South Washington County Schools School District
School District · Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
28
16 elem, 4 mid, 7 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,992
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
28
16 elem, 4 mid, 7 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,992
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
Evaluating South Washington County Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge South Washington County Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Cottage Grove Elementary
Cottage Grove · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Newport Elementary
Newport · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Liberty Ridge Elementary
Woodbury · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Minnesota rank
#249 of 386
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Minnesota avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,992
$616 vs Minnesota median
District size
19,360 students
Much larger than Minnesota median
The short answer
South Washington County Schools ranks #249 of 386 Minnesota districts by overall school rating. South Washington County Schools's schools with real test data average 6.2/10 across 24 schools. Its top-rated schools are Cottage Grove Elementary (8.9/10), Newport Elementary (8.5/10), and Liberty Ridge Elementary (8.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.9/10 despite 27% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among South Washington County Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in South Washington County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (24 of 28). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cottage Grove Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Newport Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Liberty Ridge Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Grey Cloud Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Royal Oaks Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Valley Crossing Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | East Ridge High School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Armstrong Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Crestview Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Woodbury High School | 6.3 / 10 |
See all 28 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About South Washington County Schools
South Washington County Schools is a Cottage Grove, Minnesota school district serving 28 schools. The district educates 19,360 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.9:1. The district invests $13,992 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.0/10, South Washington County Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Cottage Grove Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.
In standardized testing, South Washington County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 62.8% and ELA proficiency of 66.6%.
The district includes 16 elementary schools , 4 middle schools , and 7 high schools.
District Map
Schools in South Washington County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in South Washington County Schools with test data.
Schools in South Washington County Schools
28 schools Elementary Schools 16
Middle Schools 4
High Schools 7
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Minnesota
- City
- Cottage Grove
- Total Enrollment
- 19,360
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,143
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.0%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in South Washington County Schools?
South Washington County Schools has 28 schools in total — 16 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for South Washington County Schools?
The average composite rating for South Washington County Schools is 6.0/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in South Washington County Schools?
South Washington County Schools spends $13,992 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in South Washington County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in South Washington County Schools is 16.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in South Washington County Schools?
Cottage Grove Elementary is the highest-rated school in South Washington County Schools with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What are the test scores in South Washington County Schools?
Across schools in South Washington County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 62.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 66.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does South Washington County Schools compare to other districts in Minnesota?
South Washington County Schools has an average school rating of 6.0/10 across 28 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Minnesota by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.0/10
- Math Proficiency
- 62.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 66.6%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in MN
Compare South Washington County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Saint Paul Public Schools (102)
- Minneapolis Public School District (98)
- Anoka-hennepin School District (51)
- Intermediate School District 287 (50)
- Rochester Public School District (49)
- Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan (40)
- Osseo Public School District (34)
- Elk River Public School District (31)
- Robbinsdale Public School District (28)
- Region 6 and 8-sw/wc Service Coop (27)
- Duluth Public School District (27)
- Mounds View Public School District (27)
- St. Cloud Public School District (27)
- Mankato Public School District (26)
- White Bear Lake School District (25)
- Bloomington Public School District (23)
- Eastern Carver County Public School (23)
- North St. Paul-maplewood Oakdale (23)
- Wayzata Public School District (21)
- Burnsville-eagan-savage Schools (20)
- Lakeville Area Schools (20)
- Cambridge-isanti Public School Dist (18)
- Centennial Public School District (18)
- Southwest Metro Intermediate 288 (17)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Minnesota Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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