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Traverse County

Minnesota · Public K-12

Traverse County is one of Minnesota's public-school counties, with 4 campuses serving about 557 students (2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high). Median household income in the county is roughly $62,989.

7-year change in Traverse County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
557
-11 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
4
2 districts
Enrollment
557
NCES CCD
Median income
$62,989
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
51.7%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
2
305 students
Middle
1
77 students
High
1
175 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Wheaton Area Public School District
352 students · 2 districts in Traverse County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Traverse 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
87%
Hispanic
6%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
6%
Native American
5%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
63%
Hispanic
10%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
23%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
16.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.5%
civilian labor
Median age
46
21.6% under 18

Test scores in Traverse County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.

See all 4 schools in Traverse County ranked by score →

All schools (4)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Pearson ElementaryWheatonElementaryPK-05177·
Wheaton SecondaryWheatonHigh06-12175·
Browns Valley ElementaryBrowns ValleyElementaryPK-04128·
Browns Valley MiddleBrowns ValleyMiddle05-0877·

Cities in Traverse County

Browns Valley2 schoolsWheaton2 schools

About Traverse County

Across the compact Minnesota county of Traverse County of about 3,243 residents, the public-school footprint covers 4 schools and about 557 students.

For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $62,989 a year, about 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 19% below the Minnesota median.

In terms of grade levels, Traverse County comprises 2 elementary schools (305 students), 1 middle school (77), and 1 high school (175).

The largest single district in Traverse County is Wheaton Area Public School District, which alone enrolls about 352 students.

Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 557 students, remained close to its prior level from the 568 reported in SY 2017-18.

On this page, the community for Traverse County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Traverse County?
Traverse County, Minnesota has 4 public K-12 schools serving approximately 557 students.
How many high schools are in Traverse County?
Traverse County, Minnesota has 1 public high school, serving approximately 175 students.
How many middle schools are in Traverse County?
Traverse County, Minnesota has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 77 students.
How many elementary schools are in Traverse County?
Traverse County, Minnesota has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 305 students.
What is the largest school district in Traverse County?
Wheaton Area Public School District is the largest school district in Traverse County, serving approximately 352 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
How many people live in Traverse County?
Traverse County has roughly 3,243 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Traverse County?
Median household income in Traverse County is $62,989, below the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 7.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Traverse County?
Approximately 16.6% of adults 25 and older in Traverse County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Traverse County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 51.7% of students in Traverse 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 Traverse County schools?
Across Traverse County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.7 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data