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Wadena County

Minnesota · Public K-12

Public K-12 schools in Wadena County number 17 per the most recent NCES data, averaging about 188 students per campus. By grade band, the county runs 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 6 high schools.

7-year change in Wadena County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,201
+14 (+0%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
14
+3 (+27%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 93%
% Hispanic
4%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
17
5 districts
Enrollment
3,201
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,467
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
49.3%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
8
1,522 students
Middle
1
159 students
High
6
1,496 students
Combined / other
2
24 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,079 students · 5 districts in Wadena County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Wadena 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
87%
Hispanic
2%
Black
2%
Asian
0%
Two or more
11%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
90%
Hispanic
4%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
19.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.5%
civilian labor
Median age
40
26.1% under 18

Test scores in Wadena County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.

See all 9 schools in Wadena County ranked by score →

All schools (17)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
MENAHGA ELEMENTARYMenahgaElementaryPK-06537·
WADENA-DEER CREEK SENIOR HIGHWadenaHigh07-12470·
Menahga High SchoolMenahgaHigh07-12450·
WADENA-DEER CREEK ELEMENTARYWadenaElementaryPK-04450·
VERNDALE ELEMENTARYVerndaleElementaryPK-06253·
SEBEKA SECONDARYSebekaHigh07-12233·
VERNDALE SECONDARYVerndaleHigh07-12231·
SEBEKA ELEMENTARYSebekaElementaryPK-06218·
WADENA-DEER CREEK 5TH AND 6TH GRADEWadenaMiddle05-06159·
Freshwater Education District ALCWadenaHigh06-12101·
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATIONWadenaElementaryPK-PK64·
LEAF RIVER ACADEMYWadenaCombinedKG-1215·
White Pine AcademyWadenaHigh05-1211·
Elm Tree AcademyWadenaCombined02-129·
Freshwater Menahga ALCMenahgaElementaryM-M··
Freshwater Staples ALCStaplesElementaryM-M··
Freshwater Wadena ALCWadenaElementaryM-M··

Cities in Wadena County

Wadena9 schoolsMenahga3 schoolsSebeka2 schoolsVerndale2 schoolsStaples1 school

About Wadena County

Wadena County is a rural-scale county of about 14,256 residents in Minnesota. Its public-school system instructs approximately 3,201 students across 17 schools.

For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $61,467 a year, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 21% below the Minnesota median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Wadena County is made up of 8 elementary schools (1,522 students), 1 middle school (159), 6 high schools (1,496), and 2 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Wadena County is WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 1,079 students.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 3,187 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,201 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Wadena County added 3 schools, going from 11 to 14.

On this page, the community for Wadena 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

How many public schools are in Wadena County?
Wadena County, Minnesota has 17 public K-12 schools serving approximately 3,201 students.
How many high schools are in Wadena County?
Wadena County, Minnesota has 6 public high schools, serving approximately 1,496 students.
How many middle schools are in Wadena County?
Wadena County, Minnesota has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 159 students.
How many elementary schools are in Wadena County?
Wadena County, Minnesota has 8 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,522 students.
What is the largest school district in Wadena County?
WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Wadena County, serving approximately 1,079 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
What is the population of Wadena County?
Wadena County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 14,256, with a median age of 40. About 26.1% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Wadena County?
Median household income in Wadena County is $61,467, below the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 9.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Wadena County?
Approximately 19.8% of adults 25 and older in Wadena County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Wadena County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 49.3% of students in Wadena 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 Wadena County schools?
Across Wadena County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.4 to 1.

Wadena County school rankings

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