Public schools in Big Lake, MN
6 open public schools with an address in Big Lake, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,190
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.5:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Big Lake public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Big Lake, MN: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,190 students, an average of 532 per school. The largest campus is Big Lake Senior High (902 students), and the largest elementary school is Independence Elementary (758).
Every listed school belongs to Big Lake Public School District. 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 17.5:1, higher than 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.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 33% 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 Big Lake
Elementary schools in Big Lake
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake Online K-5 Big Lake Public School District | KG–05 | 24 | 35.8:1 | |
| Independence Elementary Big Lake Public School District | 03–05 | 758 | 15.3:1 | |
| Liberty Elementary Big Lake Public School District | PK–02 | 756 | 13.1:1 |
Middle schools in Big Lake
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake Middle School Big Lake Public School District | 06–08 | 632 | 15.1:1 |
High schools in Big Lake
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake Online 6-12 Big Lake Public School District | 06–12 | 118 | 140.5:1 | |
| Big Lake Senior High Big Lake Public School District | 09–12 | 902 | 19.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White76.1%
- Hispanic8.4%
- Black5.5%
- Asian2.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Big Lake schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,190 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Big Lake
How many public schools are in Big Lake, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Big Lake: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 3,190 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Big Lake?
All listed public schools with an address in Big Lake belong to Big Lake Public School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Big Lake?
Big Lake Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Big Lake, with 902 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Big Lake?
No school with an address in Big Lake 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 Big Lake schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Big Lake public schools is 17.5:1, higher than 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 Big Lake 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