea Area Learning Center | Albert Lea | High | 06-12 | 113 | · |
| GLENVILLE-EMMONS SECONDARY | Glenville | High | 07-12 | 104 | · |
| Brookside Early Childhood Sp Ed | Albert Lea | Elementary | PK-PK | 68 | · |
| Albert Lea Secondary Online Academy | Albert Lea | High | 06-12 | 37 | · |
| Enrich Alden | Alden | Combined | KG-12 | 17 | · |
| Success East | Adams | Combined | KG-12 | 16 | · |
| Next Step West (Alden) | Alden | High | 08-12 | 6 | · |
| Success West | Glenville | Combined | KG-12 | 4 | · |
| First Step Alden | Alden | Elementary | PK-PK | 3 | · |
| Albert Lea Secondary Online Academy | Albert Lea | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Freeborn County
About Freeborn County
Across the small Minnesota county of Freeborn County of about 30,623 residents, the public-school footprint covers 19 schools and about 4,061 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $71,023, about 18% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%. That income level is 8% below the Minnesota median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Freeborn County consists of 8 elementary schools (1,867 students), 1 middle school (486), 6 high schools (1,671), and 4 combined or other schools.
Albert Lea Public School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,335 students on its own.
Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 5%: 4,287 students in SY 2017-18 versus 4,061 in SY 2024-25. Freeborn County now counts 18 public schools, up from 14 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment decreased from 71% to 61%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Freeborn County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Freeborn County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data