North Woods Elementary

North Woods Elementary serves 242 students in prekindergarten through sixth grade in Cook, Minnesota. With a student-teacher ratio of 10.5:1, classes stay small, giving students consistent access to individualized instruction across every grade level. The school earns a composite score of 9.4 out of 10, rated Exceptional — ranking second out of 962 elementary schools in Minnesota and second out of 1,986 public schools statewide.

Its academic score of 9.1 and a growth score of 9.6 reflect both strong proficiency and meaningful year-over-year student progress. That growth score is particularly notable: it signals that students are advancing at an accelerated rate, not simply performing well on a single snapshot. North Woods is the top-performing elementary school in Cook, and its statewide standing puts it ahead of every comparable public school in Minnesota.

For families evaluating options in the region, the data is consistent — this school delivers measurably strong outcomes across both achievement and growth metrics. Its combination of small class sizes, high academic performance, and exceptional student growth makes it one of the clearest standouts available to families in northern Minnesota.

Located in a rural area, North Woods Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.