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Litchfield Avenue at 4th Street, Willmar, MN-03Photo: Myotus · CC BY 4.0
C
Schools in Willmar · Willmar Public School District

Willmar’s public schools score below 66% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

36% of students in Willmar’s public schools are proficient in reading, below the Minnesota average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Willmar, 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.

#251of 274 Minnesota townsK–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
36%
▼ 15 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
40%
▼ 5 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
76%
▼ 7 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.5K
▼ 3% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.9
MN 14.8 · smaller classes
Schools in town
12
3,948 students on the public path
In brief

Willmar’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 946 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Willmar’s, its schools beat 16%, lower than their 34% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 36% 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

76% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,523 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Willmar Middle School, then Willmar Senior High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

DREAM Technical Academy and Community Christian School (private) are 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 Willmar’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 34% of Minnesota school districts, #251 of 274 Minnesota towns. Both inputs trail the Minnesota average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 34%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (946)Better than 16%
CC+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,087 test results and a graduating class of 344 could put Willmar anywhere from C to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Willmar’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,066 in math, 2,108 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC
6–8Willmar Middle SchoolWillmar Public School DistrictC+
9–12Willmar Senior HighWillmar Public School DistrictC+

Willmar’s public schools are run by Willmar Public School District. 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.

Willmar Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 12 schools · 4,218 students · 12.9 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$16,523MN $17,091 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading36%
State average 51.1% · 2108 students tested
Math40%
State average 44.8% · 2066 students tested

Willmar vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WillmarCWillmar Public
Willmar Township—Willmar Public
St. Johns—MACCRAY PK–12 · Willmar Public PK–12
DovreCWillmar Public

All 3 neighbors share Willmar Public with Willmar, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Willmar

12 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 Willmarby address
Kennedy Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
672 students12:1Rate it →
Lakeland Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
623 students13:1Rate it →
Roosevelt Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
580 students12:1Rate it →
Jefferson Early Learning Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
26 studentsRate it →
Willmar Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
842 students14:1Rate it →
Willmar Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
C+
1,205 students16:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Willmar Area Learning Center
High · Grades 9–12
D−
Alternative Education
91 students7:1Rate it →
Jefferson Learning Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
89 students6:1Rate it →
Lake Park School
Grades 4–12
C−
Alternative Education
33 studentsRate it →
Middle School ALC
Middle · Grades 6–8
Alternative Education
27 studentsRate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
DREAM Technical Academy
High · Grades 7–12
D−
Charter
72 students22:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Community Christian School
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
262 students13:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Lakeview School, Prairie Lakes Education Center and Greater Minnesota Education Center).

Questions about Willmar’s schools

Are Willmar’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Willmar children attend score below 66% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #251 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 16%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Willmar in?

Willmar Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,218 students in 12 schools (2024–25).

Where do Willmar kids go to high school?

Willmar Senior High, with 1,205 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Willmar’s graduation rate?

76% of the class of 2023 in Willmar Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Willmar spend per student?

$16,523 in Willmar Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Willmar?

Yes: Community Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 262 students). Willmar also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Willmar families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Willmar → 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.