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United South Central High School

Q: Is United South Central High School a good school?

United South Central High School ranks 205 th of 473 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-12

205^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 473 Minnesota High Schools

Better than 57% of Minnesota high schools

Summary

United South Central High School is a public school serving grades 7–12 with 343 students in Wells, a small community in southern Minnesota, and it is the only secondary building in the United South Central Schools district. For 2025-2026 it ranks 205th of 473 Minnesota high schools — 57th percentile, 3 stars — placing it almost exactly at the state middle and mirroring its district's 59th-percentile standing. Its graduation rate is 88.4% (above the state's 84.9%), and its 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio is third-lowest among nearby traditional high schools.

Test results are mixed. Science (27.0% proficient) is the one subject where United South Central High School tops the state (25.5%), and its End-of-Course science result, 45% vs. 35% state, is third-best among area schools. Math is the deepest concern: 26.5% proficient, 18.4 points below the state and below its own district average in every reported grade. Blue Earth Area Secondary, 18.7 miles away, has almost the same enrollment (378) and higher poverty yet outperforms USC in math, reading, science, graduation and dropout. Maple River Secondary leads the region, while NRHEG Secondary pairs the group's second-highest graduation rate with the weakest test scores.

Rankings swing widely from year to year — USC has moved from 35th to 71st to 35th to 57th percentile in four years, a pattern common to small schools, so three-year trends matter more than any single year. The clearest weak spots are specific: 8th-grade science (5.9%), 11th-grade math (24.5%) and 7th-grade reading (30.6%). Boys rank 32nd percentile while girls rank 74th, a 42-point gap. Low-income students rank 63rd percentile, above the school overall. Graduation (88.4%) is above state but the lowest among the six peer schools, with a 5.7% dropout rate, suggesting some students need more than the standard four years.

343

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,396

Per pupil spending ?

44.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

600 11th St SW
Wells, MN 56097-0312

(507) 553-5819

District: United South Central Schools

Feeder schools for United South Central High School:

Elementary:

United South Central Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.2%

Hispanic:

15.2%

Two or more races:

3.2%

See top rated Minnesota high schools

Compare United South Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 57th percentile in 2016 → 57th in 2026

Strengths

✓88% graduate in 4 years — above the Minnesota average (85%)

✓Above the Minnesota median (57th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (30% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Math scores 18 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg46%

Minnesota avg43%

Middle school

386^th of 546

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Bottom 29%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From top 50% (2016) to bottom 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

205^th of 473

Minnesota public high schools ?

Top 43%▬ steady since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

186^th of 458United South Central Schools among Minnesota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	32.8	386 of 546	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.1	429 of 519	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	49.4	269 of 545	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.0	288 of 529	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.2	269 of 520	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.1	308 of 521	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.9	290 of 533	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	66.8	162 of 518	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	44.2	317 of 523	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	51.2	254 of 508	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	40.7	329 of 516	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	54.4	232 of 490	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	66.5	147 of 488	69.9%	★★★★☆
2012	69.0	136 of 469	71.0%	★★★★☆
2011	49.9	269 of 478	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	43.8	303 of 454	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	41.2	282 of 467	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.5	331 of 450	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	60.1	169 of 474	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.3	275 of 455	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.5	310 of 467	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.5	263 of 443	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.9	252 of 439	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.9	173 of 436	60.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	31.9	121 of 175	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	17.8	170 of 186	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	29.1	137 of 178	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.2	155 of 156	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	48.9	234 of 458	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	17.5	382 of 432	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	55.4	177 of 473	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.2	229 of 459	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.2	275 of 404	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.4	213 of 399	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.9	171 of 415	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	86.7	15 of 401	96.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	20.1	405 of 483	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.9	415 of 452	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	37.8	305 of 479	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.1	251 of 464	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.0	241 of 476	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.7	280 of 437	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.1	271 of 454	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.5	150 of 438	65.8%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2023	12.0	286 of 298	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	17.6	392 of 435	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	6.8	406 of 415	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	45.5	234 of 440	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.6	284 of 436	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.0	316 of 438	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.8	325 of 422	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.8	308 of 428	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	47.8	231 of 428	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	58.4	205 of 473	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.8	294 of 450	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	70.0	137 of 480	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	50.1	251 of 476	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.0	309 of 472	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.4	225 of 428	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.9	196 of 492	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.4	165 of 494	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	59.4	233 of 489	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.8	210 of 489	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	77.7	97 of 504	80.8%	★★★★☆
2014	65.0	185 of 483	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	72.2	128 of 534	76.0%	★★★★☆
2012	76.5	94 of 539	82.6%	★★★★☆
2011	78.5	74 of 545	86.4%	★★★★☆
2010	65.2	215 of 540	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	74.4	137 of 460	70.2%	★★★★☆
2007	79.5	89 of 463	80.8%	★★★★☆
2006	74.5	119 of 450	73.6%	★★★★☆
2005	75.1	112 of 452	75.2%	★★★★☆
2004	82.1	32 of 433	92.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	71.4	103 of 398	74.1%	★★★★☆
2025	34.8	257 of 358	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	65.2	132 of 403	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.0	149 of 396	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	37.8	273 of 388	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.2	203 of 339	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.8	222 of 401	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	72.9	96 of 395	75.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2023	13.2	128 of 136	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	57.7	140 of 377	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	45.3	188 of 333	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	80.7	41 of 389	89.5%	★★★★☆
2023	43.3	230 of 393	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.5	164 of 312	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.4	114 of 270	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.5	95 of 370	74.3%	★★★★☆
2018	85.5	35 of 374	90.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	36.0	267 of 395	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.1	262 of 377	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.0	154 of 405	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	29.3	308 of 398	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.3	303 of 403	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.5	214 of 351	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.0	181 of 411	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.1	214 of 398	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	47.9	224 of 394	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.8	285 of 376	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	61.6	150 of 402	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.1	257 of 398	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.1	310 of 401	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	42.4	232 of 364	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.0	211 of 412	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.2	218 of 414	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)49th percentile+20 vs school

Female (2026)40th percentile+10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)31st percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)16th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)10th percentile-19 vs school

Special Education (2023)4th percentile-42 vs school

High school

Female (2026)74th percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)63rd percentile+6 vs school

White (2026)43rd percentile-14 vs school

Male (2026)32nd percentile-24 vs school

Hispanic (2023)6th percentile-41 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading36%-13 vs state

Science27%~ state avg

Math26%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near United South Central High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)					MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 10th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science End of Course	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
United South Central High School	Public	7-12	600 11th St SW	Wells	56097	Faribault County	United South Central Schools	No	No	No	No	(507) 553-5819	343	23	14.9	44.3%	275 (80.2%)	2 (0.6%)	52 (15.2%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.2%)	58.4	205^th of 473 public high schools	56.7%		40.8	294^th of 450 public high schools	34.7%	89		30.6	39.2	37.7	35.6	5.9	45.0	27.0		28.1	26.4	24.5	26.5	$14,396
Next Step West (Alden)	Public	8-12	155 S Broadway	Alden	56009	Freeborn County	Southern Mn Education Consortium	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(507) 857-1160	6	1	6.0	—	6 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Alden-Conger Secondary	Public	7-12	215 N Broadway	Alden	56009	Freeborn County	Alden-Conger Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 874-3240	215	17	12.7	29.8%	201 (93.5%)	1 (0.5%)	10 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	60.4	198^th of 473 public high schools	58.1%		90	26^th of 450 public high schools	94.2%	172		38.9	44.1	30.3	37.9	8.8	36.4	22.4		27.8	47.1	43.9	39.6	$14,474
Nrheg Secondary	Public	6-12	306 Ash Ave S	New Richland	56072	Waseca County	Nrheg School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 465-3205	408	28	14.6	36.8%	368 (90.2%)	5 (1.2%)	25 (6.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.2%)	37.1	305^th of 473 public high schools	35.5%		53.8	233^rd of 450 public high schools	48.2%	72	34.9	29.8	33.3	23.8	31.0	7.7	31.0	18.1	8.2	20.7	13.5	23.4	16.1	$11,400
Maple River Secondary	Public	6-12	801 Central Ave S	Mapleton	56065	Blue Earth County	Maple River School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 524-3930	502	29	17.2	37.6%	444 (88.4%)	4 (0.8%)	32 (6.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	17 (3.4%)	83.5	54^th of 473 public high schools	88.6%		70.4	134^th of 450 public high schools	70.2%	80	62.3	50.0	52.0	45.1	52.2	28.4	53.7	39.1	45.6	45.9	56.0	60.7	51.6	$12,255
Blue Earth Area Secondary	Public	8-12	1125 N Grove Street	Blue Earth	56013	Faribault County	Blue Earth Area School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 526-3201	378	22	17.5	50.0%	295 (78.0%)	3 (0.8%)	71 (18.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.9%)	68	141^st of 473 public high schools	70.2%		64.2	170^th of 450 public high schools	62.2%	29			43.7	37.8	40.7	15.5	55.4	35.9			36.6	32.3	34.6	$13,556
Albert Lea Area Learning Center	Public	6-12	211 W Richway Dr	Albert Lea	56007	Freeborn County	Albert Lea Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 379-4800	113	5	24.5	70.8%	56 (49.6%)	2 (1.8%)	44 (38.9%)	3 (2.7%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (6.2%)	5.6	456^th of 473 public high schools	3.6%					(n/a)				10.0	16.7							0.0	3.7	$14,035
Albert Lea Secondary Online Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	211 W Richway Dr	Albert Lea	56007	Freeborn County	Albert Lea Public School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(507) 379-4810	37	0		75.7%	19 (51.4%)	1 (2.7%)	15 (40.5%)	1 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.7%)								(n/a)					28.6			16.7					7.7
Albert Lea Senior High	Public	8-12	2000 Tiger Ln	Albert Lea	56007	Freeborn County	Albert Lea Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 379-5340	1,196	74	16.1	50.7%	704 (58.9%)	28 (2.3%)	284 (23.7%)	133 (11.1%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (3.8%)	54.8	229^th of 473 public high schools	51.6%		50.8	252^nd of 450 public high schools	44.0%	23			21.8	36.4	28.6	6.1	34.8	19.3			15.5	32.1	21.7	$13,644

Frequently Asked Questions about United South Central High School

What schools feed into United South Central High School?

United South Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : United South Central Elementary

What is the racial makeup of United South Central High School?

Students at United South Central High School are 80% White, 15% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is United South Central High School a good school?

United South Central High School ranks 205^th of 473 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is United South Central High School in?

United South Central Schools

How many students attend United South Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 343 students attended United South Central High School.

Rate United South Central High School!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.