Willows

Willows is a minimally staffed high school in BLAINE, Minnesota, overseen by Northeast Metro 916. The school instructs 14 students in grades 6 through 12. Compared to the state average of about 371 students per school, that is 96% below typical.

Within Northeast Metro 916, which oversees 13 schools and 856 students, Willows is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, Willows shows that 50% of students identify as White, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Beyond that, the school reports 21% multiracial, 14% Hispanic, 7% Black, 7% Native American. By comparison, Anoka County as a whole is about 75% White, so the school skews meaningfully less White than its surroundings.

Looking at school resources, The school lists 2 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 7.0:1. The state averages around 16.3:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 79% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. By comparison, Anoka County runs at roughly 42%, so the school's eligibility rate is somewhat above the surrounding baseline.

Zooming out to the county, ACS estimates for Anoka County put median household earnings sit near $101,869, roughly 32% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Willows is one of 145 public schools in Anoka County (combined enrollment of about 59,656 students).

Nearest neighbor: Karner Blue Education Center, around 1.5 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The school occupies a suburban site.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count shrank 33%: 21 students in 2018 compared to 14 in 2025. The Black share of enrollment declined from 24% to 7% over that span.

In the discussion threads here, members of the Willows community share and discuss open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.