Public schools in Elk River, MN
21 open public schools with an address in Elk River, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
21
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,763
21 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.7:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
4
1 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Elk River public schools
The federal directory lists 21 public schools in Elk River, MN: 6 elementary, 5 middle, 8 high, 2 combined or other. The 21 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,763 students, an average of 322 per school. The largest campus is Elk River Senior High (1,562 students), and the largest elementary school is Twin Lakes Elementary (704).
Elk River Public School District operates the most schools here (17), 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 16.7:1, 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.
School choice options include 4 charter schools, 1 magnet school, 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, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 24% 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 Elk River
Elementary schools in Elk River
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk River District Shared Time Prog Elk River Public School District · Alternative School | KG–05 | 1 | — | |
| Lincoln Elementary Elk River Public School District | PK–05 | 554 | 16.6:1 | |
| Meadowvale Elementary Elk River Public School District | KG–05 | 554 | 17.3:1 | |
| Parker Elementary Elk River Public School District | KG–05 | 513 | 16.9:1 | |
| Three Rivers Montessori School Three Rivers Montessori School · Charter | KG–06 | 119 | 15.9:1 | |
| Twin Lakes Elementary Elk River Public School District | KG–05 | 704 | 18:1 |
Middle schools in Elk River
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivan Sand Middle School ALC Elk River Public School District · Alternative School | 06–08 | 1 | 1:1 | |
| Salk Middle School Elk River Public School District · Magnet | 06–08 | 638 | 24.5:1 | |
| Spectrum Elementary School Spectrum High School · Charter | 05–05 | 147 | 16.9:1 | |
| Spectrum Middle School Spectrum High School · Charter | 06–08 | 291 | 16.7:1 | |
| Vandenberge Middle School Elk River Public School District | 06–08 | 557 | 23.3:1 |
High schools in Elk River
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.O.M.P.A.S.S. Elk River Public School District · Special Education School | 12–12 | 28 | 7:1 | |
| Elk River Senior High Elk River Public School District | 09–12 | 1,562 | 26.1:1 | |
| Ivan Sand After School Credit Recov Elk River Public School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 1 | — | |
| Ivan Sand Community High School Elk River Public School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 88 | 10.2:1 | |
| Ivan Sand Community School Summer Elk River Public School District · Alternative School | 10–12 | 0 | — | |
| Ivan Sand Community School- IS Elk River Public School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Online728 High School Elk River Public School District · Virtual | 09–12 | 81 | 9.6:1 | |
| Spectrum High School Spectrum High School · Charter | 09–12 | 502 | 16.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Elk River
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handke Center- EC Special Education Elk River Public School District · Special Education School | PK–PK | 399 | 16.8:1 | |
| ISD 728 Focus/Journey Elk River Public School District · Special Education School | 03–12 | 23 | 7.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White79.1%
- Hispanic5.4%
- Black6.9%
- Asian2.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial5.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 19 Elk River schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,763 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Elk River
How many public schools are in Elk River, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 21 open public schools with a location address in Elk River: 6 elementary, 5 middle, 8 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 6,763 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Elk River?
Schools with an address in Elk River belong to 3 education agencies, led by Elk River Public School District (17 schools), Spectrum High School (3 schools), Three Rivers Montessori School (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 Elk River?
Elk River Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Elk River, with 1,562 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Elk River?
Yes. 4 of the 21 public schools in Elk River are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Spectrum Elementary School, Spectrum High School, Spectrum Middle School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Elk River schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Elk River public schools is 16.7:1, 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 Elk River 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