LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY

Set in LESTER PRAIRIE, Minnesota, LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY is a small 9-12 campus, part of LESTER PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.. It enrolls 222 students across grades 7 through 12. Compared to the state average of about 371 students per school, that is 40% leaner than typical.

LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY is one of 2 schools operated by LESTER PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST., a district that enrolls 435 students overall.

Looking at the student body, LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY lists that White students make up the majority at 77%. Beyond that, the school records 19% Hispanic, 3% multiracial. By comparison, McLeod County as a whole is about 90% White, so the school skews noticeably less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY has 13 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 17.5:1. The state averages around 16.3:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. Around 27% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is below McLeod County's rate of about 35%.

With demographic context factored in, LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY is in the bottom 10% of Minnesota public schools. The BeatsExpectations model predicts schools with this FRL share to land around 50.3%; LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY posts 34.1%, -16.1 points below that line.

In the area at large, community-level numbers for McLeod County indicate the typical household earns roughly $80,084 per year, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. In all, McLeod County runs 22 public schools (combined enrollment of about 5,121 students), of which LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY is one.

LESTER PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.0 miles from this campus. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a ten-mile radius, suggesting a relatively low-density school footprint. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY at 5th of 6; the average score across the group is 38.8%.

The campus sits in a rural setting.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY has increased 10%, going from 202 students in 2018 to 222 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 82% to 77% across the same window. Class-load math has grew: from 14.6:1 in 2018 to 17.5:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.