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Downtown Forest LakePhoto: Lectrician2 · CC BY-SA 4.0
B
Schools in Forest Lake · Forest Lake Public School District

Forest Lake’s public schools outscore 64% of Minnesota districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Forest Lake, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Minnesota, not nationally.

#152of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
51%
▼ 0 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
47%
▲ 2 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▲ 6 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.3K
▼ 11% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.5
MN 14.8 · larger classes
Schools in town
13
3,375 students on the public path
In brief

Forest Lake’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1588 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Forest Lake’s, its schools beat 59%, lower than their 64% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 47% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,260 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Forest Lake Area Middle School, then Forest Lake Area High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

North Lakes Academy 7-12 Campus, North Lakes Academy Elementary, LILA Lower School, LILA Upper School and St. Peter Elementary School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Forest Lake’s grade

B Test scoresB Graduation

B: better than 64% of Minnesota school districts, #152 of 274 Minnesota towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Minnesota average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 64%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1588)Better than 59%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,949 test results and a graduating class of 523 could put Forest Lake anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Forest Lake’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,914 in math, 2,984 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Forest Lake, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–3Forest View ElementaryForest Lake Public School DistrictC+
7–8Forest Lake Area Middle SchoolForest Lake Public School DistrictB−
9–12Forest Lake Area High SchoolForest Lake Public School DistrictB+

Forest Lake’s public schools are run by Forest Lake Public School District, which also serves Columbus, Hugo, Lino Lakes and Linwood and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Forest Lake Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 14 schools · 5,776 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 19.5 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$15,260MN $17,091 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading51%
State average 51.1% · 2984 students tested
Math47%
State average 44.8% · 2914 students tested

Forest Lake vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Forest Lake’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Forest LakeBForest Lake Public
ScandiaBForest Lake Public
HugoB+Forest Lake Public PK–12 · White Bear Lake PK–12
ColumbusBForest Lake Public
WyomingB+Forest Lake Public PK–12 · Chisago Lakes PK–12
Chisago CityA−Chisago Lakes
Chisago LakeA−Chisago Lakes

4 of the 6 neighbors share Forest Lake Public with Forest Lake, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Forest Lake

13 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Minnesota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Forest Lakeby address
Forest View Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–3
C+
345 students16:1Rate it →
Forest Lake Elementary
Middle · Grades 4–6
C+
309 students18:1Rate it →
Forest Lake Area Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
B−
916 students19:1Rate it →
Forest Lake Area High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,805 students24:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Forest Lake Area Community School
High · Grades 6–12
D−
Alternative Education
113 students11:1Rate it →
Early Childhood Special Education
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
103 students34:1Rate it →
Step
High · Grades 10–12
Special Education
47 students17:1Rate it →
Community School Credit Recovery
High · Grades 9–12
Alternative Education
34 studentsRate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
LILA Lower School
Elementary · Grades 1–5
B−
Charter
607 students15:1Rate it →
LILA Upper School
High · Grades 6–12
B−
Charter
579 students14:1Rate it →
North Lakes Academy 7-12 Campus
High · Grades 7–12
B−
Charter
245 students14:1Rate it →
North Lakes Academy Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6
B
Charter
220 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Peter Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
334 students17:1Rate it →

Left off: 4 public programs with fewer than 25 students (LILA Kinder Center, Online Learning Program, Forest Lake Therapeutic Education and Out-of-State Care and Treatment).

Questions about Forest Lake’s schools

Are Forest Lake’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Minnesota: the public schools Forest Lake children attend outscore 64% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #152 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 59%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Forest Lake in?

Forest Lake Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 5,776 students in 14 schools (2024–25).

Where do Forest Lake kids go to high school?

Forest Lake Area High School, with 1,805 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Forest Lake’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Forest Lake Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Forest Lake spend per student?

$15,260 in Forest Lake Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Forest Lake?

Yes: St. Peter Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 334 students). Forest Lake also has 4 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Forest Lake families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Forest Lake → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.