Summary:
ZIP code 55321 (Cokato, Minnesota) contains three schools classified as high schools: one comprehensive 9–12 campus and two small alternative programs, one of which serves grades 5–12. Together they enroll roughly 712 students and span two districts — Dassel-Cokato Public Schools and Meeker and Wright Special Education. They differ sharply in size, student population, and program model, so families should weigh those differences when comparing them.
Dassel-Cokato Senior High is the clear standout and the only large comprehensive option, with 601 students — about 84% of enrollment across the three schools. It ranks 39th of 473 Minnesota high schools in 2025-2026 (92nd percentile, 5 stars), up from 132nd of 450 a year earlier. Its graduation rate is 89.7%, above the district's 89.1% and the state's 84.9%, while its dropout rate of 1.6% is below both. In 2025-2026, math proficiency was 62.2%, reading 54.5%, and science 48.3%, all above state averages (44.9%, 48.6%, 25.5%), with math and science rising notably from the prior year.
Dassel-Cokato Alternative Center (78 students) sits in the same high-ranked district but posts a lower graduation rate (84.6%), higher dropout rate (3.8%), higher free/reduced lunch (38.46% vs. 21.46%), and a much higher student/teacher ratio (34.9 vs. 17.5). Most of its school-level test scores are suppressed by the state, meaning they are unknown rather than a sign of weakness. Village Ranch Alternative Program is the smallest (33 students, grades 5–12) and highest-need (90.91% free/reduced lunch), with a low 5.4 student/teacher ratio; its scores improved but remain below state averages, and small cohorts make year-to-year swings misleading.
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