For the 2025 school year, there are 26 public schools serving 6,274 students in Carlton County, MN (there are 2 private schools, 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 46% (versus the Minnesota public school average of 45%), 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 Public Schools in Carlton County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Winterquist Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2 E Highway 61
Esko, MN 55733
(218) 879-3361
Esko, MN 55733
(218) 879-3361
Grades: PK-6
| 672 students
Rank: #22.
Lincoln Secondary
(Math: 60% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2 E Highway 61
Esko, MN 55733
(218) 879-4673
Esko, MN 55733
(218) 879-4673
Grades: 7-12
| 624 students
Rank: #33.
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
Grades: PK-4
| 354 students
Rank: #44.
Cromwell-wright Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5624 Highway 210
Cromwell, MN 55726
(218) 644-3716
Cromwell, MN 55726
(218) 644-3716
Grades: PK-6
| 151 students
Rank: #55.
Barnum Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3813 E. North St.
Barnum, MN 55707
(218) 389-6976
Barnum, MN 55707
(218) 389-6976
Grades: PK-6
| 337 students
Rank: #66.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
801 12th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3369
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3369
Grades: PK-4
| 503 students
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
Grades: PK-6
| 304 students
Rank: #88.
Cloquet Senior
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1000 18th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3393
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3393
Grades: 9-12
| 789 students
Rank: #99.
Cromwell-wright Secondary
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5624 Highway 210
Cromwell, MN 55726
(218) 644-3716
Cromwell, MN 55726
(218) 644-3716
Grades: 7-12
| 150 students
Rank: #1010.
Barnum Secondary
(Math: 30-34% | 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
Grades: 7-12
| 338 students
Rank: #1111.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 145 students
Rank: #1212.
Moose Lake Secondary
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4812 County Rd 10
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-4435
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-4435
Grades: 7-12
| 283 students
Rank: #1313.
Cloquet Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2001 Washington Avenue
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3328
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-3328
Grades: 5-8
| 767 students
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
Grades: K-3
| n/a students
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
Grades: PK-6
| 163 students
Rank: #1616.
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
Grades: 7-12
| 173 students
Rank: #1717.
Carlton Secondary
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
405 School Ave
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4226
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4226
Grades: 6-12
| 151 students
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Cloquet Area Alt. Ed. Programs
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
302 14th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Grades: 6-12
| 91 students
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Northern Lights Academy
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
302 14th Street
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3060
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3060
Grades: K-12
| 12 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 1 students
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
Grades: PK
| 91 students
Rank: n/an/a
49 University Road
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-7242
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-7242
Grades: K-12
| 136 students
Rank: n/an/a
Mash-ka-wisen
Alternative School
1150 Mission Rd
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Grades: 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
Grades: 9-12
| 4 students
Rank: n/an/a
Nla-carlton
Special Education School
405 School Ave
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3060
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-3060
Grades: 4-12
| 31 students
Rank: n/an/a
Shared Time
Alternative School
602 Arthur Street
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-1261
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-1261
Grades: PK-6
| 2 students
Carlton County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Caaep Setting 4 (Closed 2018)
Special Education School
302 14th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Grades: 2-12
| 8 students
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
Grades: 7-12
| 10 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
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
Grades: PK
| 13 students
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
Grades: 7-12
| n/a students
Nla-carlton (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
405 School Ave
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-4225
Grades: 9-12
| 1 students
Non-residental Care & Treatment (Closed 2009)
Alternative School
302 14th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0115
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
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, Barnum Elementary School vs. Moose Lake Elementary School
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