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Cottonwood County

Minnesota · Public K-12

Cottonwood County is one of Minnesota's public-school counties, with 14 campuses serving about 1,966 students (4 elementary, 2 middle, and 6 high). Median household income in the county is roughly $72,941.

7-year change in Cottonwood County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,966
+158 (+9%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
58%
was 68%
% Hispanic
26%
was 19%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
6%
was 7%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
14
4 districts
Enrollment
1,966
NCES CCD
Median income
$72,941
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
53.2%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
4
758 students
Middle
2
359 students
High
6
807 students
Combined / other
2
42 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Windom Public School District
1,187 students · 4 districts in Cottonwood County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Cottonwood County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
81%
Hispanic
11%
Black
2%
Asian
4%
Two or more
6%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
1%
School enrollment
White
58%
Hispanic
26%
Black
1%
Asian
6%
Two or more
6%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
2%
Bachelor's+
24.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.8%
civilian labor
Median age
40
25.2% under 18

Test scores in Cottonwood County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.

See all 6 schools in Cottonwood County ranked by score →

All schools (14)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Windom Area ElementaryWindomElementaryPK-04493·
Windom MiddleWindomMiddle05-08359·
Windom Senior HighWindomHigh09-12327·
MOUNTAIN LAKE ELEMENTARYMountain LakeElementaryPK-06257·
MOUNTAIN LAKE SECONDARYMountain LakeHigh07-12241·
WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SECONDARYWestbrookHigh07-12198·
SWWC ELC - WindomWindomCombinedKG-1242·
SWWC ALC - WindomWindomHigh09-1241·
Early Childhood Learning CenterWindomElementaryPK-PK8·
Out-of-State Care and TreatmentWindomCombinedKG-120·
STARRS ONLINE ACADEMYWindomHigh06-120·
STARSS Online Academy ElementaryWindomElementaryKG-050·
SWWC ALC Midlevel - WindomWindomMiddle07-080·
Windom Learn Center Credit RecoveryWindomHigh09-120·

Cities in Cottonwood County

Windom11 schoolsMountain Lake2 schoolsWestbrook1 school

About Cottonwood County

Cottonwood County is a thinly populated Minnesota county of about 11,458 residents, home to 14 public schools and roughly 1,966 students.

For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $72,941, about 24% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 6% lower than the Minnesota median.

For a sense of the school types, Cottonwood County consists of 4 elementary schools (758 students), 2 middle schools (359), 6 high schools (807), and 2 combined or other schools.

Windom Public School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,187 students on its own.

Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment climbed 9%: 1,808 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,966 in SY 2024-25. The White share of public-school enrollment decreased from 68% to 58%.

On this page, the community for Cottonwood County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Cottonwood County?
There are 14 public K-12 schools in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, with a combined enrollment of about 1,966.
How many high schools are in Cottonwood County?
Cottonwood County, Minnesota has 6 public high schools, serving approximately 807 students.
How many middle schools are in Cottonwood County?
Cottonwood County, Minnesota has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 359 students.
How many elementary schools are in Cottonwood County?
Cottonwood County, Minnesota has 4 public elementary schools, serving approximately 758 students.
What is the largest school district in Cottonwood County?
Windom Public School District is the largest school district in Cottonwood County, serving approximately 1,187 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
What is the population of Cottonwood County?
Cottonwood County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 11,458, with a median age of 40. About 25.2% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Cottonwood County?
Median household income in Cottonwood County is $72,941, below the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 9.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Cottonwood County?
Approximately 24.1% of adults 25 and older in Cottonwood County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Cottonwood County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 53.2% of students in Cottonwood County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Minnesota county average of 41.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cottonwood County schools?
Across Cottonwood County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.1 to 1.

Cottonwood County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data