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%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 2 public high schools serving 229 students in West Central Area School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in Minnesota.
Public High Schools in West Central Area School District have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the Minnesota public high school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 72% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in West Central Area School District have a Graduation Rate of 90%, which is more than the Minnesota average of 83%.
The school with highest graduation rate is West Central Area Secondary, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Minnesota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 11% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public high school average of 38% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
5 Schools
1,196 Schools
# Students
743 Students
313,662 Students
# Teachers
60 Teachers
18,833 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

West Central Area School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 514 school districts in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MN)
#91 out of 525 school districts
(Top 20%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

49%
46%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

60%
51%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

49%
41%
(21-22)
≥90%
84%

Showing 2013–2022. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
19.8%
27.3%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.19
0.59

Showing 2014–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
1%
2%
% Asian
n/a
6%
% Hispanic
4%
12%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 26-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
1%
12%

Showing 2012–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

% White
90%
62%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,159 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,325. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,534 is less than the state median of $20,059. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MN)
Total Revenue
$12 MM
$16,920 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$13 MM
$17,562 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$16,159
$19,325

Showing 2014–2023. Full 26-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$17,534
$20,059

Showing 2014–2023. Full 26-year historical data available below ↓

Best West Central Area School District Public High Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
West Central Area Secondary
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
301 County Road 2
Barrett, MN 56311
(320) 528-7400
Gr: 9-12 | 229 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: n/an/a
West Central Area Alp
Alternative School
301 County Road 2
Barrett, MN 56311
(320) 528-7401
Gr: 5-12

Recent Articles

How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
Learn how graduation requirements, prerequisites, electives, staffing, scheduling conflicts, AP courses, dual enrollment, and career pathways determine how much control high school students have over schedules each year.
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Explore whether your child may benefit more from recess than another academic period, including research on attention, learning, physical activity, stress, social development, and school-day balance today.
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 5 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 743 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 10%
  • : ≥90% (Btm 50% in MN)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 49% (Top 30%)
  • : 60% (Top 20%)
  • : 49% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

Quick Links