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Jackson County

Minnesota · Public K-12

Jackson County's public-school footprint spans 7 K-12 schools with combined enrollment of about 1,353, the largest district being Jackson County Central School Dist.. By grade band, the county runs 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.

4-year change in Jackson County

SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,353
-106 (-7%) vs SY 2020-21
School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

How Jackson County ranks

Among counties
MeasureThis countyIn MinnesotaIn the US
State test proficiency
ranked highest first
43.0%#41 of 80N/A
Enrollment
ranked largest first
1,353#71 of 80#2,552 of 2,745
Number of schools
ranked most first
6#73 of 80N/A
Students per teacher
ranked fewest first
14.1:1#43 of 80#1,413 of 2,655
Free or reduced-price lunch share
ranked highest first
39.9%#42 of 80#2,097 of 2,526
Diversity index
ranked most diverse first
31.2%#56 of 80#1,757 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.
Residents
9,933
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
7
3 districts
Enrollment
1,353
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$75,743
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.9%
Below Minnesota avg
Elementary
3
643 students
Middle
1
241 students
High
3
469 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Jackson County Central School Dist.
1,093 students · 3 districts in Jackson County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Jackson 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
91%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
82%
Hispanic
9%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
26.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.4%
civilian labor
Median age
45
21.8% under 18

Test scores in Jackson County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.

See all 6 schools in Jackson County ranked by score →

All schools (7)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Riverside ElementaryJacksonElementaryPK-03350·
Jackson County Central Senior HighJacksonHigh09-12332·
Jackson County Central MiddleLakefieldMiddle06-08241·
Pleasantview ElementaryLakefieldElementary04-05170·
Heron Lake-Okabena SecondaryOkabenaHigh07-12137·
HERON LAKE-OKABENA ELEMENTARYHeron LakeElementaryPK-06123·
Jackson Co Central Credit RecoveryJacksonHigh09-120·

Cities in Jackson County

Jackson3 schoolsLakefield2 schoolsHeron Lake1 schoolOkabena1 school

About Jackson County

Jackson County is a sparse Minnesota county of about 9,933 residents, home to 7 public schools and roughly 1,353 students.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $75,743, roughly 26% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 5%.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Jackson County is built around 3 elementary schools (643 students), 1 middle school (241), and 3 high schools (469).

Jackson County Central School Dist. is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,093 students across Jackson County.

Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,353 students, fell 7% from the 1,459 reported in SY 2020-21.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Jackson County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Jackson County?
There are 7 public K-12 schools in Jackson County, Minnesota, with a combined enrollment of about 1,353.
How many high schools are in Jackson County?
Jackson County, Minnesota has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 469 students.
How many middle schools are in Jackson County?
Jackson County, Minnesota has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 241 students.
How many elementary schools are in Jackson County?
Jackson County, Minnesota has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 643 students.
What is the largest school district in Jackson County?
Jackson County Central School Dist. is the largest school district in Jackson County, serving approximately 1,093 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
What is the population of Jackson County?
Jackson County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 9,933, with a median age of 45. About 21.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Jackson County?
Median household income in Jackson County is $75,743, below the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 4.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Jackson County?
Approximately 26.1% of adults 25 and older in Jackson County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Jackson County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 39.9% of students in Jackson 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 Jackson County schools?
Across Jackson County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.3 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data