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Sherwood Forest Lodge ComplexSherwood Forest Lodge Complex · Photo: Kelvin0mql · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Lake Shore · Brainerd Public School District, Pillager Public School District

Lake Shore’s public schools outscore 70% of Minnesota districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Lake Shore, 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 98% 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
55%
▲ 4 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
49%
▲ 4 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
86%
▲ 3 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.6K
▼ 9% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024 · Brainerd Public
Students per teacher
14.5
MN 14.8
Schools in town
0
6,752 students on the public path
In brief

Lake Shore’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 55% and math 49% across both districts in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Brainerd Public spends $15,555 per student and Pillager Public $13,305, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Lake Shore’s grade

B+ Test scoresB− Graduation

B+: better than 70% of Minnesota school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Minnesota average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 70%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1527)Better than 66%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,751 test results and a graduating class of 488 could put Lake Shore anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Lake Shore’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,687 in math, 3,814 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–47 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A
5–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB to B+

Lake Shore runs its own schools through grade 12 (Brainerd Public School District). From grade PK, students attend the Pillager Public School District, shared with East Gull Lake, Fairview, Home Brook, May, Pillager, Rosing, Scandia Valley and Sylvan. Its elementary school is in Pillager. Parts of Lake Shore (18% of its land) are served by Pequot Lakes instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Lake Shore

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

Brainerd Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 13 schools · 6,079 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 14.4 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$15,555MN $17,091 · FY2024
B+
Pillager Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,324 students, up 17% since 2020–21 · 15.1 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$13,305MN $17,091 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Brainerd Public School District55%
State average 51.1% · 3164 students tested
Math · PK–12, Brainerd Public School District50%
State average 44.8% · 3026 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Pillager Public School District53%
State average 51.1% · 650 students tested
Math · PK–12, Pillager Public School District46%
State average 44.8% · 661 students tested

Lake Shore vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Lake ShoreB+Brainerd Public PK–12 · Pillager Public PK–12
Fairview—Pillager Public
Home Brook—Pillager Public PK–12 · Pine River-Backus Public PK–12
NisswaB+Brainerd Public
Loon Lake—Pequot Lakes

2 of the 4 neighbors share Pillager Public with Lake Shore for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Lake Shore

11 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).

Also serving Lake Shorein other towns
Pillager Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Pillager
A−
521 students13:1Rate it →
Baxter Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Baxter
B+
506 students15:1Rate it →
Riverside Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Brainerd
B
407 students10:1Rate it →
Garfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Brainerd
B−
250 students12:1Rate it →
Nisswa Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Nisswa
A
249 students14:1Rate it →
Harrison Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Brainerd
B+
230 students12:1Rate it →
Lowell Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–4 · Brainerd
A
355 students14:1Rate it →
Forestview Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Baxter
B+
1,626 students16:1Rate it →
Pillager Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Pillager
C+
433 students17:1Rate it →
Brainerd Senior High
High · Grades 9–12 · Brainerd
B+
1,805 students20:1Rate it →
Pillager Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Pillager
B
370 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Lake Shore’s schools

Are Lake Shore’s schools good?

By Minnesota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Lake Shore children attend outscore 70% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 66%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lake Shore in?

Two districts: Brainerd Public School District runs grades PK–12, and Pillager Public School District runs grades PK–12, shared with East Gull Lake, Fairview, Home Brook, May, Pillager, Rosing, Scandia Valley and Sylvan.

Where do Lake Shore kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Brainerd Senior High and Pillager Senior High School.

What is Lake Shore’s graduation rate?

86% of the class of 2023 in Brainerd Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Lake Shore spend per student?

$15,555 in Brainerd Public School District and $13,305 in Pillager Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lake Shore families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lake Shore → 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.