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Winona Commercial HD 02Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Winona · Winona Area Public School District

Winona’s public schools score below 59% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

41% of students in Winona’s public schools are proficient in reading, below the Minnesota average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Winona, 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.

#234of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% 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
41%
▼ 10 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▼ 9 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
86%
▲ 3 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.5K
▲ 8% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.8
MN 14.8 · smaller classes
Schools in town
17
2,067 students on the public path
In brief

Winona’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 688 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Winona’s, its schools beat 31%, lower than their 41% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 36% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 91% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $18,456 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 Winona Middle, then Winona Senior High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Riverway Secondary, Riverway Learning Community Charter, Bluffview Montessori, Cotter Schools (private), St. Martin's Lutheran School (private), St. Matthews Lutheran School (private), Cotter Schools-ST. Marys Campus (private), Hope Lutheran High School (private) and Anchor Academy (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 Winona’s grade

C+ Test scoresB− Graduation

C+: better than 41% of Minnesota school districts, #234 of 274 Minnesota towns. Graduation is above the Minnesota average; test scores are below it.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 41%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (688)Better than 31%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,092 test results and a graduating class of 227 could put Winona anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of Winona’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,066 in math, 1,117 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–42 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B
5–8Winona MiddleWinona Area Public School DistrictC
9–12Winona Senior HighWinona Area Public School DistrictC+

Winona’s public schools are run by Winona Area 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.

Winona Area Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 2,465 students, down 1% since 2021–22 · 13.8 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$18,456MN $17,091 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 51.1% · 1117 students tested
Math36%
State average 44.8% · 1066 students tested

Winona vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WinonaC+Winona Area Public
WilsonC+Winona Area Public
GoodviewC+Winona Area Public
HomerC+Winona Area Public
Rollingstone—Winona Area Public

All 4 neighbors share Winona Area Public with Winona, so their letters differ mainly through other districts. Buffalo, WI and Fountain City, WI border Winona but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.

Every school in Winona

17 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 Winonaby address
Washington-Kosciusko Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B
231 students10:1Rate it →
Jefferson Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–4
B−
322 students12:1Rate it →
Winona Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8
C
665 students14:1Rate it →
Winona Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
C+
849 students18:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Winona Early Childhood Special Ed.
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
76 students7:1Rate it →
Winona Area Learning Center
High · Grades 5–12
D−
Alternative Education
92 students14:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Bluffview Montessori
Elementary · Grades K–8
A−
Charter
209 students7:1Rate it →
Riverway Secondary
High · Grades 7–12
D
Charter
63 students26:1Rate it →
Riverway Learning Community Charter
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
Charter
61 students10:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Winonarun by other districts or the state
River Valley Academy Alc
High · Grades 9–12
C−
Alternative Education
52 students16:1Rate it →
Hved Ecse
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
47 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Cotter Schools
Grades PK–12
Private · Catholic
993 students17:1Rate it →
St. Martin's Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
106 students10:1Rate it →
St. Matthews Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
92 students21:1Rate it →
Cotter Schools-ST. Marys Campus
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Private · Catholic
90 studentsRate it →
Hope Lutheran High School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Religious
88 students15:1Rate it →
Anchor Academy
High · Grades 9–10
Private · Religious · All-girls
2 students2:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (WALC Extended Day).

Questions about Winona’s schools

Are Winona’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Winona children attend score below 59% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #234 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 31%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Winona in?

Winona Area Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,465 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do Winona kids go to high school?

Winona Senior High, with 849 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Winona’s graduation rate?

86% of the class of 2023 in Winona Area Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Winona spend per student?

$18,456 in Winona Area Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Winona?

Yes: Cotter Schools (Catholic, grades PK–12, 993 students), St. Martin's Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 106 students), St. Matthews Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 92 students), Cotter Schools-ST. Marys Campus (Catholic, grades PK, 90 students), Hope Lutheran High School (religious, grades 9–12, 88 students) and Anchor Academy (religious · all-girls, grades 9–10, 2 students). Winona also has 3 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Winona families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Winona → 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.