Public schools in Austin, MN
17 open public schools with an address in Austin, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
17
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,506
17 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.7:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Austin public schools
The federal directory lists 17 public schools in Austin, MN: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high, 5 combined or other. The 17 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,506 students, an average of 324 per school. The largest campus is Austin Senior High (1,485 students), and the largest elementary school is Banfield Elementary (574).
Austin Public School District operates the most schools here (13), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.7:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 6 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 59% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Austin
Elementary schools in Austin
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banfield Elementary Austin Public School District | PK–04 | 574 | 14.5:1 | |
| Neveln Elementary Austin Public School District | PK–04 | 381 | 12.7:1 | |
| Southgate Elementary Austin Public School District | PK–04 | 539 | 13.6:1 | |
| Sumner Elementary Austin Public School District | PK–04 | 387 | 13.4:1 |
Middle schools in Austin
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellis Middle Austin Public School District | 07–08 | 726 | 14.8:1 | |
| I.J. Holton Intermediate School Austin Public School District | 05–06 | 712 | 13.8:1 |
High schools in Austin
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Area Learning Center Austin Public School District · Alternative School | 06–12 | 172 | 35.3:1 | |
| Austin Area Learning Cntr. - Summer Austin Public School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Austin Online Academy Austin Public School District · Virtual | 06–12 | 111 | 26.8:1 | |
| Austin Senior High Austin Public School District | 09–12 | 1,485 | 18.1:1 | |
| Smec ALC Southern MN Education Consortium · Alternative School | 05–12 | 70 | 14:1 | |
| SMEC Credit Recovery Southern MN Education Consortium · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Austin
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Community Learning Center Austin Public School District · Special Education School | PK–12 | 87 | 11.1:1 | |
| CLC - Pre-Kindergarten Austin Public School District | PK–PK | 210 | 11.8:1 | |
| New Dominion Academy Austin Public School District · Alternative School | KG–12 | 1 | — | |
| Oakland Education Center Austin Albert Lea Area Special Educ · Special Education School | PK–12 | 40 | 6.1:1 | |
| Reset Southern MN Education Consortium · Special Education School | 01–12 | 11 | 3.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White39.2%
- Hispanic32.2%
- Black8.3%
- Asian12.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander3.4%
- Multiracial3.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Austin schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,506 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Austin
How many public schools are in Austin, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 17 open public schools with a location address in Austin: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high, 5 combined or other. Together they reported 5,506 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Austin?
Schools with an address in Austin belong to 3 education agencies, led by Austin Public School District (13 schools), Southern MN Education Consortium (3 schools), Austin Albert Lea Area Special Educ (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Austin?
Austin Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Austin, with 1,485 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Austin?
No school with an address in Austin is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Minnesota.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Austin schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Austin public schools is 13.7:1, similar to the Minnesota school median of 13.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Austin guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Minnesota cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Minnesota cities