At a glance
Reported students
19
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
8
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
2.4:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
04–12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Minnesota other enrollment
43rd percentile
Compared with 324 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
90
Prairie Lakes Education Center: 19 reported students.
State peer staffing position
10th percentile
2.4:1 reported; state peer median 6.1:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 32
- Teachers (FTE)
- 9.5
- Student–teacher ratio
- 3.4:1
What the reported data says about Prairie Lakes Education Center
Prairie Lakes Education Center is a public combined / other school serving grades 04–12 in Willmar. It is one of 13 current school records connected to Willmar Public School District. NCES reports 19 students for 2024–25.
Among 324 combined / other schools in Minnesota with comparable records, this school is smaller than the reported median of 26.5 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 43rd percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 2.4:1, below the Minnesota median of 6.1:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are Hispanic or Latino (42.1%) and White (26.3%). These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Prairie Lakes Education Center
- 1How do the reported 2.4:1 student–teacher ratio and 8 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 0 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4What meal assistance, transportation, after-school, and family-support services are currently available?
Enrollment needs
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 63.2%
- Lunch program
- No
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 0
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White26.3%
- Hispanic42.1%
- Black15.8%
- Asian5.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial10.5%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
Computer science
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Willmar Public School District
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Jefferson Early Learning Center
Other · Grades PK–PK
26 reported students
Lakeview School
Other · Grades KG–12
11 reported students
Lake Park School
Other · Grades 04–12
33 reported students
Jefferson Learning Center
Other · Grades PK–PK
89 reported students
Middle School ALC
Middle · Grades 06–08
27 reported students
Focus House
High · Grades 12–12
Enrollment not reported
Public schools near Prairie Lakes Education Center
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Park School Other · Willmar Public School District | 04–12 | 33 | under 0.1 mi |
| DREAM Technical Academy High · Charter · Technical Academies of Minnesota | 07–12 | 72 | 0.2 mi |
| Lakeview School Other · Willmar Public School District | KG–12 | 11 | 2.3 mi |
| Jefferson Learning Center Other · Willmar Public School District | PK–PK | 89 | 2.8 mi |
| Jefferson Early Learning Center Other · Willmar Public School District | PK–PK | 26 | 2.8 mi |
| Prairie Meadows Learning Center Other · New London-Spicer School District | PK–PK | 26 | 7.1 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Lakes Education Center
What grades does Prairie Lakes Education Center serve?
Prairie Lakes Education Center reports grades 04–12 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as a school (alternative school) in Willmar Public School District.
How many students attend Prairie Lakes Education Center?
Prairie Lakes Education Center reported 19 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 43rd percentile among 324 Minnesota combined or other schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 32 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Prairie Lakes Education Center?
The calculated ratio is 2.4:1, based on 19 students and 8 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Minnesota median for the same school level is 6.1:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Prairie Lakes Education Center a public, charter, or magnet school?
Prairie Lakes Education Center is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Willmar Public School District attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Prairie Lakes Education Center students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
63.2% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Prairie Lakes Education Center in?
Prairie Lakes Education Center is part of Willmar Public School District, based in Willmar, MN, which operates 13 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Prairie Lakes Education Center?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Lake Park School (under 0.1 mi), DREAM Technical Academy (0.2 mi), Lakeview School (2.3 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.