Home › Minnesota › Grant County
West Central Area Schools
West Central Area is a public school district in Minnesota, based in Grant County (Barrett). SchoolGrade grades 4 of its schools on actual versus projected test scores; every school below has its own page.
West Central Area on the map
District boundary from the NCES EDGE composite school district file. Each marker is a graded school; click it for its grade and scores.
SchoolGrade summary for West Central Area
4 of 4 schools in West Central Area carry a SchoolGrade. Grade distribution:
B: 4
Best schools in West Central Area
Statewide rankings: all 423 high schools in Minnesota · all 229 middle schools in Minnesota · all 860 elementary schools in Minnesota
The ten highest SchoolGrades in the district. Grades reward actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact.
- B West Central Area N El Elbow Lake (Elementary school, exceeds expectations)
- B West Central Area S El Kensington (Elementary school, exceeds expectations)
- B West Central Area Secondary (High school, exceeds expectations)
- B Wca Middle School (Middle school, exceeds expectations)
Every school in West Central Area
All schools, A to Z (4)
- B Wca Middle School, Barrett
- B West Central Area N El Elbow Lake, Elbow Lake
- B West Central Area S El Kensington, Kensington
- B West Central Area Secondary, Barrett
Where West Central Area schools are
Cities and towns served (3)
- Barrett (2)
- Elbow Lake (1)
- Kensington (1)
About this district
- State: Best schools in Minnesota
- County: Grant County
- Type: regular local school district
- Setting: remote rural (NCES locale of the district office)
- Enrollment: 750 students with 68 full-time-equivalent teachers and 132 total staff FTE (NCES CCD, 2023-24)
- NCES district ID: 2700104
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model: each school's actual proficiency against the level projected for its student context. How SchoolGrade works
Nearby school districts
- Brandon-Evansville Public Schools (4 schools, 15 mi)
- Alexandria Public School District (9 schools, 27 mi)
- Fergus Falls Public School District (9 schools, 27 mi)
- Minnewaska School District (6 schools, 30 mi)
- Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (6 schools, 36 mi)
- Breckenridge Public School District (4 schools, 43 mi)
- Benson Public School District (4 schools, 43 mi)
- Sauk Centre Public School District (3 schools, 47 mi)
Questions about West Central Area
How many schools are in West Central Area?
SchoolGrade grades 4 public schools in West Central Area, across 3 cities and towns. Every one of them is listed on this page with a link to its own report.
Which cities does West Central Area serve?
The largest by graded schools: Barrett, Elbow Lake, Kensington.
How good are the schools in West Central Area?
Across the 4 graded schools, the average SchoolGrade is B, with 49.3% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 45%. 100% of schools meet or exceed the expectation for their student context.
How many students attend West Central Area?
750 students were enrolled in West Central Area in the 2023-24 school year, about 11.0 students per full-time teacher (NCES Common Core of Data).
Where is West Central Area?
West Central Area is in Minnesota, based in Grant County, with its district office in Barrett. Its boundary covers about 445 sq mi.