Total enrollment
6,213
+17 (+0%) vs SY 2020-21
Kandiyohi County
Minnesota · Public K-12
Kandiyohi County's public-school directory totals 22 schools, with student enrollment near 6,213. Willmar Public School District is the largest district. Median household income runs around $76,592. That works out to 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Kandiyohi County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
20
+2 (+11%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Kandiyohi County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Minnesota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 38.1% | #60 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,213 | #25 of 80 | #1,141 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 20 | #29 of 80 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.8:1 | #15 of 80 | #835 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 54.4% | #10 of 80 | #1,385 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 61.7% | #6 of 80 | #483 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Kandiyohi County school rankings
Residents
44,079
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
6 districts
Enrollment
6,213
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$76,592
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.4%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
8
2,963 students
Middle
3
1,323 students
High
5
1,828 students
Combined / other
6
99 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Willmar Public School District
4,218 students · 6 districts in Kandiyohi County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Kandiyohi 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
27.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.6%
civilian labor
Median age
40
24.5% under 18
Test scores in Kandiyohi County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- NEW LONDON-SPICER SR.· 60.4%
- NEW LONDON-SPICER MIDDLE· 59.6%
- PRAIRIE WOODS ELEMENTARY· 56.1%
- Willmar Middle School· 41.5%
- Willmar Senior High· 40.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Lakeland Elementary School· 24.2%
- Kennedy Elementary· 30.9%
- Roosevelt Elementary· 33.0%
- A.C.G.C. ELEMENTARY· 36.6%
- Willmar Senior High· 40.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willmar Senior High | Willmar | High | 09-12 | 1,205 | · |
| Willmar Middle School | Willmar | Middle | 06-08 | 842 | · |
| Kennedy Elementary | Willmar | Elementary | PK-05 | 672 | · |
| Lakeland Elementary School | Willmar | Elementary | PK-05 | 623 | · |
| Roosevelt Elementary | Willmar | Elementary | PK-05 | 580 | · |
| PRAIRIE WOODS ELEMENTARY | New London | Elementary | PK-04 | 578 | · |
| NEW LONDON-SPICER MIDDLE | New London | Middle | 05-08 | 454 | · |
| NEW LONDON-SPICER SR. | New London | High | 09-12 | 448 | · |
| A.C.G.C. ELEMENTARY | Atwater | Elementary | PK-04 | 369 | · |
| Willmar Area Learning Center | Willmar | High | 09-12 | 91 | · |
| Jefferson Learning Center | Willmar | Elementary | PK-PK | 89 | · |
| DREAM Technical Academy | Willmar | High | 07-12 | 72 | · |
| SWWC ELC - New London | New London | Combined | KG-12 | 36 | · |
| Lake Park School | Willmar | Combined | 04-12 | 33 | · |
| Middle School ALC | Willmar | Middle | 06-08 | 27 | · |
| Jefferson Early Learning Center | Willmar | Elementary | PK-PK | 26 | · |
| Prairie Meadows Learning Center | Spicer | Elementary | PK-PK | 26 | · |
| Prairie Lakes Education Center | Willmar | Combined | 04-12 | 19 | · |
| NEW LONDON ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | New London | High | 09-12 | 12 | · |
| Lakeview School | Willmar | Combined | KG-12 | 11 | · |
| Greater Minnesota Education Center | Willmar | Combined | 03-12 | 0 | · |
| Kandiyohi Academy | Willmar | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Kandiyohi County
About Kandiyohi County
In Minnesota, Kandiyohi County is a thinly populated county of about 44,079 residents. 22 public schools across the county serves about 6,213 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $76,592, roughly 28% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Kandiyohi County is built around 8 elementary schools (2,963 students), 3 middle schools (1,323), 5 high schools (1,828), and 6 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Kandiyohi County is Willmar Public School District, which alone enrolls about 4,218 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 6,213 students, stayed largely flat from the 6,196 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Kandiyohi County gained 2 schools, going from 18 to 20.
On this page, the community for Kandiyohi County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data