WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WACONIA, Minnesota — 8 schools

4,045
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$15,343
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT operates 8 public schools serving 4,045 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Minnesota. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 high, 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 3,927 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Carver County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,343 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 33.1% local, 58.3% state, and 8.7% 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 $84,402 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 26/100, ranked #376 of 417 in Minnesota against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (10 AP courses district-wide), a 441.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 31.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.6% White, 7.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.0% African American across the district's schools.

Waconia High School accounts for 34.0% of all WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means WACONIA 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

WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment varies 121× across entities

WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment ranges from 11 students (lowest) to 1,335 students (highest), a spread of 1,324 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

WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT student-counselor ratio is 441:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT chronic absenteeism rate is 31.3% — 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?

8.7%
Federal
58.3%
State
33.1%
Local

Funding Equity

26
Equity Score
376 / 417
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

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

$1,242
Studio/mo
$1,405
1 BR/mo
$1,709
2 BR/mo
$2,262
3 BR/mo
$2,531
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$84,402
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 8 schools in WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

White 85.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.0%
African American 2.0%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 4.2%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
10 AP courses total
441.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
31.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Enrollment
Waconia High School
1,335
Waconia Middle School
885
Southview Elementary
544
Bayview Elementary
530
Laketown Elementary
530
Early Childhood Special Education
67
Waconia Learning Center
25
Transitions 110
11

Nearby Districts in Minnesota

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?

WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT has 8 schools, including 3 high, 1 middle, 3 elementary, 1 other. Total enrollment is 4,045 students.

How much does WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?

WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $15,343 per student. The district has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #376 in Minnesota.

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

The average teacher salary in WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is $84,402 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?

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

What is the demographic composition of WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?

WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT students are 85.6% White, 7.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.0% African American, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?

WACONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #376 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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