Prairie Lakes Education Center

36 Students

Other 4th - 12th

School Overview

Prairie Lakes Education Center (PLEC), located in Willmar, Minnesota, serves as a specialized educational facility dedicated to supporting students who require more intensive or individualized academic and behavioral services. Operating as part of a cooperative network, the center functions as a bridge for students from surrounding school districts, providing a structured environment designed to meet unique learning needs that may not be fully addressed in a traditional classroom setting.

The center is characterized by its focus on therapeutic support and small-group instruction, aiming to foster both academic success and emotional growth. By emphasizing a collaborative approach—often involving close coordination with families, home school districts, and community partners—Prairie Lakes strives to help students develop the coping skills, social competencies, and educational foundations necessary to transition successfully back into their home school environments or prepare for post-secondary life.

Total Students

8.8

Full-Time Teachers

4.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

33.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Prairie Lakes Education Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	17
Hispanic	5
Black	8
Asian	2
Two or More	4

White
17 (47.2 %)
Black
8 (22.2 %)
Hispanic
5 (13.9 %)
Two or More
4 (11.1 %)
Asian
2 (5.6 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Other
School Type:	Alternative School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Phone:	(320)214-6696
Grade Range:	4th - 12th
Total Students:	36
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	8.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	4.1
NSLP Participation:¹	No
Qualified Free Lunch:	12
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 1

Grade 8 4

Grade 9 4

Grade 10 10

Grade 11 10

Grade 12 7