Middle Schools in Willmar Public School District

Middle schools in the Willmar Public School District in Minnesota include two grade 6–8 schools: Willmar Middle School, a large comprehensive school with 842 students, and Middle School Alternative Learning Center, a small alternative setting with 27 students. Together they enroll 869 middle-school students, with Willmar Middle School serving about 96.9% of that total. The district is ranked 331 out of 458, at the 28th percentile with 1 star, but Willmar Middle School’s own recent ranks are stronger.

Willmar Middle School is the only middle school with test-score and rank-history data. Its recent ranks are 241 of 546 (56th percentile, 3 stars) in 2025–2026, 196 of 519 (62nd percentile, 3 stars) in 2024–2025, and 284 of 545 (48th percentile, 2 stars) in 2023–2024. In 2025–2026 all-grade proficiency, it scored 43.4% in math, 38.5% in reading, and 14.6% in science, compared with district rates of 38.8%, 36.5%, and 18.3% and state rates of 44.9%, 48.6%, and 25.5%. By grade, 8th grade math is a clear strength at 52.0% versus 42.3% statewide, and 7th grade math is above state at 45.2% versus 40.3%, but 6th grade math is below state at 33.3% versus 39.5%. Reading is below state in 6th grade (36.0% vs. 53.4%) and 7th grade (30.4% vs. 43.5%), while 8th grade reading is close to state at 49.4% vs. 50.0%. Science is weakest, with 8th grade at 14.6% vs. 16.7% statewide.

Year over year, Willmar Middle School’s math fell 3.19 points and reading fell 3.05 points, while science rose 5.67 points, from 8.93% to 14.6%, though it remains far below district and state levels. The Middle School Alternative Learning Center cannot be compared academically because the file contains no test scores, rank history, or student-teacher ratio. It does have a much higher free/reduced-lunch rate—81.48%, compared with 62.71% at Willmar Middle School—and with only 27 students it is a very different scale; Willmar Middle School is about 31 times larger. The main takeaway is that Willmar Middle School is relatively stronger than its district overall, with upper-grade math as its standout and reading and science as the areas to watch most closely.