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Cottage Grove, Minnesota - 27 schools
An equity score of 20/100 ranks South Washington County Schools #390 of 410 districts in Minnesota (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $13,382 per pupil, South Washington County Schools ranks #330 of 504 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending (Minnesota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
19,159
Total Enrollment
27
Schools
$13,382
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
South Washington County Schools operates 27 public schools serving 19,159 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Minnesota. The school portfolio breaks down into 11 elementary, 6 high, 6 combined, 4 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Washington County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,382 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 504 Minnesota districts by per-pupil spending. See how Minnesota compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 34.1% local, 59.0% state, and 6.9% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 20/100, ranked #390 of 410 in Minnesota against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 27 schools offering Advanced Placement (33 AP courses district-wide), a 341.8:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 17.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 55.9% White, 13.3% Asian, 10.8% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Newport Elementary, with a diversity index of 73.7/100.
Its largest campus is East Ridge High School, enrolling 2,072 students (11% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Access, at 7 students, a 296x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.
South Washington County Schools school enrollment varies 296× across entities
South Washington County Schools school enrollment ranges from 7 students (lowest) to 2,072 students (highest), a spread of 2,065 students. That ratio is an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
South Washington County Schools student-counselor ratio is 342:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within South Washington County Schools is typically wider than the South Washington County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.
South Washington County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 17.3% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within South Washington County Schools is typically wider than the South Washington County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.
Comparisons are relative to South Washington County Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.
Nearby Districts in Minnesota
Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.
How many schools are in South Washington County Schools?
South Washington County Schools has 27 schools, including 6 high, 4 middle, 11 elementary, 6 combined. Total enrollment is 19,159 students.
How much does South Washington County Schools spend per student?
South Washington County Schools spends $13,382 per student. The district has an equity score of 20/100, ranking #390 in Minnesota.
What is the demographic composition of South Washington County Schools?
South Washington County Schools students are 55.9% White, 13.3% Asian, 10.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.7% African American, averaged across 27 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for South Washington County Schools?
South Washington County Schools has an equity score of 20/100, ranking #390 out of 410 districts in Minnesota.