Can I use Kandiyohi County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Kandiyohi County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Kandiyohi County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Kandiyohi County?

Start with the 20 listed public schools and 4 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Kandiyohi County Schools & Education

Name: Kandiyohi County, Minnesota Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

41/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

75.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

75.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,863

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

41/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#76

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Kandiyohi County

Measured School Summary

Kandiyohi County has midrange measured school signals (score: 41/100) with a graduation rate of 75.0%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Kandiyohi County spends $8,863 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 26% below the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 11.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Kandiyohi County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

20 public schools and 4 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

41/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #76 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

75.0%

11.6 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,863

$400 above the state average

School coverage

4 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Kandiyohi County has 20 public schools across 4 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Kandiyohi County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT carries most of the listed public-school system, with 12 of 20 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#76

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 14 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

4,279 students

Elementary 3Middle 2High 2Other 5

12 listed schools in this county slice.

NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,548 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 2Other 1

5 listed schools in this county slice.

A.C.G.C. Public School District

Elementary school only in this slice

344 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

TECHNICAL ACADEMIES OF MINNESOTA

High school only in this slice

95 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 12 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Kandiyohi County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Kandiyohi County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Data Story

Kandiyohi County Graduation Rate Falls Twelve Points Below National Average

Education data brief for Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:Graduation rate

In Kandiyohi County, the public high school graduation rate is 75.0%, trailing both the Minnesota state average of 86.6% and the national average of 87.0%. The county's 20 public schools serve a total of 6,299 students, primarily in town-based locales. The Willmar Public School District is the dominant educational entity, managing 12 schools and 4,279 students, including the county's largest institution, Willmar Senior High, which enrolls 1,224 students. The data reflects a significant presence of non-traditional schools, including seven alternative schools and three special education facilities. Per-pupil spending in the county is $8,863, which is slightly higher than the state average of $8,463 but remains below the national average of $13,000. The county's composite school score is 40.5, below the national median of 50.0. Compare district boundaries before drawing conclusions.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in Kandiyohi County

Reported Enrollment

6,299

20 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

5% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5

Middle3

High5

Other7

4 School Districts in Kandiyohi County

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT

5 schools

1,548 students

A.C.G.C. Public School District

3 schools

851 students

TECHNICAL ACADEMIES OF MINNESOTA

2 schools

146 students

20 Public Schools in Kandiyohi County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 20 matching schools

Public schools in Kandiyohi County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
WILLMAR SENIOR HIGH	Profile	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,224
WILLMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	874
KENNEDY ELEMENTARY	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	715
ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	649
PRAIRIE WOODS ELEMENTARY	Record	NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW LONDON, 56273Rural: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	567
Lakeland Elementary School	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	565
NEW LONDON-SPICER MIDDLE	Record	NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW LONDON, 56273Town: Remote	5–8	Middle	476
NEW LONDON-SPICER SR.	Record	NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW LONDON, 56273Town: Remote	9–12	High	465
A.C.G.C. ELEMENTARY	Record	A.C.G.C. Public School District	ATWATER, 56209Rural: Distant	PK–4	Primary	344
WILLMAR AREA LEARNING CENTER	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	9–12	Alternative	109
DREAM Technical Academy	Record	TECHNICAL ACADEMIES OF MINNESOTA	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	7–12	Charter	95
JEFFERSON LEARNING CENTER	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	PK	Special Education	73
Prairie Lakes Education Center	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	4–12	Alternative	36
SWWC ELC - Willmar	Record	Region 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	KG–12	Special Education	33
Prairie Meadows Learning Center	Record	NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW LONDON, 56273Rural: Fringe	PK	Special Education	22
Lake Park School	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	4–12	Alternative	19
NEW LONDON ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL	Record	NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW LONDON, 56273Town: Remote	9–12	Alternative	18
Middle School ALC	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	6–8	Alternative	11
LAKEVIEW SCHOOL	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	KG–12	Alternative	4
Greater Minnesota Education Center	Record	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLMAR, 56201Town: Remote	3–12	Alternative	0

WILLMAR SENIOR HIGH

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,224 students

WILLMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle874 students

KENNEDY ELEMENTARY

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary715 students

ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary649 students

PRAIRIE WOODS ELEMENTARY

NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW LONDON, 56273 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary567 students

Lakeland Elementary School

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary565 students

NEW LONDON-SPICER MIDDLE

NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW LONDON, 56273 / Town: Remote

Record5–8Middle476 students

NEW LONDON-SPICER SR.

NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW LONDON, 56273 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High465 students

A.C.G.C. ELEMENTARY

A.C.G.C. Public School District

ATWATER, 56209 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary344 students

WILLMAR AREA LEARNING CENTER

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Alternative109 students

DREAM Technical Academy

TECHNICAL ACADEMIES OF MINNESOTA

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

Record7–12Charter95 students

JEFFERSON LEARNING CENTER

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

RecordPKSpecial Education73 students

Prairie Lakes Education Center

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

Record4–12Alternative36 students

SWWC ELC - Willmar

Region 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–12Special Education33 students

Prairie Meadows Learning Center

NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW LONDON, 56273 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPKSpecial Education22 students

Lake Park School

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

Record4–12Alternative19 students

NEW LONDON ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL

NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW LONDON, 56273 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Alternative18 students

Middle School ALC

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Alternative11 students

LAKEVIEW SCHOOL

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–12Alternative4 students

Greater Minnesota Education Center

WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WILLMAR, 56201 / Town: Remote

Record3–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,863

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Kandiyohi County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Minnesota counties have the highest graduation rates?

Jackson County (95.7%), Cottonwood County (95.3%), and Cook County (95.0%) currently lead Minnesota among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Minnesota?

Across Minnesota counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,463. The highest current county values are Cook County ($12,089), Kittson County ($10,301), and Beltrami County ($10,167). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Kandiyohi County?

Kandiyohi County has a school score of 41/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Kandiyohi County?

The high school graduation rate in Kandiyohi County is 75.0%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Kandiyohi County spend per student?

Kandiyohi County spends $8,863 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Waseca County

Minnesota

+1 pts

41/100

School score

Winona County

Minnesota

+2 pts

42/100

School score

Stearns County

Minnesota

-2 pts

38/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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