Best Public Schools in Zip Code 56362

ZIP code 56362 contains three schools serving roughly 904 students across two districts: Paynesville Area Elementary (PK–5), Paynesville Area Secondary School (grades 6–12, so middle grades are served inside that combined building), and the very small WCED 18-22 Program (grade 12 only).

The clearest story in this area is the gap between the two Paynesville schools. In 2025–2026, Paynesville Area Elementary outscored Paynesville Area Secondary School by 19.3 points in math, 16.6 in reading, and 14.8 in science. Elementary is above the state in math (50.0% vs 44.9%) and reading (55.5% vs 48.6%), and only slightly below in science (24.1% vs 25.5%), ranking 359 of 869 (59th percentile, 3 stars) — still above the state median, but down from the 76th percentile and 4 stars in 2023–2024, with science sliding from 36.51% to 24.1%. Secondary ranks 357 of 473 (25th percentile, 1 star), its second straight year in the bottom quartile, and sits below district and state in every subject; science is the sharpest weakness at 9.3% versus 25.5% statewide, with 8th-grade science at 5.5%. Sixth grade is a bright spot there (math 42.2% vs 39.5% state; reading 62.5% vs 53.4% state). Graduation is strong at 95.2% versus 84.9% statewide.

The WCED 18-22 Program has 10 students and no rank, test, or graduation data, so it cannot be fairly compared; its notable feature is the lowest student/teacher ratio in the ZIP, at 10.0. Both Paynesville schools are in Paynesville Area Schools, ranked 279 of 458 (39th percentile, 2 stars), a position largely dragged down by the secondary school.