Is St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower a good school?

Yes! St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 6 th of 881 Minnesota elementary schools.

How many students attend St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower?

In the 2022-23 school year, 457 students attended St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower.

What is the racial makeup of St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower?

Students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower are 71% White, 14% Asian, 7% African American, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Summary:

St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower is a public charter elementary school in Stillwater, Minnesota, serving 457 students from kindergarten to 4th grade. This high-performing school consistently ranks among the top 3-7 elementary schools in the state, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with 93.3% of students proficient or better in MCA-III Math and 79.21% proficient or better in MCA-III Reading, far exceeding the state averages of 45.47% and 49.85%, respectively. The school's student population has a higher percentage of White (70.68%) and Asian (14.44%) students compared to the state, and a lower percentage of African American (6.56%) and Hispanic (5.25%) students. Additionally, the school has a relatively low percentage of free and reduced lunch recipients, ranging from 6.68% to 12.91% in recent years, and a student-teacher ratio of 17.6, lower than the nearby Stillwater Area Public Schools district.

Compared to the nearby public schools in the Stillwater Area Public Schools district, St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower significantly outperforms in both Math and Reading proficiency. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 93.3% proficiency in Math, compared to 57.85% for the Stillwater Area Public Schools district and 45.47% for the state. The school's unique student demographic and low free and reduced lunch rates may contribute to its exceptional academic performance and warrant further investigation.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-4

4260 Stagecoach Tr N
Stillwater, MN 55082-1197

(651) 395-5920

District: St. Croix Preparatory Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
6^th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,771

Student/teacher ratio: 17.6

Number of students: 457

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.7%

Asian:

14.4%

African American:

6.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 12.9%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower ranks better than 99.3% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.95. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (70.7%), Asian (14.4%), African American (6.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 12.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower is 17.6. (See more...)

Compare St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower employs 25.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower is $11,771.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower:

SchoolDigger ranks St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower 6^th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Female students:

Male students:

Asian students:

White students:

St. Croix Preparatory Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks St. Croix Preparatory Academy 1^st of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower.

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Rank History for St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

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Rank History for all students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2005	76.91	102^nd	685	85.1%
2006	86.25	27^th	756	96.4%
2007	87.12	26^th	777	96.7%
2008	81.38	77^th	781	90.1%
2010	81.11	58^th	803	92.8%
2011	83.58	55^th	814	93.2%
2012	89.06	8^th	820	99.0%
2013	84.91	54^th	824	93.4%
2014	91.26	7^th	826	99.2%
2015	89.45	19^th	840	97.7%
2016	92.21	7^th	848	99.2%
2017	94.62	3^rd	853	99.6%
2018	95.50	2^nd	847	99.8%
2019	96.91	3^rd	870	99.7%
2021	97.42	3^rd	869	99.7%
2022	95.98	4^th	858	99.5%
2023	95.33	6^th	845	99.3%
2024	96.95	6^th	881	99.3%

See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	96.78	3^rd	463	99.4%
2021	92.62	5^th	417	98.8%
2022	84.82	39^th	500	92.2%
2023	90.64	20^th	524	96.2%
2024	96.62	5^th	572	99.1%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Female students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	95.09	2^nd	774	99.7%
2019	96.08	3^rd	787	99.6%
2021	96.18	2^nd	783	99.7%
2022	94.36	5^th	799	99.4%
2023	92.08	14^th	787	98.2%
2024	95.42	7^th	809	99.1%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	94.16	2^nd	779	99.7%
2019	96.42	3^rd	798	99.6%
2021	97.08	3^rd	784	99.6%
2022	95.91	4^th	808	99.5%
2023	95.95	3^rd	799	99.6%
2024	96.35	5^th	826	99.4%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2022	89.07	15^th	131	88.5%
2023	90.12	15^th	128	88.3%
2024	94.98	4^th	154	97.4%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for White students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	95.00	2^nd	712	99.7%
2019	96.45	3^rd	722	99.6%
2021	97.32	3^rd	710	99.6%
2022	94.49	4^th	725	99.4%
2023	92.26	11^th	712	98.5%
2024	93.60	10^th	730	98.6%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary 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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.5)

50%

Reviews:

by a parent
Sunday, November 20, 2016

If you are thinking of sending your little ones to our (I am a parent) school , have a look at this petition http://www.thepetitionsite.com/306/933/496/demand-an-independent-investigation-into-the-high-attrition-rate-of-lower-school-faculty-at-scpa/ . There is a call for an independent investigation into the administration. You can look at the comments to get a good idea of the issues. If you are concerned about this, please sign the petition and let them know that as a perspective parent, you are concerned about this and would like to see it corrected. The school has been and can be a great school, but right now it has some issues that need to be addressed before I can recommend you trusting your children to it. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, August 7, 2015

I am so happy that my son attends St. Croix Prep's lower school. Every year, the school gets better and better! The teachers are top-notch, and the administration cares about my child. My child is getting a private school education in a public school setting. Close Quote

Enrollment information for St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2005	180	0	10	6	0	n/a	n/a	196
2006	233	0	8	10	0	n/a	n/a	251
2007	320	3	9	9	0	n/a	n/a	341
2008	405	4	14	15	1	n/a	n/a	439
2009	640	5	40	24	2	n/a	n/a	711
2010	383	5	20	13	2	n/a	n/a	423
2011	388	3	18	10	0	0	15	434
2012	380	4	20	16	0	0	15	435
2013	393	6	18	16	0	3	14	450
2014	393	6	17	20	0	1	14	451
2015	377	7	21	23	0	0	20	448
2016	373	5	21	26	0	0	24	449
2017	367	9	25	28	0	0	20	449
2018	365	10	27	26	0	1	20	449
2019	364	8	35	24	0	1	19	451
2020	363	13	42	22	0	1	10	451
2021	343	19	52	22	0	0	14	450
2022	333	23	59	19	0	0	15	449
2023	323	30	66	24	0	0	14	457

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 St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	196	11.9	16.5	0
2006	251	15.2	16.5	0
2007	341	19.6	17.4	0
2008	439	12.1	36.3	n/a
2009	711	24.3	29.3	n/a
2010	423	19.6	21.5	7.6
2011	434	21.0	20.6	10.6
2012	435	20.0	21.7	11
2013	450	19.5	23.0	11.8
2014	451	20.9	21.5	8.9
2015	448	20.0	22.4	7.4
2016	449	20.0	22.4	8.2
2017	449	22.0	20.4	6.2
2018	449	22.8	19.6	6.5
2019	451	23.0	19.6	6
2020	451	25.0	18.0	8
2021	450	26.8	16.7	7.6
2022	449	24.8	18.0	6.7
2023	457	25.8	17.6	12.9

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 St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	196	11.9	16.5	0
2006	251	15.2	16.5	0
2007	341	19.6	17.4	0
2008	439	12.1	36.3	n/a
2009	711	24.3	29.3	n/a
2010	423	19.6	21.5	7.6
2011	434	21.0	20.6	10.6
2012	435	20.0	21.7	11
2013	450	19.5	23.0	11.8
2014	451	20.9	21.5	8.9
2015	448	20.0	22.4	7.4
2016	449	20.0	22.4	8.2
2017	449	22.0	20.4	6.2
2018	449	22.8	19.6	6.5
2019	451	23.0	19.6	6
2020	451	25.0	18.0	8
2021	450	26.8	16.7	7.6
2022	449	24.8	18.0	6.7
2023	457	25.8	17.6	12.9

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.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$11,771

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

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 3^rd of 870 Elementary schools	Ranks 6^th of 845 Elementary schools	0.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower)	94.4	89	5.4%
3rd Grade Math (St. Croix Preparatory Academy)	94.4	89	5.4%
3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)	65.6	59.1	6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower)	92.2	77.8	14.4%
3rd Grade Reading (St. Croix Preparatory Academy)	92.2	77.8	14.4%
3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)	54.6	47.4	7.2%
4th Grade Math (St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower)	97.8	87.6	10.1%
4th Grade Math (St. Croix Preparatory Academy)	97.8	87.6	10.1%
4th Grade Math (Minnesota)	63.9	57.1	6.8%
4th Grade Reading (St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower)	90	79.6	10.5%
4th Grade Reading (St. Croix Preparatory Academy)	90	79.6	10.5%
4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	55.4	48.4	7.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	451	457	1.3%
African American	8	30	275%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	35	66	88.6%
Hispanic	24	24
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	364	323	11.3%
Two or More Races	19	14	26.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	6%	12.9%	6.9%

Schools Near St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

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 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 5th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower	Public, Charter	K-4	4260 Stagecoach Tr N	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	St. Croix Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 395-5920	457	26	17.6	12.9%	323 (70.7%)	30 (6.6%)	24 (5.3%)	66 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.1%)	96.9	6^th of 881 public elementary schools	99.3%		95.3	6^th of 845 public elementary schools	99.3%		93.4	93.2		93.3	80.2	78.2		79.2			$11,771
Andersen Elementary	Public	K-5	309 4th St N	Bayport	55003	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 351-6600	335	23	14.3	21.2%	278 (83.0%)	3 (0.9%)	25 (7.5%)	9 (2.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.7%)	48.1	515^th of 881 public elementary schools	41.5%		37.6	588^th of 845 public elementary schools	30.4%	73	72.7	38.9	20.0	43.9	45.5	41.8	56.4	47.9	47.3	47.3	$13,486
Gate 4/5	Public	4-5	523 Marsh Street W.	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 351-6905	58	1	42.3	5.2%	49 (84.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.4%)	6 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)	99.3	2^nd of 881 public elementary schools	99.8%		99.1	1^st of 845 public elementary schools	99.9%	1		100.0	89.7	95.0		96.9	100.0	98.4	96.6	96.6	$3,320
A/O Program	Public	PK, KG-1	1111 South Holcombe St	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Northeast Metro 916	No	No	No	No	(651) 964-1274	8	2	4.7		4 (50.0%)	1 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (37.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Lily Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2003 Willard St W	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 351-6800	414	32	13.0	33.3%	328 (79.2%)	15 (3.6%)	25 (6.0%)	12 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (8.0%)	75.3	196^th of 881 public elementary schools	77.8%		59.3	375^th of 845 public elementary schools	55.6%	179	66.2	75.0	45.1	61.8	63.1	58.8	70.4	64.2	52.1	52.1	$14,495
New Heights Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-5	614 W Mulberry St	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	New Heights School Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(651) 439-1962	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)				16.7				33.3
Stonebridge Elementary	Public	K-5	900 Owens St N	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 351-8700	421	25	16.9	16.6%	372 (88.4%)	6 (1.4%)	18 (4.3%)	8 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.0%)	68	280^th of 881 public elementary schools	68.2%		57.3	400^th of 845 public elementary schools	52.7%	120	65.8	58.4	41.7	56.5	54.4	55.7	65.0	57.8	55.0	55.0	$12,892
Rutherford Elementary	Public	K-5	115 Rutherford Rd	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 351-6400	555	33	17.0	16.0%	461 (83.1%)	19 (3.4%)	26 (4.7%)	18 (3.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.4%)	72.3	234^th of 881 public elementary schools	73.4%		65.1	306^th of 845 public elementary schools	63.8%	72	74.0	63.6	45.7	61.1	63.5	56.1	67.6	62.3	46.7	46.7	$12,518
Lake Elmo Elementary	Public	K-5	11030 Stillwater Blvd N	Lake Elmo	55042	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 351-6700	653	45	14.5	28.0%	406 (62.2%)	43 (6.6%)	112 (17.2%)	45 (6.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (6.7%)	64	322^nd of 881 public elementary schools	63.5%		72.4	228^th of 845 public elementary schools	73.0%	94	64.9	78.9	42.1	60.7	46.0	59.7	62.1	55.0	41.1	41.1	$14,731
Afton-Lakeland Elementary	Public	K-5	475 St Croix Trl S	Lakeland	55043	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 351-6500	474	27	17.5	19.2%	408 (86.1%)	4 (0.8%)	22 (4.6%)	22 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.6%)	85	94^th of 881 public elementary schools	89.3%		78.9	156^th of 845 public elementary schools	81.5%	62	83.6	78.3	55.7	72.0	67.1	60.9	75.6	68.2	59.0	59.0	$12,376

St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

St. Croix Preparatory Academy:

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Rank History for all students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Rank History for Special Education students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Rank History for Female students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Rank History for Male students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Rank History for Asian students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Rank History for White students at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Review counts

Enrollment information for St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Student/Teacher Ratio St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Per Pupil Expenditures for St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Impact of COVID-19 on St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower

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