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Howard Lake City HallHoward Lake City Hall · Photo: William Wesen Appraiser · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Howard Lake · Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted

Howard Lake’s public schools outscore 66% of Minnesota districts

98% of Howard Lake’s students graduate on time, above the Minnesota average (83%). The grade covers the public school district serving Howard Lake, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 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 98% 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
49%
▼ 2 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
40%
▼ 5 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 12–17 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.4K
▼ 22% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.6
MN 14.8 · larger classes
Schools in town
4
1,260 students on the public path
In brief

Howard Lake’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1595 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Howard Lake’s, its schools beat 61%, lower than their 66% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 49% of tested students were proficient in reading and 40% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota (the state reports Howard Lake’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,387 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 5 the district’s path is Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Middle, then Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Sec.. Enrollment is up 8% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. James Lutheran School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

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 Howard Lake’s grade

B− Test scoresA Graduation

B+: better than 66% of Minnesota school districts. Graduation is above the Minnesota average; test scores are below it.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 66%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1595)Better than 61%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 655 test results and a graduating class of 103 could put Howard Lake anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Howard Lake’s students in the tested grades sat them (663 in math, 647 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–42 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A−
5–8Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted MiddleHoward Lake-Waverly-WinstedB
9–12Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Sec.Howard Lake-Waverly-WinstedC

Howard Lake’s public schools are run by Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, which also serves Marysville, Middleville, Victor and Waverly and others. 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.

Howard Lake-Waverly-WinstedGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 1,312 students, up 8% since 2020–21 · 16.6 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$13,387MN $17,091 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading49%
State average 51.1% · 647 students tested
Math40%
State average 44.8% · 663 students tested

Howard Lake vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Howard LakeB+Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
MiddlevilleB+Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
VictorB+Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted

All 2 neighbors share Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted with Howard Lake, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Howard Lake

6 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 Howard Lakeby address
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8
B
393 students21:1Rate it →
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Sec.
High · Grades 9–12
C
411 students19:1Rate it →
Also serving Howard Lakein other towns
Humphrey Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Waverly
A−
243 students13:1Rate it →
Winsted Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Winsted
C+
213 students14:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Howard Lakerun by other districts or the state
Meeker-Wright Early Childhood Sp Ed
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
68 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. James Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
110 students10:1Rate it →

Left off: 5 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Step TD Program, Journeys Alternative Program, Trek Program, HLWW Alternative Learning Program and ALP Credit Recovery).

Questions about Howard Lake’s schools

Are Howard Lake’s schools good?

By Minnesota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Howard Lake children attend outscore 66% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 61%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Howard Lake in?

Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,312 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Howard Lake kids go to high school?

Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Sec., with 411 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Howard Lake’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Howard Lake spend per student?

$13,387 in Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Howard Lake?

Yes: St. James Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 110 students).

Parents talk

What Howard Lake families are saying about school.

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Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Howard 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.