WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT

WADENA, Minnesota — 3 schools

1,088
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$17,001
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT operates 3 public schools serving 1,088 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Minnesota. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 other, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,079 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Wadena County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,001 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 18.1% local, 66.9% state, and 15.1% 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 $91,882 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 44/100, ranked #253 of 417 in Minnesota against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 359.7:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 23.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.1% White, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American across the district's schools.

Wadena-Deer Creek Senior High accounts for 43.6% of all WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. 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

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment varies 3.0× across entities

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment ranges from 159 students (lowest) to 470 students (highest), a spread of 311 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. 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

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT student-counselor ratio is 360:1 — 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

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT chronic absenteeism rate is 23.2% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT is typically wider than the WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

15.1%
Federal
66.9%
State
18.1%
Local

Funding Equity

44
Equity Score
253 / 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 Wadena County county, where this district is located.

$701
Studio/mo
$783
1 BR/mo
$1,016
2 BR/mo
$1,218
3 BR/mo
$1,345
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$91,882
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 3 schools in WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT.

White 86.1%
Hispanic or Latino 4.7%
African American 1.1%
Multiracial 5.7%
Other 2.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

359.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.2%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Enrollment
Wadena-Deer Creek Senior High
470
Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary
450
Wadena-Deer Creek 5th and 6th Grade
159

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT has 3 schools, including 2 other, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,088 students.

How much does WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $17,001 per student. The district has an equity score of 44/100, ranking #253 in Minnesota.

What is the average teacher salary in WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The average teacher salary in WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT is $91,882 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

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

What is the demographic composition of WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT students are 86.1% White, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT has an equity score of 44/100, ranking #253 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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