SW Minnesota Today

The largest number of students in Watonwan County districts were Hispanic in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Of the 1,993 students attending Watonwan County district schools, 56% were Hispanic. White students made up the second largest ethnic group among Watonwan County districts' students (41.2%).

In the previous school year, Hispanic students were also the most common group in Watonwan County districts, representing 54.5% of the student body.

St. James Public School District had the most diverse student body in the county, including Hispanic, white, multiracial, American Indian, Asian and Black.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in school districts in the county increased 2% compared to the previous year.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Watonwan 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.

District	Most Prevalent Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
St. James Public School District	Hispanic	59.8%	1,150
Madelia Public School District	White	51.3%	633
Butterfield-Odin Public School District	Hispanic	65.2%	210