School Section Lake
School Section Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 210.54 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 211 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 240 days
Next lake in Stearns County
School Section Lake is a 211-acre mesotrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet (9-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, School Section Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near School Section Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near School Section Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Water Temperature
School Section Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 76 field readings (2011–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full School Section Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 211 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 95% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- School Section LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing School Section Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-08-29 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 71.53 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 31.83 | 0.4 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 27.80 | 0.7 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 24.36 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 22.94 | 0.92 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 20.26 | 0.29 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Pumpkinseed
Largemouth Bass
From the 2018-08-29 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in School Section Lake was conducted on August 29-30, 2018 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for School Section Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — School SectionFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — School SectionFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — School SectionPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.2 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (13 observations).
Estimated open water season: 240 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-09 (2017) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-10 (2018) | 2017-12-12 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-07
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 32 lakes in Stearns County
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about School Section Lake
What is the water quality grade for School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 210.54 acres.
Is School Section Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. School Section Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 76 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet and an average depth of 8.5 feet. The lake covers 210.54 acres.
What fish are in School Section Lake?
- Fish species found in School Section Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. School Section Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does School Section Lake thaw?
- School Section Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 240 days.
Are there boat ramps on School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include School Section Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore School Section Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate