Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

Summary:

Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center is a small public high school in Buffalo, Minnesota, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of just 91 as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school has a predominantly White student body, with significant Hispanic and African American representation.

Despite its small size, Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center has struggled academically, consistently ranking in the bottom 20% of Minnesota high schools. The school has received a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating very low academic performance. Its 4-year graduation rate is only 24%, and the dropout rate has reached as high as 36.5%. Standardized test scores are significantly below the state average, with only 4.55% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in Math, compared to the state average of 34.99%. The school also has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with 57.14% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

In comparison, nearby Maple Lake Secondary has significantly higher academic performance, with a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger and a 98.8% 4-year graduation rate. The racial demographics at Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center have also shifted, with a decrease in the percentage of White students and an increase in Hispanic and African American populations. These challenges present an opportunity for targeted interventions and support programs to address the unique needs of the school's student population and improve academic outcomes.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1405 3rd Ave NE
Buffalo, MN 55313-1925

(763) 684-2200

District: Wright Technical Center

SchoolDigger Rank:
420^th of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 14.7

Number of students: 91

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.0%

Hispanic:

18.7%

African American:

6.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 57.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center ranks worse than 87.5% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.43. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (67%), Hispanic (18.7%), African American (6.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 57.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center is 14.7. (See more...)

Compare Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center employs 6.1 full-time teachers.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center:

SchoolDigger ranks Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center 420^th of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

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Rank History for Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

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Rank History for all students at Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2004	14.74	372^nd	433	14.1%
2005	9.05	412^th	452	8.8%
2006	10.86	398^th	450	11.6%
2007	6.17	445^th	463	3.9%
2008	11.36	404^th	460	12.2%
2010	11.96	435^th	540	19.4%
2011	22.71	406^th	545	25.5%
2012	7.80	472^nd	539	12.4%
2013	5.71	482^nd	534	9.7%
2014	10.89	412^th	483	14.7%
2015	6.87	455^th	504	9.7%
2016	7.98	423^rd	489	13.5%
2017	3.63	475^th	489	2.9%
2018	10.84	421^st	494	14.8%
2019	12.12	419^th	492	14.8%
2022	16.42	402^nd	472	14.8%
2024	13.43	420^th	480	12.5%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	7.00	350^th	370	5.4%
2024	27.59	303^rd	389	22.1%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for White students at Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	6.40	382^nd	412	7.3%
2024	10.44	369^th	402	8.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1994	111	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	111
1995	135	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	135
1996	135	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	135
1997	78	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	78
1998	90	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	90
1999	100	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	102
2000	106	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	106
2001	109	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	110
2002	92	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	94
2003	92	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	94
2004	128	1	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	132
2005	149	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	149
2006	153	3	1	2	2	n/a	n/a	161
2007	145	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	148
2008	139	6	2	7	0	n/a	n/a	154
2009	117	9	2	5	2	n/a	n/a	135
2010	125	6	1	6	0	n/a	n/a	138
2011	109	1	0	0	0	0	3	113
2012	118	8	0	0	8	0	1	135
2013	124	6	0	0	1	0	0	131
2014	117	2	1	1	0	0	1	122
2015	120	3	2	8	1	0	4	138
2016	106	8	2	10	1	0	0	127
2017	77	8	2	11	1	0	1	100
2018	74	9	2	8	0	0	0	93
2019	74	9	1	6	0	0	0	90
2020	79	5	0	12	0	0	2	98
2021	65	5	0	5	1	0	1	77
2022	72	4	1	8	1	0	3	89
2023	61	6	0	17	2	0	5	91

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	111	0.0	0.0	0
1995	135	0.0	0.0	0
1996	135	0.0	0.0	0
1997	78	0.0	0.0	0
1998	90	n/a	0.0	7.8
1999	102	5.5	18.5	2.9
2000	106	6.2	17.1	0
2001	110	7.0	15.7	5.5
2002	94	8.7	10.8	3.2
2003	94	8.7	10.8	3.2
2004	132	7.8	16.9	3
2005	149	8.9	16.7	0
2006	161	10.0	16.1	1.2
2007	148	9.6	15.4	n/a
2008	154	9.9	15.6	n/a
2009	135	9.1	14.8	n/a
2010	138	9.2	14.9	0
2011	113	6.2	18.2	0
2012	135	6.5	20.7	0
2013	131	6.5	20.0	22.1
2014	122	6.6	18.4	36.1
2015	138	7.0	19.7	38.4
2016	127	7.0	18.1	40.2
2017	100	5.2	19.0	50
2018	93	7.2	12.8	45.2
2019	90	7.2	12.3	47.8
2020	98	7.0	13.9	33.7
2021	77	6.1	12.5	41.6
2022	89	6.1	14.4	28.1
2023	91	6.1	14.7	57.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	111	0.0	0.0	0
1995	135	0.0	0.0	0
1996	135	0.0	0.0	0
1997	78	0.0	0.0	0
1998	90	n/a	0.0	7.8
1999	102	5.5	18.5	2.9
2000	106	6.2	17.1	0
2001	110	7.0	15.7	5.5
2002	94	8.7	10.8	3.2
2003	94	8.7	10.8	3.2
2004	132	7.8	16.9	3
2005	149	8.9	16.7	0
2006	161	10.0	16.1	1.2
2007	148	9.6	15.4	n/a
2008	154	9.9	15.6	n/a
2009	135	9.1	14.8	n/a
2010	138	9.2	14.9	0
2011	113	6.2	18.2	0
2012	135	6.5	20.7	0
2013	131	6.5	20.0	22.1
2014	122	6.6	18.4	36.1
2015	138	7.0	19.7	38.4
2016	127	7.0	18.1	40.2
2017	100	5.2	19.0	50
2018	93	7.2	12.8	45.2
2019	90	7.2	12.3	47.8
2020	98	7.0	13.9	33.7
2021	77	6.1	12.5	41.6
2022	89	6.1	14.4	28.1
2023	91	6.1	14.7	57.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 419^th of 492 High schools	Ranks 402^nd of 472 High schools	0%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Math (Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center)	8.7	0	8.7%
11th Grade Math (Wright Technical Center)	8.7	0	8.7%
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36	9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	90	91	1.1%
African American	9	6	33.3%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	6	17	183.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	74	61	17.6%
Two or More Races	0	5
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	47.8%	57.1%	9.4%

Schools Near Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)				MCA-III Reading (2024)				MCA-III Science (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science End of Course	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Wright Technical Center	Public	11-12	1405 3rd Ave NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Wright Technical Center	No	No	No	No	(763) 684-2200	0	12	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center	Public	9-12	1405 3rd Ave NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Wright Technical Center	No	No	No	No	(763) 684-2200	91	6	14.7	57.1%	61 (67.0%)	6 (6.6%)	17 (18.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.5%)	13.4	420^th of 480 public high schools	12.5%					(n/a)			4.6	4.6						18.8	18.8
Cornerstones Program	Public	6-12	1405 3rd Ave. NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Meeker And Wright Special Education	No	No	No	No	(320) 543-1122	21	3	6.1	66.7%	14 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (23.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (9.5%)								(n/a)
SWMetro Buffalo-Transitions	Public	9-12	800 8th St NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Southwest Metro Intermediate 288	No	No	No	No	(952) 567-8100	27	3	9.8	25.9%	27 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Pride Transitions	Public	12	800 - 8th St NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	No	(763) 682-8721	0	2	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)												$33,874
Phoenix Learning Center	Public	9-12	877 Bison Blvd	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	No	(763) 682-8102	33	3	12.9	48.5%	26 (78.8%)	2 (6.1%)	1 (3.0%)	1 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (9.1%)	8.9	439^th of 480 public high schools	8.5%					(n/a)			6.3	6.3			10.0	10.0				$17,014
Buffalo Senior High	Public	9-12	877 Bison Blvd	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	No	(763) 682-8100	1,818	72	25.4	23.5%	1,597 (87.8%)	29 (1.6%)	90 (5.0%)	28 (1.5%)	8 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	64 (3.5%)	62.1	196^th of 480 public high schools	59.2%		62.5	175^th of 476 public high schools	63.2%	21			35.5	35.5			53.0	53.0		37.4	37.4	$11,843
SWMetro Lakeside Academy	Public	7-12	100 Garrison Ave NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Southwest Metro Intermediate 288	No	No	No	No	(952) 567-8100	22	2	11.8	81.8%	13 (59.1%)	1 (4.5%)	4 (18.2%)	2 (9.1%)	1 (4.5%)	1 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Maple Lake Secondary	Public	7-12	200 Highway 55 E	Maple Lake	55358	Wright County	Maple Lake Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 963-3171	365	28	13.2	23.3%	351 (96.2%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	8 (2.2%)	60	209^th of 480 public high schools	56.5%		65.8	153^rd of 476 public high schools	67.9%	56	47.3	49.2	44.6	47.1	52.7	47.5	51.4	50.5	31.7	31.9	31.8	$11,558
Monticello High School - SNW	Public	9-12	5225 School Blvd	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Sherburne and Northern Wright Speci	No	No	No	No	(763) 272-2050	39	5	7.8	28.2%	29 (74.4%)	2 (5.1%)	6 (15.4%)	1 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.6%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center

Is Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center a good school?

Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center ranks in the bottom 12.5% of Minnesota high schools.

How many students attend Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center?

In the 2022-23 school year, 91 students attended Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center.

What is the racial makeup of Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center?

Students at Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center are 67% White, 19% Hispanic, 7% African American, 5% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

What district is Wright Technical Center Alternative Learning Center in?

Wright Technical Center

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.