C+
Wadena-Deer Creek School District
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 11 towns
Serves Wadena, Wadena, Compton, Leaf River, Bluffton, Deer Creek, Wing River, Deer Creek, Inman, Oak Valley and Bluffton, and parts of Stowe Prairie and Blowers.
Students
1,079
Schools
3
Spent per student
$15,152
MN $17,091
Students per teacher
15:1
Free or reduced lunch
45%
Debt
$11.7M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Wadena-Deer Creek School District
- School Grade C+: better than 42% of Minnesota districts
- Math proficiency 11 pts below the state
- Reading / language arts 8 pts below the state
- Spends 11% less per student than the MN average
- 15 students per teacher
- Debt of $11.7M, about $10,831 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Urness.
PK–43 elementary schoolsWest Central Area school district
5–82 middle schoolsWest Central Area school district
9–122 high schoolsWest Central Area school district
Test scores vs. MN
2020–21Math proficiency33%
State average 44.2%
Reading / language arts45%
State average 52.5%
Graduation rate (4-year)87%
State average 84.4%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$15,152 per student · 11% below MN
Spending
Classroom instruction 62%Support & administration 31%Other 7%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 17%State 73%Federal 10%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
1,033’20
1,060’21
1,088’22
1,112’23
1,079’24
Up 4.5% since 2020.
Students
White 86%Two or more races 6%Hispanic 5%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Black 1%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
3 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
New York Mills Public School DistrictHomestead, Leaf Lake, Newton
$13,493per student
Sebeka Public School DistrictNorth Germany, Paddock, Rockwood
$15,593per student
Henning Public School DistrictElmo, Henning, Leaf Lake
$14,397per student
Verndale Public School DistrictAldrich, Bartlett
$14,670per student
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.