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Big Lake Senior High

Q: Is Big Lake Senior High a good school?

Big Lake Senior High ranks 231 st of 473 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

231^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 473 Minnesota High Schools

Better than 51% of Minnesota high schools

Summary

Big Lake Senior High is a 9–12 comprehensive high school serving 902 students in Big Lake, a community in the northwest Twin Cities area, and it is part of the Big Lake Public School District, which ranks 188 of 458 Minnesota districts (59th percentile, 3 stars). The school's own rank has been volatile: after a strong run at the 72nd–76th percentile with 4 stars from 2020–2021 through 2023–2024, it fell to 258 of 450 (43rd percentile, 2 stars) in 2024–2025, then partially rebounded to 231 of 473 (51st percentile, 3 stars) in 2025–2026.

Completion outcomes are the clearest strength. In 2024–2025, Big Lake Senior High posted a 96.2% graduation rate — above the state's 84.9% and the district's 95.3% — and a 2.3% dropout rate, well below the state's 4.2%. Test scores are more mixed. In 2025–2026, tested-grade reading proficiency was 44.2%, above both the district and the state, while 11th-grade math was 29% and end-of-course science 28.1% — both above the district but below the state. Reading is a relative bright spot; math is the clearest academic pressure point. Student poverty is moderate at 28.71% free/reduced lunch, down from 31.65% the prior year, and the student-teacher ratio was 19.6 in 2024–2025.

Compared with larger traditional nearby high schools, Big Lake's graduation rate trails only St. Michael-Albertville Senior High's 97.3% and beats Becker Senior High's 92.3% and Monticello Senior High's 90.8%. Reading is essentially tied with St. Michael-Albertville and above Becker and Monticello, but math lags all three. Its 51st percentile sits just above Becker (50), below Monticello (55), and far below St. Michael-Albertville (77). Several student groups ranked above the school overall in 2025–2026, including Low Socio Economic Status students at the 65th percentile — a group that has outpaced the school's overall percentile for three straight reported years. The key question is whether the recent rebound continues.

902

Students ?

19.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,296

Per pupil spending ?

28.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

501 Minnesota Ave
Big Lake, MN 55309-9246

(763) 262-2547

District: Big Lake Public School District

Feeder schools for Big Lake Senior High:

Elementary:	Independence Elementary
	Liberty Elementary
Middle:	Big Lake Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.8%

Hispanic:

8.5%

African American:

6.5%

See top rated Minnesota high schools

Compare Big Lake Senior High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 56th percentile in 2016 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Minnesota average (85%)

✓Above the Minnesota median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (34% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg42%

Minnesota avg43%

231^st of 473

Minnesota public high schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 44% (2016) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

188^th of 458Big Lake Public School District among Minnesota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	54.3	231 of 473	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.6	258 of 450	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	73.4	117 of 480	75.6%	★★★★☆
2023	70.9	118 of 476	75.2%	★★★★☆
2022	71.3	132 of 472	72.0%	★★★★☆
2021	70.4	121 of 428	71.7%	★★★★☆
2019	62.0	205 of 492	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.7	154 of 494	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	48.9	302 of 489	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	62.1	217 of 489	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	57.5	248 of 504	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	59.0	234 of 483	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	68.8	166 of 534	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	70.2	177 of 539	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	64.6	235 of 545	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.1	216 of 540	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	68.1	178 of 460	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	73.3	136 of 463	70.6%	★★★★☆
2006	54.8	264 of 450	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	74.5	122 of 452	73.0%	★★★★☆
2004	53.5	298 of 433	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	59.5	40 of 114	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.6	61 of 95	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.2	43 of 109	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.2	18 of 98	81.6%	★★★★☆
2022	65.1	33 of 102	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	85.9	13 of 103	87.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	45.0	231 of 398	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.2	206 of 358	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.7	128 of 403	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.1	129 of 396	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.4	137 of 388	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.2	104 of 339	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.7	140 of 401	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.6	133 of 395	66.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	48.1	60 of 135	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.7	69 of 124	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.9	82 of 145	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	84.6	14 of 136	89.7%	★★★★★
2022	76.8	20 of 135	85.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	59.4	133 of 377	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.7	124 of 333	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	79.3	46 of 389	88.2%	★★★★☆
2023	62.5	126 of 393	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.2	171 of 312	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	78.1	33 of 270	87.8%	★★★★☆
2019	46.2	208 of 370	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.6	160 of 374	57.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	52.9	184 of 395	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.2	261 of 377	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	71.2	103 of 405	74.6%	★★★★☆
2023	67.1	115 of 398	71.1%	★★★★☆
2022	66.9	127 of 403	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.3	117 of 351	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.4	265 of 411	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.8	167 of 398	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	38.3	47 of 72	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.0	40 of 74	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.3	26 of 51	49.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	20.2	51 of 59	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	50.5	96 of 224	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	20.8	166 of 178	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	60.2	78 of 221	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.1	154 of 216	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	49.4	108 of 214	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	16.4	157 of 173	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	30.3	165 of 220	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	61.1	63 of 195	67.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	42.6	249 of 394	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.1	261 of 376	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	67.8	111 of 402	72.4%	★★★★☆
2023	55.2	181 of 398	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.7	154 of 401	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.6	153 of 364	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.6	237 of 412	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.8	179 of 414	56.8%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2026)65th percentile+14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)65th percentile+14 vs school

Special Education (2026)57th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)56th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)53rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)42nd percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)37th percentile-14 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)35th percentile-41 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading44%-4 vs state

Math29%-16 vs state

Science28%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Big Lake Senior High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)					MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 10th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science End of Course	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
Big Lake Senior High	Public	9-12	501 Minnesota Ave	Big Lake	55309	Sherburne County	Big Lake Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 262-2547	902	46	19.6	28.7%	684 (75.8%)	59 (6.5%)	77 (8.5%)	20 (2.2%)	8 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (6.0%)	54.3	231^st of 473 public high schools	51.2%		49.6	258^th of 450 public high schools	42.7%	27				44.2	44.2		28.1	28.1				29.0	29.0	$12,296
Big Lake Online 6-12	Public, Virtual	6-12	501 Minnesota Ave	Big Lake	55309	Sherburne County	Big Lake Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(763) 262-2547	118	1	140.4	43.2%	83 (70.3%)	11 (9.3%)	9 (7.6%)	5 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (8.5%)								(n/a)					31.6								8.3
882 Online	Public, Virtual	7-12	302 Washington St	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Monticello Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(763) 272-3000	80	0		30.0%	64 (80.0%)	2 (2.5%)	9 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.3%)								(n/a)
Foundations II	Public	5-12	406 E 7th St	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Sherburne and Northern Wright Speci	No	No	No	No	(763) 272-2050	10	0		70.0%	5 (50.0%)	1 (10.0%)	2 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (20.0%)								(n/a)
SNW Transitions Program	Public	9-12	9375 Fenning Ave NE	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Sherburne and Northern Wright Speci	No	No	No	No	(763) 272-2050	39	3	11.4	20.5%	31 (79.5%)	1 (2.6%)	5 (12.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.6%)								(n/a)
Monticello Alternative Program	Public	9-12	5225 School Blvd	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Monticello Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 272-3200	24	4	5.7	66.7%	8 (33.3%)	2 (8.3%)	10 (41.7%)	1 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (12.5%)								(n/a)														$14,379
Monticello High School - SNW	Public	9-12	5225 School Blvd	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Sherburne and Northern Wright Speci	No	No	No	No	(763) 272-2050	14	3	5.0		10 (71.4%)	1 (7.1%)	2 (14.3%)	1 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Monticello Senior High	Public	9-12	5225 School Blvd	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Monticello Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 272-3000	1,313	64	20.4	25.9%	1,035 (78.8%)	47 (3.6%)	136 (10.4%)	24 (1.8%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (5.3%)	58.1	212^th of 473 public high schools	55.2%		68.1	147^th of 450 public high schools	67.3%	65				38.6	38.6		34.1	34.1				34.8	34.8	$14,148
Kaleidoscope Charter High School	Public, Charter	9-12	7525 Kalland Ave NE	Otsego	55301	Wright County	Kaleidoscope Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(763) 428-1890	76	11	6.7	28.9%	64 (84.2%)	2 (2.6%)	6 (7.9%)	1 (1.3%)	2 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.3%)	74.9	103^rd of 473 public high schools	78.2%					(n/a)				47.6	47.6		42.9	42.9						$13,952
St. Michael-Albertville Senior High	Public	9-12	5800 Jamison Ave NE	Saint Michael	55376	Wright County	St. Michael-Albertville Schools	No	No	No	No	(763) 497-2192	2,204	100	22.0	15.1%	1,796 (81.5%)	135 (6.1%)	95 (4.3%)	47 (2.1%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	127 (5.8%)	74.6	108^th of 473 public high schools	77.2%		78.8	87^th of 450 public high schools	80.7%	21				44.4	44.4		39.7	39.7				52.6	52.6	$9,372

Frequently Asked Questions about Big Lake Senior High

Is Big Lake Senior High a good school?

Big Lake Senior High ranks 231^st of 473 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Big Lake Senior High?

Big Lake Senior High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Independence Elementary
Elementary : Liberty Elementary
Middle : Big Lake Middle School

What district is Big Lake Senior High in?

Big Lake Public School District

What is the racial makeup of Big Lake Senior High?

Students at Big Lake Senior High are 76% White, 9% Hispanic, 7% African American, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Big Lake Senior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 902 students attended Big Lake Senior High.

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresNewSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.