Total enrollment
3,201
+458 (+17%) vs SY 2020-21
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 school. By grade band, the county runs 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Wadena County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
14
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Wadena County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Minnesota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 36.9% | #65 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,201 | #46 of 80 | #1,778 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 14 | #44 of 80 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.4:1 | #28 of 80 | #1,100 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 49.3% | #15 of 80 | #1,661 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 18.5% | #75 of 80 | #2,212 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.
Wadena County school rankings
Residents
14,256
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
17
5 districts
Enrollment
3,201
students · 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
School enrollment
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%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- WADENA-DEER CREEK 5TH AND 6TH GRADE· 54.1%
- SEBEKA ELEMENTARY· 51.7%
- VERNDALE ELEMENTARY· 49.0%
- Menahga High School· 46.7%
- MENAHGA ELEMENTARY· 45.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- VERNDALE SECONDARY· 28.8%
- WADENA-DEER CREEK ELEMENTARY· 30.9%
- WADENA-DEER CREEK SENIOR HIGH· 37.0%
- SEBEKA SECONDARY· 41.8%
- MENAHGA ELEMENTARY· 45.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MENAHGA ELEMENTARY | Menahga | Elementary | PK-06 | 537 | · |
| WADENA-DEER CREEK SENIOR HIGH | Wadena | High | 07-12 | 470 | · |
| Menahga High School | Menahga | High | 07-12 | 450 | · |
| WADENA-DEER CREEK ELEMENTARY | Wadena | Elementary | PK-04 | 450 | · |
| VERNDALE ELEMENTARY | Verndale | Elementary | PK-06 | 253 | · |
| SEBEKA SECONDARY | Sebeka | High | 07-12 | 233 | · |
| VERNDALE SECONDARY | Verndale | High | 07-12 | 231 | · |
| SEBEKA ELEMENTARY | Sebeka | Elementary | PK-06 | 218 | · |
| WADENA-DEER CREEK 5TH AND 6TH GRADE | Wadena | Middle | 05-06 | 159 | · |
| Freshwater Education District ALC | Wadena | High | 06-12 | 101 | · |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION | Wadena | Elementary | PK-PK | 64 | · |
| LEAF RIVER ACADEMY | Wadena | Combined | KG-12 | 15 | · |
| White Pine Academy | Wadena | High | 05-12 | 11 | · |
| Elm Tree Academy | Wadena | Combined | 02-12 | 9 | · |
| Freshwater Menahga ALC | Menahga | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Freshwater Staples ALC | Staples | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Freshwater Wadena ALC | Wadena | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Wadena County
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 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment increased 17%: 2,743 students in SY 2020-21 versus 3,201 in SY 2024-25.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data