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Swift County

Minnesota · Public K-12

Public schools in Swift County, Minnesota total 8, with combined enrollment of about 1,767 students against a county population of 9,748. That breaks down as 3 elementary and 5 high.

7-year change in Swift County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,767
-25 (-1%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
7
-1 (-12%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
74%
was 82%
% Hispanic
15%
was 10%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
9,748
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
8
4 districts
Enrollment
1,767
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$60,412
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
41.4%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
3
1,016 students
Middle
0
schools
High
5
751 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
KERKHOVEN-MURDOCK-SUNBURG
777 students · 4 districts in Swift County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Swift 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
88%
Hispanic
7%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
5%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
1%
School enrollment
White
73%
Hispanic
15%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
6%
Bachelor's+
24.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.5% under 18

Test scores in Swift County

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

See all 5 schools in Swift County ranked by score →

All schools (8)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
MURDOCK ELEMENTARYMurdockElementaryPK-06395·
NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARYBensonElementaryPK-05391·
KERKHOVEN SECONDARYKerkhovenHigh07-12382·
BENSON SECONDARYBensonHigh06-12334·
Appleton-Milan ElementaryAppletonElementaryPK-04230·
Heartland Girls RanchBensonHigh07-1222·
BENSON AREA LEARNING CENTERBensonHigh07-1213·
KMS Learning CenterKerkhovenHigh07-120·

Cities in Swift County

Benson4 schoolsKerkhoven2 schoolsAppleton1 schoolMurdock1 school

About Swift County

In Minnesota, Swift County is a sparse county of about 9,748 residents. 8 public schools across the county instructs about 1,767 students between them.

Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $60,412, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 22% meaningfully below the Minnesota median.

On the school-mix side, Swift County consists of 3 elementary schools (1,016 students), and 5 high schools (751).

KERKHOVEN-MURDOCK-SUNBURG is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 777 students across Swift County.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,767 students, remained close to its prior level from the 1,792 reported in SY 2017-18. Swift County now counts 7 public schools, down from 8 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment contracted from 82% to 74%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Swift County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Swift County?
Swift County, Minnesota has 8 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,767 students.
How many high schools are in Swift County?
Swift County, Minnesota has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 751 students.
How many elementary schools are in Swift County?
Swift County, Minnesota has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,016 students.
What is the largest school district in Swift County?
KERKHOVEN-MURDOCK-SUNBURG is the largest school district in Swift County, serving approximately 777 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
What is the population of Swift County?
Swift County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 9,748, with a median age of 42. About 22.5% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Swift County?
Median household income in Swift County is $60,412, below the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 7.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Swift County?
Approximately 24.2% of adults 25 and older in Swift County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Swift County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 41.4% of students in Swift County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Minnesota county average of 41.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Swift County schools?
Across Swift County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.3 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Swift County?
Swift County residents are approximately 88% White, 7% Hispanic, 1% Black, 5% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

Swift County school rankings

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