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West Central Area S. Elementary

Q: Is West Central Area S. Elementary a good school?

West Central Area S. Elementary ranks 370 th of 872 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

370^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 872 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 58% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

West Central Area S. Elementary is a public elementary school in Kensington, Minnesota, serving 125 students in grades PK-4 as part of the West Central Area School District. This school consistently outperforms the district and state averages in both math and reading proficiency, with 60.78% of students proficient or better in math and 47.06% proficient or better in reading during the 2024-2025 school year.

West Central Area S. Elementary maintains a stable 3-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranks in the top half of Minnesota elementary schools, with a high ranking of 94 out of 848 in the 2015-2016 school year. The school's low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 8.3 to 9.3 students per teacher, is a notable strength. However, the school has seen an increase in the percentage of students from low-income families, rising from 26.61% in 2021-2022 to 43.2% in 2023-2024, which may present challenges for the school and district to address.

Compared to nearby schools, West Central Area S. Elementary outperforms Woodland Elementary School in both math and reading proficiency, but trails the top-performing Garfield Elementary, which ranks among the top 5% of Minnesota elementary schools. Overall, West Central Area S. Elementary is a strong-performing school that has maintained consistent academic success, despite the increasing economic challenges faced by its student population.

138

Students ?

11.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,376

Per pupil spending ?

39.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

31 N Central
Kensington, MN 56343-0170

(320) 965-7600

District: West Central Area

Students who attend West Central Area S. Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	WCA Middle School
High:	West Central Area Secondary

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.1%

Hispanic:

5.1%

African American:

2.2%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare West Central Area S. Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 71st percentile in 2015 → 58th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (54% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Above the Minnesota median (58th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school54%

District avg46%

Minnesota avg47%

370^th of 872

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 42%▼ down 13 pts since 2015

From top 29% (2015) to top 42% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Elementary Schools in the West Central Area

142^nd of 446West Central Area 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	59.9	370 of 872	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.2	583 of 881	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.9	348 of 845	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.5	348 of 858	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.5	352 of 869	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.5	427 of 870	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.6	490 of 847	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	66.5	315 of 853	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	81.6	94 of 848	88.9%	★★★★☆
2015	70.8	247 of 840	70.6%	★★★★☆
2014	56.4	424 of 826	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	44.0	551 of 824	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	80.4	84 of 820	89.8%	★★★★☆
2011	61.7	363 of 814	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	82.9	45 of 803	94.4%	★★★★★
2008	67.9	237 of 781	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.5	302 of 777	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	63.6	288 of 756	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2005	76.4	110 of 685	83.9%	★★★★☆
2004	44.3	460 of 676	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2003	60.7	292 of 674	56.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	62.3	310 of 799	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.6	517 of 809	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.6	325 of 787	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.9	367 of 799	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.6	448 of 787	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.5	580 of 774	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	59.6	296 of 740	60.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	59.9	373 of 798	53.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	37.0	500 of 714	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	12.7	694 of 730	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	42.2	436 of 712	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.0	464 of 725	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.5	432 of 710	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.6	346 of 722	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.9	532 of 712	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)61st percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2019)60th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2019)53rd percentile~ school

White (2025)30th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2024-2025) ?

Math61%+16 vs state

Reading47%-3 vs state

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Schools Near West Central Area S. Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCA-III Math (2025)					MCA-III Reading (2025)					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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	Total
West Central Area S. Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	31 N Central	Kensington	56343	Douglas County	West Central Area	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 965-7600	138	12	11.1	39.9%	123 (89.1%)	3 (2.2%)	7 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	59.9	370^th of 872 public elementary schools	57.6%		40.2	583^rd of 881 public elementary schools	33.8%	213	72.2	54.6			60.8	61.1	39.4			47.1	$14,376
Brandon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-1	206 3rd St W	Brandon	56315	Douglas County	Brandon-Evansville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 834-4084	107	12	9.2	40.2%	101 (94.4%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.7%)								(n/a)											$10,500
Glacial Hills Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	610 W 6th St	Starbuck	56381	Pope County	Glacial Hills Elementary	Yes	No	No	Yes	(320) 244-3334	97	11	8.8	51.5%	84 (86.6%)	2 (2.1%)	7 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.1%)	60.2	366^th of 872 public elementary schools	58.0%		45.6	540^th of 881 public elementary schools	38.7%	174		70.0		53.9	64.1		20.0		53.9	51.3	$14,783
Garfield Elementary	Public	K-5	303 Sanstead St E	Garfield	56332	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 762-3350	117	9	12.8	17.1%	114 (97.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.7%)	88.4	57^th of 872 public elementary schools	93.5%		82.6	116^th of 881 public elementary schools	86.8%	59	68.8	94.4	68.4		77.4	56.3	72.2	79.0		69.8	$12,682
Evansville Elementary	Public	2-5	123 2nd Ave	Evansville	56326	Douglas County	Brandon-Evansville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 834-4084	163	8	19.4	32.5%	149 (91.4%)	2 (1.2%)	3 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.5%)	76.5	188^th of 872 public elementary schools	78.4%		77	171^st of 881 public elementary schools	80.6%	17	66.7	73.3	64.3		67.5	45.1	56.7	79.1		59.7	$11,068
Lincoln Elementary	Public	K-5	1120 Lark St	Alexandria	56308	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 762-3320	481	31	15.3	37.8%	402 (83.6%)	10 (2.1%)	33 (6.9%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.4%)	66.4	305^th of 872 public elementary schools	65.0%		69.6	260^th of 881 public elementary schools	70.5%	45	52.0	77.6	56.9		61.4	43.4	64.9	57.5		54.1	$11,098
Lakes Country Academy - ALEX	Public	K-6	524 Willow Drive	Alexandria	56308	Douglas County	Region 4-Lakes Country Service Coop	No	No	No	No	(218) 739-3273	7	3	2.2		3 (42.9%)	1 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (28.6%)								(n/a)
Morris Area Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	151 S Columbia Ave	Morris	56267	Stevens County	Morris Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 589-1250	557	41	13.4	29.3%	336 (60.3%)	6 (1.1%)	175 (31.4%)	4 (0.7%)	12 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.3%)	64.4	328^th of 872 public elementary schools	62.4%		74.9	201^st of 881 public elementary schools	77.2%	127	69.4	58.1	30.8	48.0	50.5	58.1	53.3	46.2	70.7	56.9	$10,897
Woodland Elementary School	Public	K-5	1410 McKay Ave S Ste #101	Alexandria	56308	Douglas County	Alexandria Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 762-3300	410	37	11.1	41.7%	328 (80.0%)	8 (2.0%)	40 (9.8%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (7.1%)	48.2	493^rd of 872 public elementary schools	43.5%		48.8	505^th of 881 public elementary schools	42.7%	12	50.7	56.7	43.2		49.8	49.3	34.5	46.0		43.8	$11,322
Minnewaska Area Elementary	Public	K-3	409 4th St SE	Glenwood	56334	Pope County	Minnewaska School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 634-4567	317	29	10.7	33.1%	301 (95.0%)	2 (0.6%)	7 (2.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.9%)								(n/a)	72.5				72.5	51.9				51.9	$12,167

Frequently Asked Questions about West Central Area S. Elementary

What is the racial makeup of West Central Area S. Elementary?

Students at West Central Area S. Elementary are 89% White, 5% Hispanic, 2% African American, 2% American Indian, 1% Two or more races.

What district is West Central Area S. Elementary in?

West Central Area

What schools do graduates of West Central Area S. Elementary attend?

Students who attend West Central Area S. Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : WCA Middle School
High : West Central Area Secondary

Is West Central Area S. Elementary a good school?

West Central Area S. Elementary ranks 370^th of 872 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend West Central Area S. Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 138 students attended West Central Area S. Elementary.

Rate West Central Area S. Elementary!

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Schools in Kensington, MN

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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.