Average
#1075 of 1,992 schools in MN
West Central Area S. El.
Elementary School · WEST CENTRAL AREA
31 N CENTRAL, Kensington, MN 56343
Enrollment
125
Student-Teacher
8.9:1
Score
6.0
Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Enrollment
125
Student-Teacher
8.9:1
Score
6.0
Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Minnesota schools
#1,075 of 1,992
In district
#4 of 4
WEST CENTRAL AREA
School environment
9.2 / 10
Excellent
Shortlisting around West Central Area S. El.?
Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.
Shortlist starter
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West Central Area S. El.
Elementary School in Kensington · grades Pre-K – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Brandon Elementary
13.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Brandon-evansville Middle School
13.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About West Central Area S. El.
West Central Area S. El. is a public elementary school in Kensington, MN, part of WEST CENTRAL AREA. West Central Area S.
El. serves approximately 125 students, and covers grades Pre-K-4th, and has a 8.9:1 student-teacher ratio. West Central Area S. El. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,075 of 1,992 schools in MN.
Structured state assessment records for West Central Area S. El. show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 6.0 · Average
- District avg 7.7
- MN avg 6.4
What Parents Should Know
At 125 students, West Central Area S. El. is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
At 8.9:1 students to teachers, West Central Area S. El. sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
West Central Area S. El. sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
West Central Area S. El. — Students at West Central Area S. El. score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
43.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 28 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: 3.0/10.
How West Central Area S. El. Compares
See how West Central Area S. El. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
31 N CENTRAL, Kensington, MN 56343
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering West Central Area S. El. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. HANCOCK ELEMENTARY (rated 9.0/10, 20.1 miles away, in nearby Hancock), which scores notably higher. Another option is GARFIELD ELEMENTARY (rated 7.7/10, 14.9 miles away, in nearby Garfield), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ST MARYS SCHOOL (rated 7.3/10, 16.9 miles away, in nearby Morris), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Kensington, see our Kensington schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 16.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Brandon Elementary Brandon | 13.7 mi | 5.2 |
| Brandon-Evansville Middle School Brandon | 13.7 mi | 6.5 |
| Brandon-Evansville High School Brandon | 13.7 mi | 7.1 |
| Evansville Elementary Evansville | 15.6 mi | 5.9 |
| GLACIAL HILLS ELEMENTARY Starbuck | 13.9 mi | 4.9 |
| Minnewaska Area WIN Academy Starbuck | 14.0 mi | 4.4 |
| WEST CENTRAL AREA SECONDARY Barrett | 13.1 mi | 7.5 |
| WCA Middle School Barrett | 13.1 mi | 7.0 |
| LAKE COUNTRY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Starbuck | 16.5 mi | — |
| GARFIELD ELEMENTARY Garfield | 14.9 mi | 7.7 |
| Morris Area Elementary Morris | 16.8 mi | 5.4 |
| Midwest Special Education Co-op Morris | 16.9 mi | — |
| Morris Area Secondary Morris | 16.9 mi | 7.4 |
| MINNEWASKA SECONDARY Glenwood | 15.8 mi | 6.6 |
| Minnewaska Area Intermediate School Glenwood | 15.8 mi | 6.1 |
| MINNEWASKA AREA JUNIOR HIGH Glenwood | 15.8 mi | 5.8 |
| ST MARYS SCHOOL Morris | 16.9 mi | 7.3 |
| HANCOCK ELEMENTARY Hancock | 20.1 mi | 9.0 |
| HANCOCK SEC. Hancock | 20.1 mi | 8.5 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY Alexandria | 16.2 mi | 7.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 56343 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$64,318
Median Home Value
$232,300
Median Rent
$850/mo
Population
805
College Educated
19.2%
Homeownership
89.3%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Median Age
50.6
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| BABBITT ELEMENTARY Babbitt, MN | 6.0 |
| MARQUETTE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Virginia, MN | 6.0 |
| ST JAMES LUTHERAN SCHOOL Howard Lake, MN | 6.0 |
| ST JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC SCHOOL Minneapolis, MN | 6.0 |
| ST JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL Fairmont, MN | 6.0 |
| TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Waconia, MN | 6.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about West Central Area S. El.
What grades does West Central Area S. El. serve?
West Central Area S. El. serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
How many students attend West Central Area S. El.?
West Central Area S. El. has an enrollment of approximately 125 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Central Area S. El.?
The student-teacher ratio at West Central Area S. El. is 8.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does West Central Area S. El. rank in MN?
West Central Area S. El. ranks #1,075 of 1,992 schools in MN.
What is West Central Area S. El.'s MySchoolScout rating?
West Central Area S. El. has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at West Central Area S. El.?
Based on loaded state assessment records, West Central Area S. El. has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is West Central Area S. El. a charter school?
No, West Central Area S. El. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is West Central Area S. El. a Title I school?
No, West Central Area S. El. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Central Area S. El.?
43.2% of students at West Central Area S. El. qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
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Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 125
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 43.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Douglas County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.6%
- Phone
- (320) 965-7600
Resources & Links
District
WEST CENTRAL AREA- District Enrollment
- 750
- Schools in District
- 5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,757
- District Rank
- #4 of 4
Other Schools in This District
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