- Enrollment
- 1,205
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Willmar, MN
Prairie Lakes Education Center
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Lakes Education Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 274272004673
👥 S:T ratio 90
🌟 Gifted program 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie Lakes Education Center earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of Minnesota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #1 of 9
- schools in Willmar · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 2.4:1
- small classes for Minnesota
- 91.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie Lakes Education Center has class sizes smaller than 99% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Lakes Education Center ranks #1 of 9 schools in Willmar, MN.
School address
District: Willmar Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 274272004673 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Prairie Lakes Education Center shrank from 36 students in 2022-23 to 26 in 2023-24 (-27.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 8.8 → 8.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-10 students YoY 274272004673 · Willmar, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
19 enr · 2.4:1 · 91.7% lunch · RII 60
Nearest enrollment peer: Willmar Senior High (1,205 students)
Prairie Lakes Education Center shrank from 36 students in 2022-23 to 26 in 2023-24 (-27.8%). Teacher FTE lost 8.8 → 8.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Prairie Lakes Education Center in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Willmar Senior
Willmar Senior High
1,205 students
- Willmar Middle
Willmar Middle School
842 students
- Kennedy Elemen
Kennedy Elementary
672 students
- Lakeland Eleme
Lakeland Elementary School
623 students
- Roosevelt Elem
Roosevelt Elementary
580 students
- This school 19
Prairie Lakes Education Center
19 students
What this shows Prairie Lakes Education Center reports 19 students on the CCD universe file.
How Prairie Lakes Education Center compares
Prairie Lakes Education Center is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 2.4:1 | ▼ 85% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.7% | ▲ 114% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 19 | top 89% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
2.4:1
Leaner classes than 100% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
19
Bigger than 3% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
91.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 114% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
2.4:1
students per teacher
- 85% below state mean
Top 1% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 99% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$15,958
per pupil, district-wide
- above Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 42.1%
White 26.3%
African American 15.8%
Two or More 10.5%
Asian 5.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.5, Prairie Lakes Education Center is more mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Willmar Public School District reports $15,958 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Prairie Lakes Education Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willmar Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Willmar Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kennedy Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lakeland Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie Lakes Education Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 842
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 672
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 623
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 580
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~19 students)
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Lakes Education Center
How many students attend Prairie Lakes Education Center?
Prairie Lakes Education Center has 19 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Willmar, MN. CCD year-over-year: 36 (2022-23) → 26 (2023-24), down 10.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Lakes Education Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Lakes Education Center is 2.4:1, which is 85% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 85% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Prairie Lakes Education Center?
91.7% of students at Prairie Lakes Education Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Lakes Education Center?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Lakes Education Center is Hispanic or Latino at 42.1% of enrollment, in Willmar, MN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Lakes Education Center?
Prairie Lakes Education Center has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Prairie Lakes Education Center rank among schools in Willmar?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Lakes Education Center ranks #1 of 9 schools in Willmar, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Willmar on the city page.
What other schools are in Willmar Public School District?
Besides Prairie Lakes Education Center, Willmar Public School District also operates Willmar Senior High (1,205 students), Willmar Middle School (842 students), and Kennedy Elementary (672 students). See the Willmar Public School District district page for the complete list.