Willmar Public School District, MN

Original Research by School Decision on Willmar Public School District

Willmar Public School District, serving grades PK through 12, is the largest district in Kandiyohi County, a position reflected in its enrollment of over four thousand students. The district includes a comprehensive high school, a middle school, multiple elementary schools, and alternative learning centers. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with Hispanic or Latino students making up the largest group, followed by white students, and with Black students and Asian students each comprising a meaningful share of the population. A modest number of students identify as two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available for this profile, nor was the proportion of students with Individualized Education Programs or English Learner status.

On state assessments, the district's results show a mixed picture. In math, proficiency rates across grades three through eight clustered broadly in the range more common among districts in the lower half of the county; the overall proficiency index places Willmar above the midpoint among the two other districts in Kandiyohi County for which data was available. In English language arts, proficiency rates across those same grade levels were lower, with the weakest performance in the early elementary grades. Science results were notably low, particularly in grade eight. Because the state recently changed the science assessment, these results cannot be directly compared to prior years. A parent looking at these outcomes may want to ask the district about specific reading and math interventions, especially in the early grades where the gap between math and reading proficiency is widest.

The district's chronic absenteeism rate, the share of students missing a substantial amount of school, is above the midpoint of the two other reporting county districts, a soft spot worth investigating further with the schools.

The district did not provide data on course access, so we cannot detail Advanced Placement, concurrent enrollment, or career and technical education offerings at the high school. Per-pupil current spending, a measure of what the district invests in instruction and student services, sits in the upper half among the three county districts, suggesting a moderate funding level relative to local peers.

The housing market in the communities served by the district shows a range of home values. The weighted average is below the Minnesota state median, making the area more affordable than the state as a whole. Rents in the main community of Willmar are modest relative to incomes. The mortgage rate environment, as of mid-2026, is consistent with national borrowing costs.

The district includes the city of Willmar and the surrounding towns of Atwater, Kandiyohi, Kerkhoven, Lake Lillian, Pennock, Raymond, and Spicer. These are small and mid-sized communities in west-central Minnesota. A search for recent parent-relevant changes in the district, such as boundary adjustments, program launches, or policy shifts, found none. The district's publicly reported profile is limited to basic demographic and fiscal data, with no narrative about recent strategic priorities or new initiatives. A parent moving to the area should contact the district directly for information about school choice options within the system, transportation, and current academic initiatives, as those details are not available from the data here.

For a family considering this area, the district offers a comprehensive K-12 pathway in a setting with significant ethnic and cultural diversity. The academic data points to areas where the district is working to improve, particularly in reading and science. The housing market is comparatively affordable, and the area is a regional hub for employment and services. The absence of data on special education enrollment, English learner services, and high school program offerings means a family with specific academic needs or interests should seek a direct conversation with the school administration.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,220

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 44%

Black 15%

White 34%

Asian 4%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

14%

41%

Gr 4

21%

46%

Gr 5

29%

51%

Gr 6

38%

62%

Gr 7

34%

56%

Gr 8

27%

53%

Math

Gr 3

27%

61%

Gr 4

30%

62%

Gr 5

29%

53%

Gr 6

34%

71%

Gr 7

35%

60%

Gr 8

39%

65%

Science

Gr 5

10%

25%

Gr 8

14%

Schools in this District

12 schools are officially reported under this district.

LAKEVIEW SCHOOL

WILLMAR AREA LEARNING CENTER

JEFFERSON LEARNING CENTER

WILLMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL

WILLMAR SENIOR HIGH

ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY

KENNEDY ELEMENTARY

Prairie Lakes Education Center

Lake Park School

Lakeland Elementary School

Middle School ALC

Greater Minnesota Education Center

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

35%

Grade 3

41%

Grade 4

38%

Grade 5

47%

Grade 6

44%

Grade 7

49%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

21%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 4

37%

Grade 5

46%

Grade 6

42%

Grade 7

37%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

16%

Grade 5

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$264,214

Year-over-year change+2.3%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$232K to $393K

vs. state typical0.75x

vs. national typical0.72x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
56201	Willmar	$243K	+2.2%	52.1%
56251	Kandiyohi	$274K	+0.9%	13.2%
56279	Pennock	$300K	+3.8%	12.9%
56253	Lake Lillian	$299K	+2.6%	10.2%
56288	Spicer	$393K	+3.1%	1.5%
56209	Atwater	$281K	+4.7%	0.4%
56282	Raymond	$256K	+5.2%	0.4%
56252	Kerkhoven	$232K	+8.4%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,135/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
56201	Willmar	$1,135	—	52.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,333/mo

Home price / national median income3.2x

Annual rent / national median income16.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$198/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$350,891 (+2.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.