A−

West Central Area school district

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 21 towns

Serves Elbow Lake, Hoffman, Erdahl Township, Barrett, Elk Lake Township, Urness Township, Kensington, Land Township, Solem Township, Nora Township, Swan Lake Township, Wendell, Pomme de Terre Township, Sanford Township, Elbow Lake Township, Stony Brook Township, Lawrence Township, Lien Township, Roseville Township, Delaware Township and North Ottawa Township, and parts of Moe Township, Holmes City Township and Ben Wade Township.

Students

743

Schools

Spent per student

$16,440

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

12:1

Free or reduced lunch

37%

Debt

$0.3M

fiscal 2024

The gist

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 Walls Township.

PK–5Pearson ElementaryWheaton Area Public School District

6–12Wheaton SecondaryWheaton Area Public School District

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math 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.

West Central Area N. El.

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Elbow Lake

B+

144 students10:1

West Central Area S. El.

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Kensington

B+

138 students11:1

WCA Middle School

Middle · Grades 5–8 · Barrett

B+

232 students15:1

West Central Area Secondary

High · Grades 9–12 · Barrett

229 students13:1

West Central Area ALP

High · Grades 5–12 · Barrett

0 students

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Morris Area Public SchoolsFramnas Township, New Prairie Township, Rendsville Township

$15,169per student

Ashby Public School DistrictPelican Lake Township, Tumuli Township

$15,247per student

Brandon-Evansville Public SchoolsBrandon Township, Evansville Township

$13,401per student

Campbell-Tintah Public School DistrictChampion Township, Tintah Township, Western Township

$17,211per 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.