OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

OWATONNA, Minnesota — 11 schools

4,926
Total Enrollment
11
Schools
$24,438
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT operates 11 public schools serving 4,926 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Minnesota. The school portfolio breaks down into 4 elementary, 3 high, 2 middle, 2 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 4,749 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Steele County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $24,438 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 24.1% local, 65.6% state, and 10.4% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $92,195 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 67/100, ranked #84 of 417 in Minnesota against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 11 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 274.1:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 37.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 65.6% White, 21.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% African American across the district's schools.

Owatonna Senior High accounts for 30.9% of all OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment varies 105× across entities

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment ranges from 14 students (lowest) to 1,468 students (highest), a spread of 1,454 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT student-counselor ratio is 274:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is typically wider than the OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT chronic absenteeism rate is 37.0% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.4%
Federal
65.6%
State
24.1%
Local

Funding Equity

67
Equity Score
84 / 417
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Steele County county, where this district is located.

$787
Studio/mo
$870
1 BR/mo
$1,142
2 BR/mo
$1,549
3 BR/mo
$1,816
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$92,195
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 11 schools in OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

White 65.6%
Hispanic or Latino 21.0%
African American 7.8%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 4.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

2 / 11
Schools with AP
14 AP courses total
274.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
37.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Enrollment
Owatonna Senior High
1,468
Owatonna Middle School
1,015
Mckinley Elementary
510
Lincoln Elementary
505
Washington Elementary
468
Wilson Elementary
454
Owatonna Online 9-12
136
Owatonna Ecse
87
Owatonna Alc 9-12
70
Owatonna Online 6-8
22
Owatonna Online K-5
14

Nearby Districts in Minnesota

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT has 11 schools, including 3 high, 2 middle, 4 elementary, 2 other. Total enrollment is 4,926 students.

How much does OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $24,438 per student. The district has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #84 in Minnesota.

What is the average teacher salary in OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The average teacher salary in OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is $92,195 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Steele County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT students are 65.6% White, 21.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% African American, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 11 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?

OWATONNA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #84 out of 417 districts in Minnesota. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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