A−
West Central Area school district
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 21 towns
Serves Elbow Lake, Hoffman, Erdahl, Barrett, Elk Lake, Urness, Kensington, Land, Solem, Nora, Swan Lake, Wendell, Pomme de Terre, Sanford, Elbow Lake, Stony Brook, Lawrence, Lien, Roseville, Delaware and North Ottawa, and parts of Moe, Holmes City and Ben Wade.
Students
743
Schools
5
Spent per student
$16,440
MN $17,091
Students per teacher
12:1
Free or reduced lunch
37%
Debt
$0.3M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about West Central Area school district
- School Grade A−: better than 84% of Minnesota districts
- Reading / language arts 9 pts above the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 11 pts above the state
- 12 students per teacher
- Debt of $0.3M, about $405 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Urness.
PK–43 elementary schoolsThis district
53 elementary schoolsBrandon-Evansville Public Schools
6–82 middle schoolsThis district
9–122 high schoolsThis district
Test scores vs. MN
2020–21Math proficiency47%
State average 44.2%
Reading / language arts61%
State average 52.5%
Graduation rate (4-year)95%
State average 84.4% · small group: the state reports 90–100%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$16,440 per student · 4% below MN
Spending
Classroom instruction 60%Support & administration 35%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 23%State 73%Federal 4%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
773’20
765’21
779’22
750’23
743’24
Down 3.9% since 2020.
Students
White 90%Hispanic 4%Two or more races 4%Black 1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%
Schools in the district
5 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
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.