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Pennington County

Minnesota · Public K-12

Pennington County is one of Minnesota's public-school counties, with 7 campuses serving about 2,000 students (2 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high). Median household income in the county is roughly $77,325.

7-year change in Pennington County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,000
-269 (-12%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
82%
was 85%
% Hispanic
8%
was 6%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
2 districts
Enrollment
2,000
NCES CCD
Median income
$77,325
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.5%
Below Minnesota avg
Elementary
2
888 students
Middle
1
454 students
High
4
658 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
THIEF RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,725 students · 2 districts in Pennington County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Pennington 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
89%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
2%
Two or more
6%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
82%
Hispanic
8%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
7%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
21.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.9%
civilian labor
Median age
40
20.8% under 18

Test scores in Pennington County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.

See all 5 schools in Pennington County ranked by score →

All schools (7)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
CHALLENGER ELEMENTARYThief River FallsElementaryPK-05727·
LINCOLN SENIOR HIGHThief River FallsHigh09-12521·
FRANKLIN MIDDLEThief River FallsMiddle06-08454·
GOODRIDGE ELEMENTARYGoodridgeElementaryPK-06161·
GOODRIDGE SECONDARYGoodridgeHigh07-12114·
NORTHWEST AREA LEARNING CENTERThief River FallsHigh09-1223·
Summer NW Area Learning CenterThief River FallsHigh09-120·

Cities in Pennington County

Thief River Falls5 schoolsGoodridge2 schools

About Pennington County

Pennington County is a thinly populated Minnesota county of about 13,791 residents, home to 7 public schools and roughly 2,000 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $77,325, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Pennington County is built around 2 elementary schools (888 students), 1 middle school (454), and 4 high schools (658).

The largest single district in Pennington County is THIEF RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 1,725 students.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,000 students, shrank 12% from the 2,269 reported in SY 2017-18.

On this page, the community for Pennington County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Pennington County?
There are 7 public K-12 schools in Pennington County, Minnesota, with a combined enrollment of about 2,000.
How many high schools are in Pennington County?
Pennington County, Minnesota has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 658 students.
How many middle schools are in Pennington County?
Pennington County, Minnesota has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 454 students.
How many elementary schools are in Pennington County?
Pennington County, Minnesota has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 888 students.
What is the largest school district in Pennington County?
THIEF RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Pennington County, serving approximately 1,725 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Pennington County?
Pennington County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 13,791, with a median age of 40. About 20.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Pennington County?
Median household income in Pennington County is $77,325, below the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 6.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Pennington County?
Approximately 21.0% of adults 25 and older in Pennington County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Pennington County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 39.5% of students in Pennington 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 Pennington County schools?
Across Pennington County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 15.0 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data