Winona MN, Winona MN Education, Winona Area Public Schools, Winona State University, Winona MN Schools

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Education

Winona prides itself on a number of excellent educational institutions that lie within the area, from both public and private schools to top-notch higher education facilities. The city has placed a significant emphasis on education since the first teacher’s college west of the Mississippi was established in Winona in 1858, now Winona State University (WSU).

The Winona Area Public Schools (WAPS) education system serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The district is made up of six elementary schools, Winona Middle School, Winona Senior High School and the Winona Area Learning Center — an alternative learning facility for sixth through 12th grade students in need of a non-traditional approach to education. The school system also offers a list of community education programs, which includes adult literacy courses, after-school and enrichment programs, preschool classes and an early childhood family education program, to name a few.

Private and parochial options are also available through the Winona Area Catholic Schools, Bluffview Montessori, two Lutheran schools and Cotter Schools. Moreover, three charter schools are accessible to Winona residents — Riverway Learning Center, Ridgeway Community School and Dakota Area Community School.

Located on the 70-acre Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s-St. Teresa’s Campus, Cotter is a day and boarding Catholic college preparatory school. Nearly 500 students in grades 7 through 12 attend Cotter, which provides both five-day and seven-day boarding options. This co-ed institution offers two dozen sports and 23 diverse organizations, as well as boasting a 92 percent college placement rate.