Public schools in Detroit Lakes, MN
13 open public schools with an address in Detroit Lakes, 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
2,728
13 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.9:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Detroit Lakes public schools
The federal directory lists 13 public schools in Detroit Lakes, MN: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high, 3 combined or other. The 13 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,728 students, an average of 210 per school. The largest campus is Detroit Lakes Senior High (791 students), and the largest elementary school is Rossman Elementary (565).
Every listed school belongs to Detroit Lakes Public School Dist.. 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 12.9:1, lower 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.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 37% 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 Detroit Lakes
Elementary schools in Detroit Lakes
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt Elementary Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. | PK–05 | 562 | 12.5:1 | |
| Rossman Elementary Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. | PK–05 | 565 | 13.3:1 |
Middle schools in Detroit Lakes
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lakes Middle Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. | 06–08 | 617 | 16.4:1 | |
| Detroit Lakes Middle ALC Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. · Alternative School | 06–08 | 0 | — |
High schools in Detroit Lakes
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afterschool Program Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. · Alternative School | 09–12 | 57 | 9.5:1 | |
| Detroit Lakes Senior High Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. | 09–12 | 791 | 14.8:1 | |
| E-Laker Online School Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. · Virtual | 09–12 | 38 | — | |
| HS Extended Year Program Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Laker Transitions Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. · Special Education School | 12–12 | 17 | 8.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Detroit Lakes
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Early Childhood Ed. Center Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. | PK–PK | 64 | — | |
| Out of State Care and Treatment Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. · Alternative School | KG–12 | 0 | — | |
| Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Detroit Lakes Public School Dist. | PK–PK | 17 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White73.9%
- Hispanic3.1%
- Black1.8%
- Asian0.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native16.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Detroit Lakes schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,728 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Detroit Lakes
How many public schools are in Detroit Lakes, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 13 open public schools with a location address in Detroit Lakes: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 2,728 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Detroit Lakes?
All listed public schools with an address in Detroit Lakes belong to Detroit Lakes Public School Dist.. 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 Detroit Lakes?
Detroit Lakes Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Detroit Lakes, with 791 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Detroit Lakes?
No school with an address in Detroit Lakes 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 Detroit Lakes schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Detroit Lakes public schools is 12.9:1, lower 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 Detroit Lakes 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