St. Paul School of Northern Lights

The St. Paul School of Northern Lights district in Minnesota operates two schools: St. Paul School of Northern Lights, an elementary school, and St. Paul School of Northern Lights Secondary, a middle school. While the elementary school has a sizable student population of 198, the secondary school is much smaller with only 27 students enrolled in grades 7-8.

The student demographics at both schools are similar, with a majority White student population and smaller percentages of other racial groups. However, both schools perform below the state average on standardized tests, with particularly low math proficiency at the secondary school. The free and reduced lunch rates are also relatively high at both schools, suggesting that the student population comes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

One notable difference between the two schools is the student-teacher ratio. The secondary school has a much lower ratio of 7.7 students per teacher, compared to 39.6 students per teacher at the elementary school. This smaller class size could be a potential strength, but the overall low test scores suggest that it has not yet translated into improved academic outcomes. The significant difference in student population size between the elementary and middle school may also indicate challenges in providing a comprehensive educational experience for the secondary school students.