West Central Area School District

301 County Rd 2
Barrett, MN 56311-9701
(District boundaries shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

West Central Area School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Minnesota for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 510 students in West Central Area School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public elementary schools in Minnesota.
Public Elementary Schools in West Central Area School District have an average math proficiency score of 57% (versus the Minnesota public elementary school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 58% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 9% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public elementary school average of 40% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
5 Schools
1,655 Schools
# Students
750 Students
571,925 Students
# Teachers
68 Teachers
40,363 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1

District Rank

West Central Area School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 522 school districts in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MN)
#75 out of 527 school districts
(Top 20%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of West Central Area  School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
53%
45%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of West Central Area  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
60%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of West Central Area  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
49%
41%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of West Central Area  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
≥90%
84%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of West Central Area  School District and public school graduation rate of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.16
0.61
# American Indian Students
2 Students
10,480 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
2%
# Asian Students
n/a
42,165 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
7%
# Hispanic Students
32 Students
65,127 Students
% Hispanic Students
4%
12%
# Black Students
9 Students
70,794 Students
% Black Students
1%
12%
# White Students
685 Students
344,281 Students
% White Students
92%
60%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
676 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
22 Students
38,402 Students
% of Two or more races Students
3%
7%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
15
10,698
# Students in K Grade:
38
57,031
# Students in 1st Grade:
52
61,859
# Students in 2nd Grade:
49
63,560
# Students in 3rd Grade:
65
61,751
# Students in 4th Grade:
62
63,575
# Students in 5th Grade:
62
63,290
# Students in 6th Grade:
48
63,180
# Students in 7th Grade:
60
53,666
# Students in 8th Grade:
59
53,924
# Students in 9th Grade:
59
4,107
# Students in 10th Grade:
60
4,634
# Students in 11th Grade:
58
4,740
# Students in 12th Grade:
63
5,910
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,595 in this school district is less than the state median of $17,854. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,272 is less than the state median of $18,580. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (MN)
Total Revenue
$12 MM
$15,547 MM
This chart displays total revenue of West Central Area  School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$12 MM
$16,179 MM
This chart displays total spending of West Central Area  School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$16,595
$17,854
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in West Central Area  School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$16,272
$18,580
This chart displays average spending per public school student in West Central Area  School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best West Central Area School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
West Central Area N. Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
411 1st St Se
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
(218) 685-7500
Grades: PK-4
| 156 students
Rank: #22.
West Central Area S. Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
31 N Central
Kensington, MN 56343
(320) 965-7600
Grades: PK-4
| 125 students
Rank: #33.
Wca Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
301 County Rd 2
Barrett, MN 56311
(320) 528-7400
Grades: 5-8
| 229 students
Rank: n/an/a
West Central Area Alp
Alternative School
301 County Road 2
Barrett, MN 56311
(320) 528-7401
Grades: 5-12
| n/a students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 5 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 750 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 9%
  • : ≥90% (Top 30% in MN)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 53% (Top 20%)
  • : 60% (Top 20%)
  • : 49% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

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