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Elbow Lake, Minnesota 01Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0
A
Schools in Elbow Lake · West Central Area

Elbow Lake’s public schools outscore 88% of Minnesota districts

53% of students in Elbow Lake’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Elbow Lake, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Minnesota, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
60%
▲ 9 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
53%
▲ 8 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Spent per student
$16.4K
▼ 4% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.2
MN 14.8 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
605 students on the public path
In brief

Elbow Lake’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 841 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Elbow Lake’s, its schools beat 93%, higher than their 88% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 60% and math 53% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,440 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 5 the district’s path is WCA Middle School, then West Central Area Secondary. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Elbow Lake’s grade

A− Test scores

A: better than 88% of Minnesota school districts. Test scores are above the Minnesota average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 88%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (841)Better than 93%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 394 test results could put Elbow Lake anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Elbow Lake’s students in the tested grades sat them (382 in math, 407 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Elbow Lake, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–4West Central Area N. El.West Central AreaB+
5–8WCA Middle Schoolin BarrettB+
9–12West Central Area Secondaryin BarrettB

Elbow Lake’s public schools are run by West Central Area. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

West Central AreaGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 743 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 12.2 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$16,440MN $17,091 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading60%
State average 51.1% · 407 students tested
Math53%
State average 44.8% · 382 students tested

Elbow Lake vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Elbow Lake’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Elbow LakeAWest Central Area

Every school in Elbow Lake

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Minnesota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Elbow Lakeby address
West Central Area N. El.
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B+
144 students10:1Rate it →
Also serving Elbow Lakein other towns
WCA Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Barrett
B+
232 students15:1Rate it →
West Central Area Secondary
High · Grades 9–12 · Barrett
B
229 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Elbow Lake’s schools

Are Elbow Lake’s schools good?

By Minnesota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Elbow Lake children attend outscore 88% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 93%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Elbow Lake in?

West Central Area, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 743 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Elbow Lake kids go to high school?

West Central Area Secondary in Barrett, with 229 students; its own test results earn a B.

How much does Elbow Lake spend per student?

$16,440 in West Central Area (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Elbow Lake families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Elbow Lake → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.