Total enrollment
46,165
+1,904 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Washington County
Minnesota · Public K-12
Washington County runs 103 public K-12 schools inside Minnesota, with the county population around 276,238. The mix is 49 elementary, 15 middle, and 33 high.
4-year change in Washington County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
91
+8 (+10%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Washington County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Minnesota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 50.3% | #11 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 46,313 | #5 of 80 | #232 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 92 | #5 of 80 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 17.4:1 | #79 of 80 | #2,363 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 26.1% | #78 of 80 | #2,455 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 58.7% | #10 of 80 | #645 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.
Washington County school rankings
Residents
276,238
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
103
21 districts
Enrollment
46,313
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$115,345
Above Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
26.1%
Below Minnesota avg
Elementary
49
19,595 students
Middle
15
10,507 students
High
33
16,173 students
Combined / other
6
38 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
South Washington County Schools
19,578 students · 21 districts in Washington County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Washington 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+
49.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.4%
civilian labor
Median age
40
24.0% under 18
Test scores in Washington County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 62 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- GATE 4/5· 98.3%
- St. Croix Prep Academy Middle· 81.2%
- MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY· 80.5%
- St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper· 80.4%
- ST. CROIX PREPARATORY ACADEMY LOWER· 76.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- E-STEM Middle School· 29.6%
- North Lakes Academy 7-12 Campus· 31.4%
- Forest View Elementary· 35.8%
- Skyview Community Middle· 36.7%
- Castle Elementary· 37.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LILA Kinder Center | Forest Lake | Elementary | PK-KG | · | · |
| NE Metro Tartan | Oakdale | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Ranger Academy | Forest Lake | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Washington County
About Washington County
Across the expansive Minnesota county of Washington County of about 276,238 residents, the public-school footprint covers 103 schools and about 46,313 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $115,345 a year, about 49% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 4%. That income level is 49% above the Minnesota median.
In terms of grade levels, Washington County is built around 49 elementary schools (19,595 students), 15 middle schools (10,507), 33 high schools (16,173), and 6 combined or other schools.
South Washington County Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 19,578 students across Washington County.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment increased 4%: 44,261 students in SY 2020-21 versus 46,165 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 83 to 91 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Washington County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data