Public school systems play a crucial role in shaping local economies, influencing everything from property values to workforce development. The economic impact of local public schools extends far beyond education, affecting businesses, government budgets, and community well-being. Below are key ways in which public schools contribute to local economic health.
- Boosting Property Values and Municipal Revenue
A strong public school system increases demand for housing in the district, driving up property values. Studies consistently show that homes in high-performing school districts command higher prices than comparable homes in weaker districts. Higher property values, in turn, generate more property tax revenue for local governments, which can be reinvested in infrastructure, public safety, and other community services.
Additionally, businesses are more likely to establish themselves in areas with well-regarded schools, knowing that educated communities attract skilled workers and stable families. This creates a positive feedback loop where better schools lead to economic growth, which then further supports school funding.
- Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness
Public schools are the primary source of skilled labor for local industries. By providing foundational education, vocational training, and college preparation, schools ensure that businesses have access to qualified employees. Areas with strong school systems tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher average incomes because educated workers are more productive and adaptable to changing job markets.
Investments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, career and technical education (CTE), and partnerships with local businesses further enhance workforce readiness. Companies often consider school quality when deciding where to locate, as they need a pipeline of talent to sustain operations.
- Direct Employment and Local Spending
Public schools are among the largest employers in many communities, providing jobs for teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff. These employees spend their salaries locally, supporting restaurants, retail stores, and service providers. The multiplier effect means that every dollar spent on school payroll circulates through the economy multiple times, stimulating additional business activity.
Beyond salaries, schools also contribute to local economies through construction projects (e.g., building new facilities or renovating old ones), purchasing supplies from area vendors, and contracting services like transportation and food supply. These expenditures create jobs and generate tax revenue.
- Reducing Long-Term Public Costs
Quality education correlates with lower crime rates, reduced reliance on social welfare programs, and better public health outcomes. Students who graduate from strong school systems are less likely to require government assistance, engage in criminal activity, or face chronic unemployment. This reduces the burden on taxpayers, who would otherwise fund prisons, healthcare for the uninsured, and social services.
Early childhood education programs, in particular, have been shown to yield high long-term returns by improving graduation rates and future earnings while decreasing incarceration costs.
- Attracting and Retaining Families and Businesses
Families with children prioritize school quality when choosing where to live. Communities with reputable schools experience population growth, which sustains local businesses and services. Conversely, declining school performance can lead to outmigration, shrinking the tax base and harming economic vitality.
Similarly, corporations evaluating relocation opportunities assess school systems to ensure employees will have access to good education for their children. A weak school system can deter investment, while a strong one can attract high-paying jobs and stimulate economic diversification.
Conclusion
The local public school system is not just an educational institution but a cornerstone of economic stability and growth. By enhancing property values, developing a skilled workforce, employing residents, reducing public costs, and attracting businesses, schools create a thriving economic ecosystem. Policymakers and community leaders must recognize that investing in education yields broad economic benefits, making it one of the most impactful ways to ensure long-term prosperity.
The following report contains those school districts that are completely or partially within the county. The school districts are sorted in a left to right order based on the number of students that are estimated to live in the county, although they may actually attend a school outside the county boundary. Except where noted all figures are for the entire disctrict population and not just that portion that are in the county.
Where available, the district's name contains a link to that district's website.
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Watertown-Mayer Public School District |
Rockford Public School District |
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St. Cloud Public School District |
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Maple Lake Public School District |
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Dassel-Cokato Public School District |
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Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted |
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Delano Public School District |
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Annandale Public School District |
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Elk River School District |
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Monticello Public School District |
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Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Public Schools |
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St. Michael-Albertville School District |
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Grade Span of Agency Number of Schools Total Classroom Teachers Student/Teachers
Prekindergarten Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 PK thru 12 Students Ungraded Students Adult Education and Other Students Special Ed IEP Students Total Students
White Black Asian Hispanic Native American Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Undefined or Multiple Races
Prekindergarten Teachers Kindergarten Teachers Elementary Teachers Secondary Teachers Ungraded Class Teachers Total FTE Teachers
Elementary School Counselors Secondary School Counselors School Counselors Total Counselors
School Administrators School Administrative Support Staff Instr. Coord. and Super. to Staff Student Support Services Staff Librarians/media specialists Library/Media Support Staff School Psychologists Paraprofessionals/Instructional Aides Total School Staff
LEA Administrators LEA Administrative Support Staff Total LEA Staff
All Other Support Staff Total Other Staff
|
PK-12
11
384
17.73
83
420
436
492
460
454
522
465
519
513
533
609
582
608
6,696
0
0
111
6,807
5,417
446
130
327
8
6
362
13
29
114
193
35
384
1
8
0
9
18
26
26
87
3
3
5
111
253
17
5
48
73
73 |
PK-12
11
311
17.32
159
350
348
373
336
370
375
415
368
357
460
428
484
459
5,282
0
0
106
5,388
4,571
152
81
266
19
6
187
16
20
144
124
7
311
0
6
0
6
15
23
20
67
0
1
4
106
216
8
13
41
67
67 |
PK-12
9
252
16.67
101
244
275
283
294
307
272
307
296
350
331
367
359
352
4,138
0
0
63
4,201
3,267
145
64
409
5
3
245
11
23
110
94
14
252
0
5
0
5
12
12
6
49
2
0
0
63
138
9
3
19
55
55 |
PK-12
31
721
20.26
379
1,065
1,069
1,106
1,086
1,102
1,100
1,098
994
1,047
1,030
1,116
1,054
1,106
14,352
0
0
255
14,607
11,376
908
504
669
50
11
834
24
50
344
240
63
721
4
29
0
33
33
56
44
214
16
14
10
255
597
17
22
83
167
167 |
PK-12
3
126
16.69
35
143
138
155
163
146
163
170
140
163
172
158
152
151
2,049
0
0
55
2,104
1,882
8
7
65
0
1
86
6
8
57
53
2
126
0
2
0
2
5
6
5
19
0
3
1
55
89
5
5
15
30
30 |
PK-12
3
142
17.56
32
170
182
188
172
179
192
173
193
211
180
219
193
180
2,464
0
0
29
2,493
2,240
28
30
66
0
0
100
2
8
63
53
16
142
0
3
0
3
7
9
5
23
1
2
2
29
72
3
1
9
28
28 |
PK-12
7
83
16.22
23
97
97
89
96
94
104
98
100
97
113
107
106
89
1,310
0
0
36
1,346
1,160
14
8
89
4
0
35
3
5
39
35
1
83
0
3
0
3
5
6
3
17
0
4
1
36
69
4
4
11
18
18 |
PK-12
7
137
15.13
24
133
130
156
140
141
132
153
143
161
176
150
201
175
2,015
0
0
58
2,073
1,856
15
1
86
6
0
51
4
8
61
51
13
137
0
1
0
1
8
10
9
22
0
3
1
58
103
5
8
22
34
34 |
PK-12
2
58
13.92
13
58
56
70
45
56
63
46
55
67
57
73
64
63
786
0
0
22
808
756
4
3
11
1
0
11
2
3
24
23
6
58
0
1
0
1
3
4
2
10
0
2
0
22
41
5
1
8
8
8 |
PK-12
27
743
13.11
493
713
746
707
638
624
641
562
612
630
712
726
830
909
9,543
0
0
200
9,743
3,553
3,844
257
1,037
54
21
777
49
47
307
294
46
743
11
25
0
36
32
53
30
293
12
11
10
200
610
48
25
103
184
184 |
PK-12
3
106
14.95
18
106
124
116
102
123
106
133
120
104
143
121
121
127
1,564
0
0
21
1,585
1,183
72
35
193
0
0
81
3
6
47
44
6
106
1
2
0
3
4
10
2
16
0
3
1
21
55
9
3
14
15
15 |
PK-12
5
96
15.47
28
100
100
111
101
101
107
113
86
119
141
111
126
121
1,465
0
0
20
1,485
1,335
17
5
51
2
0
55
6
6
36
45
3
96
1
1
0
2
3
8
3
9
0
2
1
20
43
6
1
10
21
21 |
Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus
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