I grew up in Cloquet, and currently live in Barnum. Both schools are excellent. Many folks have recommended Esko. They also have a great school system, but little to no business, so taxes are higher than in Cloquet. I am currently a teacher in Cloquet. We moved out of Cloquet in favor of a smaller town, and more land. Cloquet has a slowly growing gang population and all the issues that go along with that. That being said, it was a nice place to grow up and go to school, but I prefer Barnum. The elementary and high school are fairly new, and growing. The curriculum is rock solid, and the faculty and staff are the best. There are a couple restaurants and gas stations in town, and in August, the town hosts the annual Carlton County Fair and Spring Fever Days. There are several lakes in the area, and lake homes are available. Barnum does not have shopping, but it is a short 20 minute drive to Cloquet where you can find anything you need. Moose Lake, 5 miles south, has shopping also, but not as extensive as Cloquet. Moose Lake is a beautiful community, and also has a good school system, although the building is aging. Lake homes on Moosehead lake are almost impossible to come by, but there are several other appealing options within 5 or so miles - Coffee Lake, Sand Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Island Lake, Little Hanging Horn Lake, Big Hanging Horn Lake, and Bear Lake to name a few. Both Barnum and Moose Lake are right off Interstate 35, and just over 1.5 hours to St. Paul and a little over .5 hours to Duluth. I think this area is by far the best place to raise a family and enjoy northern Minnesota at its best! I recommend you take a weekend drive up north, and check out Barnum and Moose Lake yourself. Come in August during the fair!
City of Barnum, Minnesota Welcome to Moose Lake