Dakota County is the third-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota, located in the east central portion of the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 439,882. The population of Dakota County was estimated to be 447,440 in 2023. The county seat is Hastings. Dakota County is named for the Dakota Sioux tribal bands who inhabited the area.
Bemidji is a city and the county seat of Beltrami County, in northern Minnesota, United States. The population was 14,574 at the 2020 census. According to 2022 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 15,946, making it the largest commercial center between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Duluth.
Lakeville is an exurb of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and the largest city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul along Interstate Highway 35. Starting as a flourishing milling center, its agriculture industry and other major industries are still in operation. Lakeville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Twin Cities area. The population was 69,490 at the 2020 census. making it Minnesota's tenth most populous city.
Brooklyn Park is a suburban city on the west bank of the Mississippi River, upstream from downtown Minneapolis in northern Hennepin County. It is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 86,478 at the 2020 census. The city still has undeveloped land and farms, including the historic Eidem Homestead, a 1900s working farm that is a popular tourist attraction for families and school field trips. Brooklyn Park is considered both a second- and third-tier suburb of Minneapolis, because much of the land north of 85th Avenue was developed after 2000.
Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States and a first-ring suburb of Minneapolis. The population was 53,494 at the 2020 census, making it the 18th most populous city in Minnesota.
Elk River is a city in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States, approximately 34 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Known as the Energy City since 1997. It is situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk Rivers. The population was 25,835 at the 2020 census, making Elk River the second largest city with an area of 42.33 square miles in the Central Minnesota region after St. Cloud. It is the county seat. U.S. Highways 10 and 169 and State Highway 101 are three of the main routes in Elk River, and a station on the Northstar Commuter Rail line to downtown Minneapolis is located in the city. Elk River is located 33.2 miles northwest of Minneapolis and 37.4 miles southeast of St. Cloud.
Bloomington is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, on the north bank of the Minnesota River, above its confluence with the Mississippi River, 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Minneapolis. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 89,987, making it Minnesota's fourth-largest city.
Hastings is a city mostly in Dakota County, Minnesota, of which it is the county seat, with a portion in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. It is near the confluence of the Mississippi, Vermillion, and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,154 at the 2020 census. It is named for the first elected governor of Minnesota, Henry Hastings Sibley.
St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is a public university in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Founded in 1869, the university is one of the largest institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Its enrollment in 2021 was approximately 10,000 students and it has over 120,000 alumni.
Minnetonka High School, or MHS, is a four-year public high school located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States, a western suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The school enrolls about 3,540 students, and offers four interchangeable academic curricula: International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, Honors, and G (general). Newsweek ranked the school at #123 in their list of America's Top High Schools. Minnetonka High School is currently rated #3 in public high schools in Minnesota by Niche.
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School is located in Plymouth, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. The school serves students from the cities of Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, Plymouth and Golden Valley.
Edina High School is a four-year public high school located in Edina, Minnesota, United States, a suburb of Minneapolis. The current student population is 2,720.
Hill-Murray School is a coeducational private Catholic school serving grades 6–12. It is on a 40-acre (16 ha) site in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States, a suburb of Saint Paul. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, it was established in 1971 as a result of the consolidation of Archbishop Murray Memorial High School and Hill High School. The Benedictine Sisters founded Archbishop Murray in 1958 as a school for young women. The Christian Brothers established Hill High in 1959 as a school for young men. The Middle School was added in 1989. The student population is drawn from the Twin Cities, surrounding suburban areas, and nearby Wisconsin communities. Hill-Murray is one of only 21 Minnesota high schools accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Freedom High School is a large urban, public high school located in Bethlehem Township in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. Freedom High School is one of the two public high schools operated by the Bethlehem Area School District. It is located at 3149 Chester Avenue in Bethlehem Township.
Johnson Senior High School is a comprehensive high school for grades 9 to 12 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Originally named Cleveland High School, the school was renamed after Minnesota governor John A. Johnson in 1911. Johnson is the second oldest high school in the Saint Paul Public Schools district and is only surpassed in age by Central High School. The school has operated in three different buildings since 1897, all located on the East Side of Saint Paul.
Blaine High School is a public high school in Blaine, Minnesota as part of the Anoka-Hennepin School District 11. The school was opened in 1972, as part of the Blaine Project.
Regis Jesuit High School is a private, Catholic, college preparatory high school administered by the Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus in Aurora, Colorado. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1877. The high school shares much of its history with Regis University in neighboring Denver, Colorado. The school is a member of the Jesuit Schools Network The school is located in the Archdiocese of Denver.
McDowell High School is a public high school located in Millcreek Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Erie. It is the only high school in the Millcreek Township School District. The school's mascot is the Trojan.
Apple Valley High School (AVHS) is a public four-year high school in the U.S. city of Apple Valley, Minnesota. It is one of the five high schools serving Independent School District 196. The school was completed in 1976 as the second high school added to the district. It competes in the South Suburban Conference of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).
Bemidji High School is a public high school in Bemidji, Minnesota, United States. The school is situated on a 260-acre (1.1 km2) campus two miles (3 km) west of downtown Bemidji. The Mississippi River runs behind the high school. Constructed in 2000, Bemidji High School is the largest in northern Minnesota in terms of student enrollment.
