Original Research by School Decision on Lacrescent Gr 9-12
LaCrescent Gr 9-12 serves as an alternative school within the Winona Area Public School District, operating from a location in La Crescent. A parent considering this school should understand that it is not a traditional comprehensive high school; it is designated as an alternative school, which typically means it serves students who may thrive in a setting different from a conventional classroom environment, though the specific program model is not detailed in the available data.
The school sits in the small town of La Crescent, a primarily residential community known as the Apple Capital of Minnesota, with apple orchards and bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. The town has a stable population with little recent growth, and it benefits from close proximity to La Crosse, Wisconsin, just across the river, for added shopping, dining, and employment options. Housing values in the area are near the state benchmark, and the economic context shows a typical national median household income for the country. The school itself appears integrated within the town, not on a separate campus, and the town offers pedestrian trails connecting to La Crosse and limited public bus service.
Enrollment data for LaCrescent Gr 9-12 shows a reported total enrollment of zero across grades nine through twelve, with all grade-level counts also reported as zero. This is an unusual data point that a parent would want to clarify directly with the school or district, as the school is listed as open and serving grades nine through twelve. Without student counts, the demographic profile, including race and ethnicity breakdowns, shows all counts reported as zero. Information on students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, students with disabilities served under an Individualized Education Program, and English learners is all missing from the data. The school environment section provides no information on discipline, course access, staffing, or attendance.
Because the school is an alternative school and its enrollment data is effectively zero, state testing results are not available, and no proficiency information was reported. The graduation rate is also absent. This pattern may reflect how alternative schools report data differently or that this school did not submit data in the usual way, but the available records do not explain the reason. The comparison to other districts in Houston County is not applicable because the school lacks the needed metrics for proficiency, graduation rate, or chronic absenteeism.
The Winona Area Public School District, which operates this school, recently renewed operating levies through a voter referendum in November 2024, ensuring continued funding for district programming. The district also voted to close Goodview Elementary School due to declining enrollment and budget pressures, reassigning students to other elementary buildings. These district-level decisions signal a system managing declining enrollment and making adjustments to its school footprint.
For a family, LaCrescent Gr 9-12 presents as a small alternative high school setting within a stable small town that is part of a district undergoing consolidation. The lack of enrollment and performance data means that a parent cannot assess typical academic measures or peer environment from this information alone. Anyone considering this school should contact the school or the Winona Area Public School District directly to understand the program, current enrollment, and what alternative education model is offered, as well as what supports and courses are available to students.
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