Needs Improvement
#1967 of 1,986 schools in MN
Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec.
High School · HOWARD LAKE-WAVERLY-WINSTED
PO BOX 708, Howard Lake, MN 55349
Enrollment
399
Student-Teacher
19:1
Score
3.0
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
399
Student-Teacher
19:1
Score
3.0
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Howard Lake
#2 of 2
public schools
Minnesota high schools
#619 of 628
In district
#4 of 4
HOWARD LAKE-WAVERLY-WINSTED
About Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec.
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Secondary is a regular public high school located in the rural setting of Howard Lake, Minnesota. Serving students from ninth through twelfth grade, the school has an enrollment of 399 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 19:1 with 21 full-time equivalent teachers. The academic performance at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted is in the lower tier, with a MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and a state ranking of #1829 among 2027 schools in Minnesota.
Students are achieving proficiency rates of 47% in ELA/Reading and 36% in Math across all grades. The school is focusing on student development with room for academic growth, aiming to enhance its educational offerings. Situated in a rural area, the school community benefits from a close-knit environment where students have access to various extracurricular activities and supportive teachers.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. — Students at Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
24.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from MN state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.6/10.
How Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. Compares
See how Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 47% (2019) to 27% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 57% (2019) to 47% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 708, Howard Lake, MN 55349
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. may also want to explore other high schools in the area. VILLAGE RANCH ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (rated 7.2/10, 5.6 miles away, in nearby Cokato), which scores notably higher. Another option is DASSEL-COKATO SENIOR HIGH (rated 6.7/10, 9.0 miles away, in nearby Cokato), which scores notably higher. Additionally, LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY (rated 6.0/10, 9.8 miles away, in nearby Lester Prairie), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Howard Lake, see our Howard Lake schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 10.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Middle Howard Lake | 0.0 mi | 5.2 |
| ST JAMES LUTHERAN SCHOOL Howard Lake | 2.0 mi | 5.9 |
| HLWW ALTERNATIVE LEARNING PROGRAM Howard Lake | 2.1 mi | — |
| MEEKER-WRIGHT EARLY CHILDHOOD SP ED Howard Lake | 2.1 mi | — |
| STEP TD PROGRAM Howard Lake | 2.1 mi | — |
| JOURNEYS ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM Howard Lake | 2.1 mi | — |
| TREK PROGRAM Howard Lake | 2.1 mi | — |
| WINSTED ELEMENTARY Winsted | 4.2 mi | 6.1 |
| HOWARD LAKE WAVERLY WINSTED ECSE Winsted | 4.2 mi | — |
| HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL Winsted | 4.4 mi | 6.6 |
| HUMPHREY ELEMENTARY Waverly | 5.2 mi | 5.0 |
| VILLAGE RANCH ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM Cokato | 5.6 mi | 7.2 |
| DASSEL-COKATO ALTERNATIVE CTR. Cokato | 6.9 mi | 5.1 |
| COKATO ELEMENTARY Cokato | 6.9 mi | 7.1 |
| LESTER PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY Lester Prairie | 9.8 mi | 6.2 |
| LESTER PRAIRIE SECONDARY Lester Prairie | 9.8 mi | 6.0 |
| Montrose Elementary School of Innov Montrose | 8.2 mi | 5.4 |
| DASSEL-COKATO SENIOR HIGH Cokato | 9.0 mi | 6.7 |
| DASSEL-COKATO MIDDLE Cokato | 9.0 mi | 7.7 |
| LAKESIDE ELEMENTARY Glencoe | 10.8 mi | 6.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 55349 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$100,054
Median Home Value
$287,100
Median Rent
$952/mo
Population
3,555
College Educated
22.2%
Homeownership
83%
Avg Commute
30.2 min
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Median Age
46.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. has a median household income of $100,054. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $287,100, with a median rent of $952/month. The local poverty rate of 6.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| MEDFORD SECONDARY Medford, MN | 3.0 |
| Ubah Academy Hopkins, MN | 3.0 |
| KERKHOVEN SECONDARY Kerkhoven, MN | 3.1 |
| REDWOOD VALLEY SENIOR HIGH Redwood Falls, MN | 3.1 |
| BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA SEC. Belgrade, MN | 3.3 |
| GLENCOE-SILVER LAKE SENIOR HIGH Glencoe, MN | 2.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec.
What grades does Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. serve?
Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec.?
Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. has an enrollment of approximately 399 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec.?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. is 19:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. rank in MN?
Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. is ranked #1967 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. has a composite rating of 3.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec.?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. has 36.2% math proficiency and 47.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. a charter school?
No, Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. a Title I school?
No, Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec.?
24.8% of students at Howard Lake-waverly-winsted Sec. qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- Average (270/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Howard Lake). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 399
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 24.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Wright County
- Phone
- (320) 543-4600
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
HOWARD LAKE-WAVERLY-WINSTED- District Enrollment
- 1,310
- Schools in District
- 7
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,431
- District Rank
- #4 of 4
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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