For the 2025 school year, there are 26 public schools serving 6,274 students in Carlton County, MN (there are , serving 125 private students). 98% of all K-12 students in Carlton County, MN are educated in public schools (compared to the MN state average of 90%).
The top ranked public schools in Carlton County, MN are Winterquist Elementary School, Lincoln Secondary and Churchill Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Carlton County, MN public schools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Minnesota public school average of 46%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 51% statewide average). Schools in Carlton County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Minnesota public schools.
Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the Minnesota public school average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best 51±¬ÁÏs in Carlton County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Winterquist Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2 E Highway 61
Esko, MN 55733
(218) 879-3361
Esko, MN 55733
(218) 879-3361
Gr: PK-6 | 672 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #22.
Lincoln Secondary
(Math: 58% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2 E Highway 61
Esko, MN 55733
(218) 879-4673
Esko, MN 55733
(218) 879-4673
Gr: 7-12 | 624 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Churchill Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
515 Granite St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3308
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3308
Gr: PK-4 | 354 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Cromwell-wright Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5624 Highway 210
Cromwell, MN 55726
(218) 644-3716
Cromwell, MN 55726
(218) 644-3716
Gr: PK-6 | 151 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #55.
Barnum Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3813 E. North St.
Barnum, MN 55707
(218) 389-6976
Barnum, MN 55707
(218) 389-6976
Gr: PK-6 | 337 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #66.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
801 12th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3369
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3369
Gr: PK-4 | 503 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #77.
Moose Lake Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4812 County Rd 10
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-4834
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-4834
Gr: PK-6 | 304 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #88.
Cromwell-wright Secondary
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5624 Highway 210
Cromwell, MN 55726
(218) 644-3716
Cromwell, MN 55726
(218) 644-3716
Gr: 7-12 | 150 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #99.
Cloquet Senior
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1000 18th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3393
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3393
Gr: 9-12 | 789 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #1010.
Barnum Secondary
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3675 County Rd 13
Barnum, MN 55707
(218) 389-3273
Barnum, MN 55707
(218) 389-3273
Gr: 7-12 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1111.
Moose Lake Secondary
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4812 County Rd 10
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-4435
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-4435
Gr: 7-12 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1212.
South Terrace Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
530 Stine Dr
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Gr: PK-5 | 145 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1313.
Cloquet Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2001 Washington Avenue
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3328
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3328
Gr: 5-8 | 767 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1414.
Northern Lights Academy Cooperative
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
615 12th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3064
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3064
Gr: K-3
Rank: #1515.
Wrenshall Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
207 Pioneer Dr
Wrenshall, MN 55797
(218) 384-4274
Wrenshall, MN 55797
(218) 384-4274
Gr: PK-6 | 163 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1616.
Northern Lights Academy
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
302 14th Street
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3060
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3060
Gr: K-12 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1717.
Carlton Secondary
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
405 School Ave
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4226
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4226
Gr: 6-12 | 151 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #1818.
Wrenshall Secondary
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
207 Pioneer Dr
Wrenshall, MN 55797
(218) 384-4274
Wrenshall, MN 55797
(218) 384-4274
Gr: 7-12 | 173 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1919.
Cloquet Area Alt. Ed. Programs
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
302 14th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Gr: 6-12 | 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: n/an/a
Caaep Extended Day Program
Alternative School
302 14th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Gr: 9-12 | 1 student
Rank: n/an/a
Cloquet Early Childhood Education
Special Education School
515 Granite Street
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3308
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3308
Gr: PK | 91 students Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: n/an/a
49 University Road
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-7242
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-7242
Gr: K-12 | 136 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
Rank: n/an/a
Mash-ka-wisen
Alternative School
1150 Mission Rd
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Gr: 7-12 | 2 students
Rank: n/an/a
Mcf-moose Lake/willow River
Alternative School
1000 Lake Shore Dr
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-5025
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-5025
Gr: 9-12 | 4 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: n/an/a
Nla-carlton
Special Education School
405 School Ave
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3060
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3060
Gr: 4-12 | 31 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: n/an/a
Shared Time
Alternative School
602 Arthur Street
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-1261
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-1261
Gr: PK-6 | 2 students
Carlton County 51±¬ÁÏs (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Caaep Setting 4 (Closed 2018)
Special Education School
302 14th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Gr: 2-12 | 8 students Minority enrollment: 63%
Caaep Setting 4 High School (Closed 2012)
Special Education School
302 14th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Gr: 7-12 | 10 students Minority enrollment: 30%
Moose Lake Alternative Program (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
4812 County Rd 10
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-4435
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-4435
Gr: 9-12
Moose Lake Family Center (Closed 2009)
Special Education School
Box 310
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-8520
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-8520
Gr: PK | 13 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
N. Carlton Coop. Vocational High School (Closed 2015)
Vocational School
1000 18th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3393
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3393
Gr: 7-12
Nla-carlton (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
405 School Ave
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Gr: 9-12 | 1 student Student-teacher ratio: 1:1
Non-residental Care & Treatment (Closed 2009)
Alternative School
302 14th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Carlton County, MN?
The top ranked public schools in Carlton County, MN include Winterquist Elementary School, Lincoln Secondary and Churchill Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Carlton County?
26 public schools are located in Carlton County.
What percentage of students in Carlton County go to public school?
98% of all K-12 students in Carlton County are educated in public schools (compared to the MN state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Carlton County?
Carlton County public schools minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the Minnesota public schools average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Carlton County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Carlton County include: Moose Lake Elementary School vs. Barnum Elementary School, Moose Lake Secondary vs. Carlton Secondary, Washington Elementary School vs. Churchill Elementary School
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