Best Public Schools in Wheaton, MN

The city of Wheaton, Minnesota is home to two schools - Wheaton Secondary (grades 6-12) and Pearson Elementary (grades PK-5). While Wheaton Secondary has seen a decline in its state ranking in recent years, Pearson Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state averages in academic proficiency, particularly in math and reading.

Wheaton Area Public School District serves a diverse student population, with both schools having a significant percentage of non-white and economically disadvantaged students. Wheaton Secondary has a more diverse student body, with 18.75% non-white students, compared to 24.71% at Pearson Elementary. Both schools have a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 12.9, which is favorable for student learning.

While Wheaton Secondary boasts a strong 88.2% four-year graduation rate, it also has a higher dropout rate of 5.8%. In contrast, Pearson Elementary consistently earns a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger, ranking in the middle 50% of Minnesota elementary schools. The data suggests a potential disconnect in the academic progression from elementary to secondary education, and highlights the need to address the unique challenges faced by the diverse student populations in this area.