Best Public Schools in Willmar, MN

The city of Willmar, Minnesota is home to 11 schools, including 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 3 alternative schools. The schools in this diverse district serve a significant population of economically disadvantaged students, with high free/reduced lunch rates across the board.

Willmar Middle School stands out as a relatively strong performer, ranking 284 out of 545 Minnesota middle schools and scoring above the district and state averages in math and reading proficiency. In contrast, Kennedy Elementary shows promising math proficiency, particularly in 3rd and 5th grades, but faces challenges with a high free/reduced lunch rate of 75.24%.

The data reveals significant disparities in performance between the traditional public schools and the alternative schools in Willmar. The alternative schools, such as Willmar Area Learning Center and DREAM Technical Academy, consistently underperform the district and state averages on academic measures, with much lower graduation rates and higher dropout rates. This highlights the need for targeted interventions and support to address the unique challenges faced by these alternative school settings.