ZIP 56097 — Schools & Education

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Middle ClassLow Snow Area

School district, nearby K-12 schools, and universities

Schools & Education in ZIP 56097

K-12 nearby

Public

Private

Avg enrollment

—

ZIP 56097 (Wells, MN) is associated with United South Central School District (LEA 2700005) on US5’s NCES EDGE district mapping. District assignment is ZIP/ZCTA-based and can span multiple attendance boundaries — confirm school assignment with the district for enrollment.

Within about 10 miles, US5 lists 8 K-12 schools (7 public, 1 private). Median distance to listed schools is about 7.7 miles.

ACS estimates show about 0.1% of school-enrolled residents in this ZIP attending private school — a ZIP-level share, not a per-campus rate.

The nearest college/university on US5 is Waldorf University about 31.9 miles away (4yr-private).

District & higher education

School district

United South Central School District

LEA ID

2700005

Private school share (ACS)

0.1%

Colleges & universities (59)

Waldorf University31.9 miles (51.3 km)4yr-private
Minnesota State University-Mankato32.7 miles (52.6 km)4yr-public
Bethany Lutheran College33.8 miles (54.3 km)4yr-private
South Central College35.5 miles (57.1 km)2yr-public
Riverland Community College36.0 miles (57.9 km)2yr-public
Gustavus Adolphus College43.6 miles (70.1 km)4yr-private
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology46.9 miles (75.5 km)2yr-private
North Iowa Area Community College48.7 miles (78.3 km)2yr-public
Martin Luther College55.3 miles (88.9 km)4yr-private
St Olaf College57.6 miles (92.6 km)4yr-private
Carleton College58.2 miles (93.7 km)4yr-private
Iowa Lakes Community College60.4 miles (97.2 km)2yr-public

Show all 59 colleges & universities

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science65.5 miles (105.4 km)4yr-private
University of Minnesota-Rochester65.6 miles (105.6 km)4yr-public
Rochester Community and Technical College67.4 miles (108.5 km)2yr-public
Bethany Global University76.1 miles (122.5 km)4yr-private
Dakota County Technical College76.9 miles (123.8 km)2yr-public
Normandale Community College78.9 miles (127.0 km)2yr-public
Crown College80.5 miles (129.5 km)4yr-private
Northwestern Health Sciences University80.6 miles (129.7 km)4yr-private
Academy College81.0 miles (130.4 km)4yr-private
Adler Graduate School82.4 miles (132.6 km)4yr-private
Inver Hills Community College83.2 miles (133.8 km)2yr-public
Ellsworth Community College85.5 miles (137.6 km)2yr-public
St Catherine University87.2 miles (140.4 km)4yr-private
La James International College-Ft Dodge87.3 miles (140.6 km)2yr-private
Herzing University-Minneapolis88.0 miles (141.6 km)4yr-private
Minneapolis College of Art and Design88.1 miles (141.8 km)4yr-private
Macalester College88.3 miles (142.2 km)4yr-private
University of St Thomas88.3 miles (142.2 km)4yr-private
Iowa Central Community College88.6 miles (142.5 km)2yr-public
Dunwoody College of Technology89.0 miles (143.2 km)4yr-private
Mitchell Hamline School of Law89.0 miles (143.3 km)4yr-private
Minneapolis Community and Technical College89.0 miles (143.3 km)2yr-public
North Central University89.0 miles (143.3 km)4yr-private
Bethlehem College & Seminary89.1 miles (143.5 km)4yr-private
Augsburg University89.2 miles (143.5 km)4yr-private
Concordia University-Saint Paul89.3 miles (143.7 km)4yr-private
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities89.4 miles (143.9 km)4yr-private
Capella University89.5 miles (144.0 km)4yr-private
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities89.7 miles (144.3 km)4yr-public
Diverse Media Institute89.7 miles (144.3 km)2yr-private
Walden University89.8 miles (144.6 km)4yr-private
Saint Paul College90.0 miles (144.8 km)2yr-public
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System Office90.1 miles (145.0 km)4yr-public
Hamline University90.2 miles (145.2 km)4yr-private
Luther Seminary91.0 miles (146.4 km)4yr-private
Metropolitan State University91.1 miles (146.6 km)4yr-public
Wartburg College92.4 miles (148.8 km)4yr-private
American Academy of Health and Wellness93.1 miles (149.8 km)4yr-private
Avalon School of Cosmetology94.6 miles (152.3 km)2yr-private
University of Northwestern-St Paul94.6 miles (152.3 km)4yr-private
University of Wisconsin-River Falls95.0 miles (153.0 km)4yr-public
Bethel University96.3 miles (155.0 km)4yr-private
Hennepin Technical College96.3 miles (155.0 km)2yr-public
North Hennepin Community College97.2 miles (156.4 km)2yr-public
Century College98.2 miles (158.0 km)2yr-public
Luther College99.8 miles (160.6 km)4yr-private
Northeast Iowa Community College100.0 miles (160.9 km)2yr-public

K-12 schools within ~10 miles

Sorted table with type, grades, enrollment, and distance. Data from NCES CCD / EDGE extracts.

		Grades
UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL ELEMENTARY	public	—	—	1.4 miles (2.3 km)
UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL	public	—	—	1.4 miles (2.3 km)
ST CASIMIR'S SCHOOL	private	—	—	1.6 miles (2.6 km)
First Step Alden	public	—	—	7.7 miles (12.4 km)
ALDEN-CONGER ELEMENTARY	public	—	—	7.7 miles (12.4 km)
Enrich Alden	public	—	—	7.7 miles (12.4 km)
ALDEN-CONGER SECONDARY	public	—	—	7.7 miles (12.4 km)
Next Step West (Alden)	public	—	—	7.7 miles (12.4 km)

Schools FAQ for ZIP 56097

What school district is ZIP code 56097 in?

ZIP 56097 (Wells, MN) maps to United South Central School District (LEA ID 2700005) in US5’s NCES EDGE ZCTA-to-district data. Always verify attendance zones with the district.

How many schools are near ZIP code 56097?

US5 lists 8 K-12 schools within about 10 miles — 7 public and 1 private. See the sortable table on this page for grades, enrollment, and distance.

What share of students in 56097 attend private school?

About 0.1% of school-enrolled residents in ZIP 56097 attend private school (ACS estimate).

Education
Bachelor's or higher	20.3%
High school	32.8%
Less than HS	7.7%
School district	United South Central School District

ZIP 56097 — Schools & Education

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