Wadena: Schools & Education
There are 8 public schools in Wadena. Wadena-Deer Creek Senior High is the largest at 469 students (grades 7-12). Total enrollment: 1,276 students.
- ~552 residents per school (vs Minnesota ~303).
K-12 Schools
8 K-12 schools serving the area — about 552 residents per school. 17.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. average ~35%).
Schools (1)
Schools (8)
| School Districts · Districts | Freshwater Education District, WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTR |
|---|---|
| School Districts · Total count | 2 |
| School Statistics · Total Schools | 8 |
| School Statistics · Total Enrollment | 1,276 |
| School Statistics · Total Teachers | 85 |
| School Statistics · Student Teacher Ratio | 15.00 |
| School Statistics · Free Lunch Students | 731 |
| School Statistics · Free Lunch Pct | 57.3% |
| Schools Count | 8 |
Sources: NCES LEA assignment from schools in this city · NCES CCD 2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Higher Education
Colleges and universities within commuting range, plus IPEDS scorecard data on enrollment, completion, and net price.
| Colleges · Nearest | Alexandria Technical & Community College |
|---|---|
| Colleges · Nearest Distance Miles | 40.0 mi |
| Nearest College · Name | Alexandria Technical & Community College |
| Nearest College · City | Alexandria |
| Nearest College · Phone | (320) 762-0221 |
| Nearest College · Distance | 40.0 mi |
Sources: NCES IPEDS 2022 — no colleges within 3 miles · NCES IPEDS 2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Early Childhood
Daycare and preschool capacity. Federal child-care data is sparse — counts reflect state-licensed providers only.
| Childcare Centers · County total | 1 |
|---|
Sources: HIFLD / IRS BMF
Libraries
Public libraries from IMLS Public Libraries Survey — visits, circulation, and service-area population.
| Nearest Library · Name | Wadena Public Library |
|---|---|
| Nearest Library · Address | 304 1St Street Sw |
| Nearest Library · Phone | (218) 631-2476 |
| Nearest Library · Zip | 56482 |
| Nearest Library · Hours Per Year | 1990 |
| Nearest Library · Total Libraries In City | 1 |
Sources: IMLS PLS — state+city name match
Other
Libraries (1)
| Education Nonprofits · Total count | 2 |
|---|---|
| Pct Bachelors Plus | 17.6% |
Sources: IRS BMF NTEE B · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12