How many white students were enrolled in Steele County schools in 2023-24 school year?

Willie Jett Commissioner of Education Minnesota Department of Education | Office of Gov. Tim Walz

By SC Minnesota News

Jun 12, 2025

There were 5,229 white students enrolled in Steele County public schools in the 2023-24 school year, 0.4% less than the previous year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Data showed that Steele County welcomed 6,891 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, white students comprised 75.9% of the student body to be the most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 14 schools in the county, Owatonna Senior High School recorded the highest enrollment of white students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of 1,110.

According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Minnesota's fourth graders scored 241 in math, just above the national average of 237. Their reading score of 216 was on par with the U.S. average, but shows a slight decline over recent years. Eighth graders scored 284 in math and 264 in reading, both above the national averages.

However, despite these results, both grade levels remain below pre-pandemic levels in math and reading.

As of 2024, according to Public School Review, the student-to-teacher ratio in Minnesota's public schools stands at 1:16, slightly worse than the national average of 1:15. This is part of a larger framework within Minnesota's educational system, which is the 10th largest in the United States, accommodating over 869,000 students across 2,709 public schools.

Ethnicities in Steele County County in 2023-24 School Year

Enrollment Demographics in Steele County Schools During 2023-24 School Year

School Name	No. of White Students	% of White Students	Total School Enrollment
Blooming Prairie Intermediate School	135	95.1%	142
Blooming Prairie Elementary School	322	94.2%	342
Blooming Prairie High School	355	93.4%	380
NRHEG Elementary School	321	89.7%	358
Lincoln Elementary School	502	82.4%	609
Medford Elementary School	403	82.1%	491
Medford Secondary School	316	79.2%	399
Washington Elementary School	383	79.1%	484
Owatonna Senior High School	1,110	74.3%	1,494
Owatonna Middle School	720	70.9%	1,015
McKinley Elementary School	302	62.5%	483
CHOICE Technical Academy	26	59.1%	44
Wilson Elementary School	294	52.5%	560
Owatonna Alternative Learning Center 9-12	40	44.4%	90