The desire for knowledge, at any age, can be quenched in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Private entities and public school systems are finding innovative ways to meet the needs of their students and collaborate.
Throughout the Lakes Area, large and small districts work together to provide students with the best possible educational opportunities. The Minnesota Collaborative Online Learning Academy is a cooperative effort that provides online high school courses to students throughout the area and the state. Student benefits include schedule flexibility and increased course options and accessibility. High school students can also take postsecondary courses for college credit either taught in the high school or on college campuses.
Education Resources
PUBLIC, K–12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS
The Brainerd Lakes Area is made up of seven public school districts, ranging from 750 to nearly 7,100 students.
Aitkin Public Schools District 1
aitkin.k12.mn.us
Total Students: 1,220
Brainerd Public Schools District 181
isd181.org
Total Students: 7,150
Crosby-Ironton Public Schools District 182
ci.k12.mn.us
Total Students: 1,175
Crosslake Community School
crosslakekids.org
Charter School (K-8): 116
Emily Charter School
www.emilycharterschool.us
Charter School (Pre K-6): 60
Pequot Lakes Public Schools District 186
pequotlakes.k12.mn.us
Total Students: 1,500
Pillager Area Charter School
Charter School (9-12): 45
Pillager Public Schools District 116
pillager.k12.mn.us
Total Students: 750
Pine River/Backus Public Schools District 2174
prbackus.k12.mn.us
Total Students: 1,000
Staples/Motley Public Schools District 217
isd2170.k12.mn.us
Total Students: 1,500
PRIVATE/PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS
The Lakes Area offers parents and students many choices when it comes to quality education. In addition to Minnesota's open enrollment policy, which allows parents to look beyond school district lines, we have several private schools to provide specialized learning for each student.
Family of Christ Lutheran School
www.focls.org
Total Students (Pre-K-8): 65
Lake Region Christian School
lakeregionchristianschool.com
Total Students (Pre-K-12): 226
Sacred Heart Area School
sacredheartareaschool.org
Total Students (Pre-K-6): 81
St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School
stfranciscatholicschool.org
Total Students (Pre-K-8): 210
CLC is a comprehensive community and technical college with an enrollment of 4,000 and campuses in Brainerd and Staples. Offering more than 70 degree and career education programs, CLC's cooperative programs are linked with schools such as Southwest State University, the University of North Dakota, Minnesota State University Mankato, Bemidji State University, the College of St. Scholastica, and Concordia College.
Accelerated degree programs are offered on the Brainerd campus of CLC. Students can complete four-year degrees in accounting, management, organizational behavior, and natural resources, or convert an R.N. degree to a B.A. Any required lower division classes can be taken right at CLC. St. Scholastica also offers a master's degree program in management, through an accelerated 14-month format. Students may choose a concentration in healthcare administration, human resources, or organizational development.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College's (MSCTC) Wadena campus offers students AA, AS, AAS degree, a diploma or a certificate in six different trade programs, four business programs, four health and human service programs, three technology based programs, and an associate of arts transfer degree into many four-year institutions. The Wadena campus is one of four MSCTC campuses located in west central Minnesota. The three other campuses are located in Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, and Moorhead.
