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Watonwan County

Minnesota · Public K-12

Watonwan County reports 8 public K-12 schools to NCES, against a population of 11,205, with an average school size of 250 students. By grade band, the county runs 5 elementary and 3 high schools.

7-year change in Watonwan County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,002
+136 (+7%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
8
-1 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
39%
was 49%
% Hispanic
58%
was 49%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
11,205
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
8
3 districts
Enrollment
2,002
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$71,699
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
55.8%
Above Minnesota avg
Elementary
5
1,039 students
Middle
0
schools
High
3
963 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
ST. JAMES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,143 students · 3 districts in Watonwan County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Watonwan 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
74%
Hispanic
30%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
10%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
39%
Hispanic
58%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
17.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.3%
civilian labor
Median age
41
26.3% under 18

Test scores in Watonwan County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.

See all 6 schools in Watonwan County ranked by score →

All schools (8)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
St. James Middle/High SchoolSaint JamesHigh06-12566·
ST. JAMES NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARYSaint JamesElementaryKG-05502·
MADELIA ELEMENTARYMadeliaElementaryPK-06352·
MADELIA SECONDARYMadeliaHigh07-12294·
BUTTERFIELD ELEMENTARYButterfieldElementaryPK-06110·
BUTTERFIELD SECONDARYButterfieldHigh07-12103·
Armstrong SchoolSaint JamesElementaryPK-PK65·
ST. JAMES EARLY CHILDHOODSaint JamesElementaryPK-PK10·

Cities in Watonwan County

Saint James4 schoolsButterfield2 schoolsMadelia2 schools

About Watonwan County

In Minnesota, Watonwan County is a small county of about 11,205 residents. 8 public schools across the county teaches about 2,002 students between them.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $71,699, about 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 10%. That income level is 7% noticeably below the Minnesota median.

For a sense of the school types, Watonwan County comprises 5 elementary schools (1,039 students), and 3 high schools (963).

The largest single district in Watonwan County is ST. JAMES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 1,143 students.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment rose 7%: 1,866 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,002 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 9 to 8 across the same 7-year window. The White share of public-school enrollment decreased from 49% to 39%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Watonwan County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Watonwan County?
There are 8 public K-12 schools in Watonwan County, Minnesota, with a combined enrollment of about 2,002.
How many high schools are in Watonwan County?
Watonwan County, Minnesota has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 963 students.
How many elementary schools are in Watonwan County?
Watonwan County, Minnesota has 5 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,039 students.
What is the largest school district in Watonwan County?
ST. JAMES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Watonwan County, serving approximately 1,143 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
How many people live in Watonwan County?
Watonwan County has roughly 11,205 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Watonwan County?
Median household income in Watonwan County is $71,699, below the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 9.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Watonwan County?
Approximately 17.2% of adults 25 and older in Watonwan County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Watonwan County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 55.8% of students in Watonwan 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 Watonwan County schools?
Across Watonwan County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.7 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Watonwan County?
Watonwan County residents are approximately 74% White, 30% Hispanic, 0% Asian, 10% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

Watonwan County school rankings

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