White students were the largest ethnic group in Cottonwood County school districts in the 2024-25 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.
Of the 2,182 students enrolled in Cottonwood County schools, 59.4% were white. Hispanic students were the second-largest ethnicity, making up 23% of the student population.
In the previous school year, white students were also the most represented group in Cottonwood County school districts, representing 60.2% of the student body.
Windom Public School District had the most diverse student body in the county, including white, Hispanic, Asian, multiracial, Hawaiian Pacific Islander, Black, American Indian and Other Indigenous Peoples.
In the 2024-25 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county increased 1.1% compared to the previous year.
The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Cottonwood County.
According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Minnesota fourth graders scored 241 in math, compared with the national average of 237. Their reading score was 214, the same as the U.S. average, though it has declined slightly in recent years. Eighth graders scored 282 in math and 260 in reading, both above the national averages.
However, scores for both grades remain below pre-pandemic levels in math and reading.
As of 2026, according to Public School Review, the student-to-teacher ratio in Minnesota’s public schools is 15:1, the same as the national average. Minnesota’s public education system is the 10th largest in the United States, serving more than 870,913 students across 2,722 schools.
| District | Most Prevalent Ethnicity | Percent of Total Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windom Public School District | White | 58.3% | 1,187 |
| Mountain Lake Public Schools | White | 53.2% | 498 |
| Westbrook-Walnut Grove Schools | White | 68.2% | 497 |
