Public schools in Cottage Grove, MN
13 open public schools with an address in Cottage Grove, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
13
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,632
13 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Cottage Grove public schools
The federal directory lists 13 public schools in Cottage Grove, MN: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 13 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,632 students, an average of 587 per school. The largest campus is Park High School (1,992 students), and the largest elementary school is Grey Cloud Elementary (797).
Every listed school belongs to South Washington County Schools. 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 15:1, 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 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 29% 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 Cottage Grove
Elementary schools in Cottage Grove
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong Elementary South Washington County Schools | PK–05 | 325 | 11.6:1 | |
| Cottage Grove Elementary South Washington County Schools | PK–05 | 432 | 14.1:1 | |
| Crestview Elementary South Washington County Schools | PK–05 | 425 | 11.8:1 | |
| Grey Cloud Elementary South Washington County Schools | KG–05 | 797 | 15.8:1 | |
| Hillside Elementary South Washington County Schools | PK–05 | 417 | 11.5:1 | |
| Pine Hill Elementary South Washington County Schools | KG–05 | 502 | 13.1:1 |
Middle schools in Cottage Grove
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottage Grove Middle School South Washington County Schools | 06–08 | 1,005 | 16.3:1 | |
| Oltman Middle School South Washington County Schools | 06–08 | 956 | 19.2:1 |
High schools in Cottage Grove
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Rivers Adult Education South Washington County Schools · Alternative School | 10–12 | 7 | — | |
| Next Step Transition Program South Washington County Schools · Special Education School | 12–12 | 86 | 22.5:1 | |
| Park High School South Washington County Schools | 09–12 | 1,992 | 21.1:1 | |
| South Washington Alternative HS South Washington County Schools · Alternative School | 06–12 | 97 | 7.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Cottage Grove
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ages 3-5 Early Childhood Special Ed South Washington County Schools · Special Education School | PK–PK | 591 | 52.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White58.3%
- Hispanic10.8%
- Black10.3%
- Asian11.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial8.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 13 Cottage Grove schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,632 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Cottage Grove
How many public schools are in Cottage Grove, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 13 open public schools with a location address in Cottage Grove: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 7,632 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Cottage Grove?
All listed public schools with an address in Cottage Grove belong to South Washington County Schools. 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 Cottage Grove?
Park High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Cottage Grove, with 1,992 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Cottage Grove?
No school with an address in Cottage Grove 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 Cottage Grove schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Cottage Grove public schools is 15:1, 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 Cottage Grove 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