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

No. Use the Wadena 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 Wadena 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 Wadena County?

Start with the 14 listed public schools and 5 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Wadena County Schools & Education

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

Wadena County, Minnesota

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

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

78.6%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

78.6%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,234

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,463

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#79

of 87 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Wadena County

Measured School Summary

Wadena County faces educational challenges with a school score of 38/100 and a graduation rate of 78.6%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

Wadena County spends $8,234 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 31% below the Minnesota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 8.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Wadena 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

14 public schools and 5 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

38/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #79 of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data.

Completion

78.6%

8.0 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,234

$229 below the state average

School coverage

5 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Wadena County has 14 public schools across 5 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 Wadena 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.

Review-carefully county

Wadena County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.

State position

#79

of 87 Minnesota counties with school score data. The county score is 17 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.

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,088 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

MENAHGA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

964 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

508 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

SEBEKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

473 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Freshwater Education District is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Wadena County?

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

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

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

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

Education Overview

About Schools in Wadena County, Minnesota

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Wadena County’s Diverse Education Landscape

Wadena County supports 14 public schools across 5 districts, serving a student population of 3,221. The system includes 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 6 high schools, alongside 3 specialized educational facilities. This network provides coverage for students across the county’s largely rural terrain.

Spotlight on Wadena-Deer Creek Schools

The Wadena-Deer Creek School District is the largest provider in the county, serving 1,088 students. Menahga Public School District is also a significant player, educating nearly 1,000 students. There are no charter schools in Wadena County, as the existing five districts manage all public enrollment.

A Predominantly Rural Learning Experience

With 13 of its 14 schools located in rural settings, Wadena County offers a classic countryside education. Menahga Elementary is the largest school with 681 students, but the overall average school size remains small at 230. This rural focus creates a tight-knit and supportive environment for local learners.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Wadena County

Reported Enrollment

3,221

14 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary4

Middle1

High6

Other3

5 School Districts in Wadena County

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

1,088 students

MENAHGA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

964 students

VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

508 students

SEBEKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

473 students

Freshwater Education District

5 schools

188 students

14 Public Schools in Wadena County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

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

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 14 of 14 matching schools

Public schools in Wadena County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
MENAHGA ELEMENTARY	Record	MENAHGA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	MENAHGA, 56464Rural: Remote	PK–8	Primary	681
WADENA-DEER CREEK SENIOR HIGH	Record	WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT	WADENA, 56482Rural: Fringe	7–12	High	469
WADENA-DEER CREEK ELEMENTARY	Record	WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT	WADENA, 56482Town: Remote	PK–4	Primary	449
MENAHGA HIGH SCHOOL	Record	MENAHGA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	MENAHGA, 56464Rural: Remote	7–12	High	283
VERNDALE ELEMENTARY	Record	VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	VERNDALE, 56481Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	263
SEBEKA SECONDARY	Record	SEBEKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SEBEKA, 56477Rural: Remote	7–12	High	258
VERNDALE SECONDARY	Record	VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	VERNDALE, 56481Rural: Distant	7–12	High	245
SEBEKA ELEMENTARY	Record	SEBEKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	SEBEKA, 56477Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	215
WADENA-DEER CREEK 5TH AND 6TH GRADE	Record	WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT	WADENA, 56482Rural: Fringe	5–6	Middle	170
Freshwater Education District ALC	Record	Freshwater Education District	WADENA, 56482Rural: Fringe	6–12	Alternative	88
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION	Record	Freshwater Education District	WADENA, 56482Rural: Fringe	PK	Special Education	57
LEAF RIVER ACADEMY	Record	Freshwater Education District	WADENA, 56482Rural: Fringe	KG–12	Special Education	24
White Pine Academy	Record	Freshwater Education District	WADENA, 56482Rural: Fringe	5–12	Special Education	12
Elm Tree Academy	Record	Freshwater Education District	WADENA, 56482Rural: Fringe	2–12	Special Education	7

MENAHGA ELEMENTARY

MENAHGA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENAHGA, 56464 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary681 students

WADENA-DEER CREEK SENIOR HIGH

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT

WADENA, 56482 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12High469 students

WADENA-DEER CREEK ELEMENTARY

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT

WADENA, 56482 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary449 students

MENAHGA HIGH SCHOOL

MENAHGA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENAHGA, 56464 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High283 students

VERNDALE ELEMENTARY

VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

VERNDALE, 56481 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary263 students

SEBEKA SECONDARY

SEBEKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SEBEKA, 56477 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High258 students

VERNDALE SECONDARY

VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

VERNDALE, 56481 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High245 students

SEBEKA ELEMENTARY

SEBEKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

SEBEKA, 56477 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary215 students

WADENA-DEER CREEK 5TH AND 6TH GRADE

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT

WADENA, 56482 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–6Middle170 students

Freshwater Education District ALC

Freshwater Education District

WADENA, 56482 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–12Alternative88 students

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION

Freshwater Education District

WADENA, 56482 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPKSpecial Education57 students

LEAF RIVER ACADEMY

Freshwater Education District

WADENA, 56482 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–12Special Education24 students

White Pine Academy

Freshwater Education District

WADENA, 56482 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–12Special Education12 students

Elm Tree Academy

Freshwater Education District

WADENA, 56482 / Rural: Fringe

Record2–12Special Education7 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,234

State avg $8,463

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Wadena 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 Wadena County?

Wadena County has a school score of 38/100, which is a lower 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 Wadena County?

The high school graduation rate in Wadena County is 78.6%, 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 Wadena County spend per student?

Wadena County spends $8,234 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Wadena County, Minnesota — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Wadena County, Minnesota?

What are the major school districts in Wadena County, Minnesota?

What is the school experience like in Wadena County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Houston County

Minnesota

+0 pts

38/100

School score

Stearns County

Minnesota

+0 pts

38/100

School score

Pennington County

Minnesota

-1 pts

38/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 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.

Explore more data for Wadena County

Property Tax Cost of Living Crime Rate Income Health Disaster Risk Water Quality Weather County Score