Grant County
Public-school families in Grant County pick from 8 schools serving the county's roughly 1,012 K-12 students, with a mix of 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high.
4-year change in Grant County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25How Grant County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Minnesota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 47.9% | #18 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,012 | #80 of 80 | #2,743 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 7 | #64 of 80 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.2:1 | #2 of 80 | #332 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 35.0% | #60 of 80 | #2,273 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 15.1% | #77 of 80 | #2,335 of 2,707 |
Grant County school rankings
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Grant 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".
Test scores in Grant County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
- WEST CENTRAL AREA SECONDARY· 78.0%
- ASHBY ELEMENTARY· 58.1%
- WEST CENTRAL AREA N. EL.· 52.5%
- ASHBY SECONDARY· 47.0%
- WCA Middle School· 44.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WCA Middle School | Barrett | Middle | 05-08 | 232 | · |
| WEST CENTRAL AREA SECONDARY | Barrett | High | 09-12 | 229 | · |
| ASHBY ELEMENTARY | Ashby | Elementary | PK-06 | 178 | · |
| WEST CENTRAL AREA N. EL. | Elbow Lake | Elementary | PK-04 | 144 | · |
| ASHBY SECONDARY | Ashby | High | 07-12 | 137 | · |
| Herman-Norcross Elementary | Herman | Elementary | PK-06 | 56 | · |
| Herman-Norcross High School | Herman | High | 07-12 | 36 | · |
| West Central Area ALP | Barrett | High | 05-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Grant County
About Grant County
Across the thinly populated Minnesota county of Grant County of about 6,127 residents, the public-school footprint covers 8 schools and about 1,012 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $73,917, about 21% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 5% noticeably below the Minnesota median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Grant County consists of 3 elementary schools (378 students), 1 middle school (232), and 4 high schools (402).
WEST CENTRAL AREA dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 605 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment fell 5%: 1,070 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,012 in SY 2024-25.
On this page, the community for Grant County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.