Schoolhouse Lake
Schoolhouse Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Mean depth
- ~11 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Schoolhouse Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 11 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Schoolhouse Lake ranks #37 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-10-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Schoolhouse Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Schoolhouse Lake in Itasca 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
Schoolhouse Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 78°F) and coldest in Oct (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 166 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Schoolhouse Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~11 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Schoolhouse Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Plughat PointPublic
- Sunset TrailSemi-private
- Northland Lodge Resort and CampgroundSemi-private
- Starck's Tamarack LodgeSemi-private
Fishing Schoolhouse Lake
County Ranking
Ranked #37 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Schoolhouse Lake
What is the water quality grade for Schoolhouse Lake?
- Schoolhouse Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L.
Is Schoolhouse Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Schoolhouse Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Schoolhouse Lake?
- Schoolhouse Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 166 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Schoolhouse Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Schoolhouse Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 11 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Schoolhouse Lake?
- Schoolhouse Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Plughat Point, Sunset Trail, Northland Lodge Resort and Campground, Starck's Tamarack Lodge. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Schoolhouse Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
65 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX65 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- 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