Total enrollment
5,121
-198 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
McLeod County
Minnesota · Public K-12
From the largest high school to the smallest elementary school, McLeod County's 22 public schools collectively enroll about 5,121 K-12 students, with Hutchinson Public School District the heaviest district by enrollment. By level, that breaks down as 9 elementary, 4 middle, and 8 high schools.
4-year change in McLeod County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
21
+2 (+11%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How McLeod County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Minnesota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 43.6% | #38 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,121 | #32 of 80 | #1,310 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 21 | #27 of 80 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.5:1 | #54 of 80 | #1,581 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 35.1% | #57 of 80 | #2,268 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 35.8% | #45 of 80 | #1,630 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.
McLeod County school rankings
Residents
36,798
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
7 districts
Enrollment
5,121
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$80,084
Above Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
35.1%
Below Minnesota avg
Elementary
9
2,548 students
Middle
4
832 students
High
8
1,731 students
Combined / other
1
10 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
HUTCHINSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
2,722 students · 7 districts in McLeod County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of McLeod 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+
20.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
42
21.9% under 18
Test scores in McLeod County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- HUTCHINSON PARK ELEMENTARY· 63.0%
- HUTCHINSON MIDDLE· 58.1%
- Hutchinson Tiger Elementary· 53.1%
- GLENCOE-SILVER LAKE SENIOR HIGH· 50.5%
- LAKESIDE ELEMENTARY· 50.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- New Century Academy· 22.9%
- LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY· 34.3%
- LESTER PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY· 35.2%
- WINSTED ELEMENTARY· 35.6%
- NEW DISCOVERIES MONTESSORI ACADEMY· 38.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUTCHINSON SENIOR HIGH | Hutchinson | High | 09-12 | 863 | · |
| HUTCHINSON MIDDLE | Hutchinson | Middle | 06-08 | 535 | · |
| GLENCOE-SILVER LAKE SENIOR HIGH | Glencoe | High | 09-12 | 468 | · |
| HUTCHINSON WEST ELEMENTARY | Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-01 | 431 | · |
| LAKESIDE ELEMENTARY | Silver Lake | Elementary | 03-06 | 408 | · |
| Hutchinson Tiger Elementary | Hutchinson | Elementary | 02-03 | 375 | · |
| HUTCHINSON PARK ELEMENTARY | Hutchinson | Elementary | 04-05 | 371 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary | Glencoe | Elementary | PK-02 | 290 | · |
| GSL Junior High School | Glencoe | Middle | 07-08 | 224 | · |
| LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY | Lester Prairie | High | 07-12 | 222 | · |
| NEW DISCOVERIES MONTESSORI ACADEMY | Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-08 | 219 | · |
| LESTER PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY | Lester Prairie | Elementary | PK-06 | 213 | · |
| WINSTED ELEMENTARY | Winsted | Elementary | PK-04 | 213 | · |
| New Century Academy | Hutchinson | High | 06-12 | 95 | · |
| HUTCHINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL A.L.C. | Hutchinson | Middle | 06-08 | 73 | · |
| CROW RIVER AREA LEARNING CENTER | Hutchinson | High | 09-12 | 32 | · |
| HUTCHINSON TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PG | Hutchinson | High | 12-12 | 30 | · |
| HOWARD LAKE WAVERLY WINSTED ECSE | Winsted | Elementary | PK-PK | 28 | · |
| SWWC Alternative Learning Center - | Glencoe | High | 09-12 | 19 | · |
| CORNERSTONE | Hutchinson | Combined | KG-12 | 10 | · |
| HUTCHINSON NIGHT ALT LEARNING CTR | Hutchinson | High | 09-12 | 2 | · |
| SWWC ALC Midlevel - Glencoe | Glencoe | Middle | 07-08 | 0 | · |
Cities in McLeod County
About McLeod County
Across the compact Minnesota county of McLeod County of about 36,798 residents, the public-school footprint covers 22 schools and about 5,121 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $80,084, about 20% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
In terms of grade levels, McLeod County is built around 9 elementary schools (2,548 students), 4 middle schools (832), 8 high schools (1,731), and 1 combined or other schools.
HUTCHINSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,722 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 5,121 students, contracted 4% from the 5,319 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count climbed from 19 to 21 across the same 4-year window.
On allk12, the community for McLeod County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data