Total enrollment
2,915
-131 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Waseca County
Minnesota · Public K-12
Public-school enrollment in Waseca County clocks in around 2,915 students across 13 schools (4 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high).
4-year change in Waseca County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
+2 (+18%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Waseca County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Minnesota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 43.0% | #42 of 80 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,915 | #51 of 80 | #1,875 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 13 | #46 of 80 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.2:1 | #22 of 80 | #1,013 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 40.8% | #37 of 80 | #2,067 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 35.9% | #44 of 80 | #1,624 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.
Waseca County school rankings
Residents
18,885
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
5 districts
Enrollment
2,915
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$76,261
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.8%
Below Minnesota avg
Elementary
4
885 students
Middle
3
665 students
High
5
1,352 students
Combined / other
1
13 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
WASECA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,752 students · 5 districts in Waseca County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Waseca 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+
21.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.5%
civilian labor
Median age
41
22.7% under 18
Test scores in Waseca County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Elem· 63.0%
- JANESVILLE-WALDORF-PEMBERTON SEC· 53.8%
- Waseca Senior High· 50.8%
- WASECA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL· 49.1%
- WASECA JUNIOR HIGH· 45.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- TEAM ACADEMY· 34.7%
- HARTLEY ELEMENTARY· 41.4%
- NRHEG SECONDARY· 43.6%
- WASECA JUNIOR HIGH· 45.7%
- WASECA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL· 49.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseca Senior High | Waseca | High | 09-12 | 555 | · |
| HARTLEY ELEMENTARY | Waseca | Elementary | PK-03 | 429 | · |
| NRHEG SECONDARY | New Richland | High | 06-12 | 408 | · |
| WASECA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | Waseca | Middle | 04-06 | 380 | · |
| Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Elem | Janesville | Elementary | PK-06 | 317 | · |
| JANESVILLE-WALDORF-PEMBERTON SEC | Janesville | High | 07-12 | 312 | · |
| WASECA JUNIOR HIGH | Waseca | Middle | 07-08 | 280 | · |
| TEAM ACADEMY | Waseca | Elementary | KG-06 | 101 | · |
| Waseca Area Learning Center | Waseca | High | 07-12 | 65 | · |
| Waseca Early Childhood | Waseca | Elementary | PK-PK | 38 | · |
| SWMetro Waseca | Waseca | Combined | KG-12 | 13 | · |
| SWMetro Waseca-Transitions | Waseca | High | 09-12 | 12 | · |
| WASECA MIDDLE LEVEL ALC | Waseca | Middle | 07-08 | 5 | · |
Cities in Waseca County
About Waseca County
In Minnesota, Waseca County is a thinly populated county of about 18,885 residents. 13 public schools across the county enrolls about 2,915 students between them.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $76,261 a year, 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 4%.
On the school-mix side, Waseca County spans 4 elementary schools (885 students), 3 middle schools (665), 5 high schools (1,352), and 1 combined or other schools.
WASECA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,752 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Waseca County has decreased 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 3,046 students to 2,915. Waseca County now counts 13 public schools, up from 11 in SY 2020-21.
On allk12, the community for Waseca County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. 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