Total enrollment
6,407
-499 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
Itasca County
Minnesota · Public K-12
Itasca County runs 26 public K-12 schools per the latest NCES counts, with an average school size of about 246 students. By level, that breaks down as 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 10 high schools.
7-year change in Itasca County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
22
-2 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
80%
was 81%
% Hispanic
2%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
26
6 districts
Enrollment
6,407
NCES CCD
Median income
$68,603
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
48.0%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
12
2,928 students
Middle
3
1,062 students
High
10
2,378 students
Combined / other
1
39 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
3,972 students · 6 districts in Itasca County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Itasca 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+
25.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.9%
civilian labor
Median age
47
20.2% under 18
Test scores in Itasca County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- COHASSET ELEMENTARY· 63.0%
- East Rapids Elementary· 59.4%
- KING ELEMENTARY· 56.0%
- ROBERT J. ELKINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL· 54.6%
- BIGFORK ELEMENTARY· 53.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Northern Lights Community School· 36.4%
- GREENWAY MIDDLE· 42.2%
- DEER RIVER SECONDARY· 42.8%
- Keewatin-Nashwauk Elementary School· 43.6%
- VANDYKE ELEMENTARY· 44.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAND RAPIDS SENIOR HIGH | Grand Rapids | High | 09-12 | 1,091 | · |
| ROBERT J. ELKINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | Grand Rapids | Middle | 06-08 | 764 | · |
| East Rapids Elementary | Grand Rapids | Elementary | 03-05 | 639 | · |
| West Rapids Elementary | Grand Rapids | Elementary | PK-02 | 612 | · |
| DEER RIVER SECONDARY | Deer River | High | 06-12 | 425 | · |
| KING ELEMENTARY | Deer River | Elementary | PK-05 | 390 | · |
| VANDYKE ELEMENTARY | Coleraine | Elementary | PK-04 | 377 | · |
| Keewatin-Nashwauk Elementary School | Keewatin | Elementary | PK-06 | 313 | · |
| COHASSET ELEMENTARY | Cohasset | Elementary | KG-05 | 312 | · |
| GREENWAY SENIOR HIGH | Coleraine | High | 09-12 | 271 | · |
| GREENWAY MIDDLE | Coleraine | Middle | 05-08 | 244 | · |
| NASHWAUK SECONDARY | Nashwauk | High | 07-12 | 228 | · |
| BIGFORK ELEMENTARY | Bigfork | Elementary | PK-06 | 139 | · |
| BIGFORK SECONDARY | Bigfork | High | 07-12 | 130 | · |
| GRAND RAPIDS AREA LEARNING CENTER | Grand Rapids | High | 08-12 | 129 | · |
| Northern Lights Community School | Warba | High | 06-12 | 91 | · |
| MARBLE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | Marble | Elementary | PK-PK | 78 | · |
| GRAND RAPIDS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | Grand Rapids | Elementary | PK-PK | 63 | · |
| MIDDLE AREA LEARNING CENTER | Grand Rapids | Middle | 05-08 | 54 | · |
| ITASKIN EDUCATION CENTER | Grand Rapids | Combined | 04-12 | 39 | · |
| Deer River High School ALP | Deer River | High | 10-12 | 13 | · |
| Deer River Schools SPED | Deer River | Elementary | KG-05 | 5 | · |
| Infinity: Minnesota Digital Academy | Grand Rapids | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| NASHWAUK-KEEWATIN ALP | Nashwauk | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Grand Rapids Area Virtual Secondary | Grand Rapids | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Grand Rapids Virtual Elementary | Grand Rapids | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Itasca County
About Itasca County
In Minnesota, Itasca County is a low-population county of about 45,275 residents. 26 public schools across the county hosts about 6,407 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $68,603, 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 8%. That income level is 11% below the Minnesota median.
In terms of grade levels, Itasca County consists of 12 elementary schools (2,928 students), 3 middle schools (1,062), 10 high schools (2,378), and 1 combined or other schools.
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,972 students across Itasca County.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 6,407 students, declined 7% from the 6,906 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Itasca County lost 2 schools, going from 24 to 22.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Itasca 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
Itasca County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data