SW Minnesota Today

There were five Black students enrolled in Watonwan County public schools in the 2023-24 school year, 25% more than the previous year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Data showed that Watonwan County welcomed 1,983 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, Black students comprised 0.3% of the student body to be the least represented ethnicity in the county.

According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Minnesota's fourth graders scored 241 in math, just above the national average of 237. Their reading score of 216 was on par with the U.S. average, but shows a slight decline over recent years. Eighth graders scored 284 in math and 264 in reading, both above the national averages. 

However, despite these results, both grade levels remain below pre-pandemic levels in math and reading.

As of 2024, according to Public School Review, the student-to-teacher ratio in Minnesota's public schools stands at 1:16, slightly worse than the national average of 1:15. This is part of a larger framework within Minnesota's educational system, which is the 10th largest in the United States, accommodating over 869,000 students across 2,709 public schools.

School Name	No. of Black Students	% of Black Students	Total School Enrollment
St. James Northside Elementary School	3	0.6%	492
Madelia Secondary School	1	0.4%	289
St. James Middle/High School	1	0.2%	581
Madelia Elementary School	0	0%	344
Butterfield Secondary School	0	0%	107
Butterfield Elementary School	0	0%	103
Armstrong School	0	0%	67