HOWARD LAKE-WAVERLY-WINSTED

Headquartered at 8700 County Road 6 SW in Howard Lake, Minnesota, the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted School District is an active, traditional public school system serving families across a distinct rural setting on the outer edge of the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington metropolitan region. Operating seven educational facilities, the non-charter district delivers a continuous academic pathway spanning from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. During the 2024–2025 academic year, the district enrolled 1,312 students, maintaining a balanced distribution across primary and secondary levels that reflects a stable, close-knit community atmosphere.

To support its student body, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted maintains a strong professional workforce comprising over 350 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff members. The teaching faculty includes roughly 159 FTE certified teachers, backed by 34 instructional aides who provide targeted classroom support and small-group assistance. A dedicated team of approximately 160 support staff members oversees vital daily operations, health services, and district infrastructure. This robust staffing environment ensures a low student-to-teacher ratio, making the district a well-resourced option for local families and an insightful case study for researchers evaluating rural public education in the Upper Midwest.