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Cascade River WaysideCascade River Wayside · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Grand Marais · Cook County Public Schools

Grand Marais’s public schools score below 55% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

27% of students in Grand Marais’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Grand Marais, 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% 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
57%
▲ 6 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
27%
▼ 18 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–89%
▼ 3–6 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.6K
▲ 9% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.8
MN 14.8 · smaller classes
Schools in town
4
475 students on the public path
In brief

Grand Marais’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1249 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Grand Marais’s, its schools beat 34%, lower than their 45% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 57% and math 27% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 80–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $18,606 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 6 the district’s path is Cook County Middle, then Cook County Senior High. Enrollment is up 20% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Great Expectations is 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 Grand Marais’s grade

C+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 45% of Minnesota school districts. Graduation is above the Minnesota average; test scores are below it.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 45%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1249)Better than 34%
CB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 200 test results and a graduating class of 40 could put Grand Marais anywhere from C to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Grand Marais’s students in the tested grades sat them (202 in math, 199 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Sawtooth Mountain ElementaryCook County Public SchoolsB
6–8Cook County MiddleCook County Public SchoolsC−
9–12Cook County Senior HighCook County Public SchoolsC+

Grand Marais’s public schools are run by Cook County Public Schools, which also serves Lutsen, Schroeder and Tofte. 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.

Cook County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 475 students, up 20% since 2020–21 · 10.8 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$18,606MN $17,091 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading57%
State average 51.1% · 199 students tested
Math27%
State average 44.8% · 202 students tested

Grand Marais vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Grand Marais’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Grand MaraisB−Cook County

Every school in Grand Marais

4 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 Grand Maraisby address
Sawtooth Mountain Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
203 students10:1Rate it →
Cook County Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
95 students11:1Rate it →
Cook County Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
C+
177 students11:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Great Expectations
Elementary · Grades K–8
B−
Charter
113 students9:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Cook County ISD 166 ALC Program, Cook County ISD 166 Credit Recovery and Grand Marais Community).

Questions about Grand Marais’s schools

Are Grand Marais’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Grand Marais children attend score below 55% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 34%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Grand Marais in?

Cook County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 475 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Grand Marais kids go to high school?

Cook County Senior High, with 177 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Grand Marais’s graduation rate?

80–89% of the class of 2023 in Cook County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Grand Marais spend per student?

$18,606 in Cook County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Grand Marais families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Grand Marais → 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.