Total enrollment
1,279
+172 (+16%) vs SY 2017-18
9 schools in Wadena
Minnesota · Public K-12
Public schools in Wadena number 9 per the latest NCES data, with about 1,279 students enrolled, an average school size of 142.
7-year change in Wadena
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
+4 (+100%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
85%
was 90%
% Hispanic
6%
was 4%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
| Name | Level | Grades | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION | Elementary | PK-PK | 64 |
| Elm Tree Academy | Combined | 02-12 | 9 |
| Freshwater Education District ALC | High | 06-12 | 101 |
| Freshwater Wadena ALC | Elementary | M-M | · |
| LEAF RIVER ACADEMY | Combined | KG-12 | 15 |
| WADENA-DEER CREEK 5TH AND 6TH GRADE | Middle | 05-06 | 159 |
| WADENA-DEER CREEK ELEMENTARY | Elementary | PK-04 | 450 |
| WADENA-DEER CREEK SENIOR HIGH | High | 07-12 | 470 |
| White Pine Academy | High | 05-12 | 11 |
About Wadena
Public education in Wadena, Minnesota runs across 9 schools that teaches roughly 1,279 students. By footprint, Wadena sits in the mid-sized bracket.
On the level-by-level breakdown, the city is made up of 3 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, and 2 other.
Average school size in Wadena is around 142 students, 60% noticeably below the Minnesota average of about 357.
Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment rose 16%: 1,107 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,279 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Wadena added 4 schools, going from 4 to 8. The White share of public-school enrollment decreased from 90% to 85%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Wadena discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.