Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Summary:

Benjamin E Mays Magnet is a pre-kindergarten through 5th grade public magnet school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving a diverse student population with a majority of African American students.

Despite its magnet school status, Benjamin E Mays Magnet consistently underperforms compared to state and district averages on standardized tests, with only 9.38% of students proficient in Math and 12.58% proficient in Reading for the 2023-2024 school year. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, ranking in the bottom 30% of Minnesota elementary schools for African American students, multi-racial students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. With a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 87.09% to 91.62% over the past three school years, the school serves a high concentration of students from low-income families.

When compared to nearby schools, Benjamin E Mays Magnet performs significantly worse on academic measures. For example, Maxfield Elementary School, located just 0.63 miles away, had higher proficiency rates in Math (5.97%) and Reading (13.04%) for the 2023-2024 school year. Additionally, the nearby Capitol Hill Magnet/Rondo school, which is also a magnet school, outperforms Benjamin E Mays Magnet, with proficiency rates of 62.81% in Math and 68.96% in Reading for the same school year.


Detail:

Public, Magnet PK, KG-5

 560 Concordia Ave
       Saint Paul, MN  55103-2444


(651) 325-2400

District: Saint Paul Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
857th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $5,237 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  9.3 Help
Number of students:  353

Racial breakdown:

African American:
62.6%
Two or more races:
14.4%
Asian:
7.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  92.1% Help


 See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

 Compare Benjamin E Mays Magnet to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Benjamin E Mays Magnet ranks worse than 97.3% of elementary schools in Minnesota. It also ranks 34th among 38 ranked elementary schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 3.78. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (62.6%), two or more races (14.4%), Asian (7.9%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 92.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Benjamin E Mays Magnet is 9.3, which is the 13th best among 38 elementary schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Benjamin E Mays Magnet employs 37.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Benjamin E Mays Magnet is $5,237. 47 elementary schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Benjamin E Mays Magnet:

SchoolDigger ranks Benjamin E Mays Magnet 857th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Benjamin E Mays Magnet in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:


Saint Paul Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Saint Paul Public Schools 346th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Benjamin E Mays Magnet?

Rank History for Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Help
Compare

Rank History for all students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 6.56 634th 674 5.9%
2004 9.59 634th 676 6.2%
2005 30.32 567th 685 17.2%
2006 10.96 703rd 756 7.0%
2007 12.99 717th 777 7.7%
2008 18.99 697th 781 10.8%
2010 7.33 757th 803 5.7%
2011 7.95 766th 814 5.9%
2014 3.41 790th 826 4.4%
2015 6.89 776th 840 7.6%
2016 1.88 827th 848 2.5%
2017 2.80 816th 853 4.3%
2018 1.54 836th 847 1.3%
2019 2.19 856th 870 1.6%
2021 3.13 847th 869 2.5%
2022 8.38 771st 858 10.1%
2023 6.77 785th 845 7.1%
2024 3.78 857th 881 2.7%
See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 1.68 81st 81 0.0%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.73 193rd 242 20.2%
2019 39.94 138th 239 42.3%
2022 47.15 121st 256 52.7%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 4.40 463rd 463 0.0%
2019 13.77 481st 515 6.6%
2023 22.79 445th 524 15.1%
2024 23.55 466th 572 18.5%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 5.86 708th 728 2.7%
2019 6.37 725th 740 2.0%
2021 9.41 658th 683 3.7%
2022 16.59 597th 663 10.0%
2023 13.89 697th 774 9.9%
2024 7.89 756th 793 4.7%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 35.12 6th 8 25.0%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 1.74 765th 774 1.2%
2019 3.39 767th 787 2.5%
2021 3.75 758th 783 3.2%
2022 6.99 743rd 799 7.0%
2023 4.04 762nd 787 3.2%
2024 2.83 799th 809 1.2%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 1.64 772nd 779 0.9%
2019 2.29 788th 798 1.3%
2021 3.14 763rd 784 2.7%
2022 9.93 729th 808 9.8%
2023 9.88 724th 799 9.4%
2024 6.91 773rd 826 6.4%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.95 251st 266 5.6%
2019 15.09 264th 283 6.7%
2021 14.49 214th 227 5.7%
2022 25.98 222nd 282 21.3%
2023 25.17 227th 279 18.6%
2024 15.71 276th 310 11.0%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for African American 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.

Benjamin E Mays Magnet Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Open Quote We have our daughter enrolled in the Mandarin Immersion program at Ben Mays and couldn't be more pleased with our experience at the school. The teaching staff is phenomenal; I cannot say enough kind things about them. For starters, they recognize that each child is an individual so they tailor their teaching style to draw each student in. The curriculum has been so enriching! For those looking to avoid Everyday Math as I was, please come check out Beijing Math in action; they are adding and subtracting two digit numbers, graphing, using comparative measurements, adding currency and they can count up to 1000. Even more amazing is that they love it! We have also been very impressed with the principal; we have found him to be intelligent, articulate and responsive, and most importantly, willing to address tough issues rather than shy away from them. Please don't let the test scores scare you away from an amazing program; schedule a tour and observe the classroom in action to see for yourself! Also, it should be noted that this program was new for the 2011-2012 school year so the first group of students won't be taking the MCA tests until 2014-2015 school year when they reach third grade. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 214 225 8 7 4 n/a n/a 0 458
1989 210 230 8 2 3 n/a n/a 0 453
1990 196 199 11 4 3 n/a n/a 0 413
1991 215 231 17 7 2 n/a n/a -43 429
1993 175 235 19 5 1 n/a n/a 0 435
1994 200 256 25 5 1 n/a n/a 0 487
1995 145 182 40 4 1 n/a n/a 0 372
1996 145 182 40 4 1 n/a n/a 0 372
1997 170 273 80 1 0 n/a n/a 0 524
1998 186 244 76 7 1 n/a n/a 0 514
1999 174 280 101 11 2 n/a n/a 0 568
2000 138 323 163 26 3 n/a n/a 0 653
2001 97 315 159 35 3 n/a n/a 0 609
2002 64 247 160 37 4 n/a n/a 0 512
2003 64 247 160 37 4 n/a n/a 0 512
2004 43 252 110 29 3 n/a n/a 0 437
2005 31 237 81 21 2 n/a n/a 0 372
2006 24 234 70 14 3 n/a n/a 0 345
2007 24 246 55 13 5 n/a n/a 0 343
2008 29 257 47 18 4 n/a n/a 0 355
2009 26 264 44 23 3 n/a n/a 0 360
2010 28 267 41 24 2 n/a n/a 0 362
2011 25 275 32 25 1 0 6 0 364
2012 42 291 35 17 3 0 14 0 402
2013 59 413 105 34 10 0 37 0 658
2014 27 328 68 25 7 0 38 0 493
2015 24 311 74 30 2 0 34 0 475
2016 17 313 72 30 2 0 44 0 478
2017 10 292 80 21 5 1 33 0 442
2018 12 310 69 27 1 0 26 0 445
2019 15 271 58 31 2 0 29 0 406
2020 24 259 48 22 2 0 30 0 385
2021 24 234 36 25 2 0 37 0 358
2022 23 222 29 13 0 0 46 0 333
2023 26 207 29 27 1 0 44 0 334
2024 23 221 28 28 2 0 51 0 353

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 Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 458 20.2 22.6 36.2
1989 453 26.0 17.4 32.2
1990 413 31.1 13.2 44.1
1991 429 29.8 14.3 54.8
1993 435 23.6 18.4 64.4
1994 487 26.0 18.7 48.5
1995 372 0.0 0.0 57.8
1996 372 0.0 0.0 57.8
1997 524 0.0 0.0 62
1998 514 n/a 0.0 57.6
1999 568 37.0 15.4 58.8
2000 653 45.0 14.5 74.3
2001 609 40.0 15.2 71.3
2002 512 38.4 13.3 85
2003 512 38.4 13.3 85
2004 437 67.5 6.5 83.5
2005 372 30.9 12.0 85.2
2006 345 23.2 14.9 84.1
2007 343 26.4 13.0 84.3
2008 355 24.6 14.4 80.8
2009 360 24.7 14.6 79.2
2010 362 24.8 14.5 87.6
2011 364 28.1 12.9 87.6
2012 402 n/a n/a 86.8
2013 658 58.1 11.3 85.7
2014 493 40.7 12.1 91.7
2015 475 38.0 12.5 91.6
2016 478 30.0 15.9 88.3
2017 442 29.0 15.2 88.2
2018 445 32.0 13.8 84.7
2019 406 33.7 12.0 80.5
2020 385 37.0 10.3 84.2
2021 358 35.4 10.0 87.4
2022 333 34.4 9.6 87.1
2023 334 34.4 9.7 91.6
2024 353 37.5 9.3 92.1

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 Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 458 20.2 22.6 36.2
1989 453 26.0 17.4 32.2
1990 413 31.1 13.2 44.1
1991 429 29.8 14.3 54.8
1993 435 23.6 18.4 64.4
1994 487 26.0 18.7 48.5
1995 372 0.0 0.0 57.8
1996 372 0.0 0.0 57.8
1997 524 0.0 0.0 62
1998 514 n/a 0.0 57.6
1999 568 37.0 15.4 58.8
2000 653 45.0 14.5 74.3
2001 609 40.0 15.2 71.3
2002 512 38.4 13.3 85
2003 512 38.4 13.3 85
2004 437 67.5 6.5 83.5
2005 372 30.9 12.0 85.2
2006 345 23.2 14.9 84.1
2007 343 26.4 13.0 84.3
2008 355 24.6 14.4 80.8
2009 360 24.7 14.6 79.2
2010 362 24.8 14.5 87.6
2011 364 28.1 12.9 87.6
2012 402 n/a n/a 86.8
2013 658 58.1 11.3 85.7
2014 493 40.7 12.1 91.7
2015 475 38.0 12.5 91.6
2016 478 30.0 15.9 88.3
2017 442 29.0 15.2 88.2
2018 445 32.0 13.8 84.7
2019 406 33.7 12.0 80.5
2020 385 37.0 10.3 84.2
2021 358 35.4 10.0 87.4
2022 333 34.4 9.6 87.1
2023 334 34.4 9.7 91.6
2024 353 37.5 9.3 92.1

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 Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $5,237

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Benjamin E Mays Magnet

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 856th of 870 Elementary schoolsRanks 785th of 845 Elementary schools
 5.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Benjamin E Mays Magnet)25.920.5
 5.4%
   3rd Grade Math (Saint Paul Public Schools)39.735.8
 3.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)65.659.1
 6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Benjamin E Mays Magnet)1713.3
 3.6%
   3rd Grade Reading (Saint Paul Public Schools)35.331
 4.2%
   3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)54.647.4
 7.2%
4th Grade Math (Benjamin E Mays Magnet)18.527.6
 9.1%
   4th Grade Math (Saint Paul Public Schools)3934.9
 4.1%
   4th Grade Math (Minnesota)63.957.1
 6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Benjamin E Mays Magnet)12.518.6
 6.1%
   4th Grade Reading (Saint Paul Public Schools)34.632.1
 2.6%
   4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)55.448.4
 7.1%
5th Grade Math (Benjamin E Mays Magnet)6.410.2
 3.9%
   5th Grade Math (Saint Paul Public Schools)31.328.3
 3%
   5th Grade Math (Minnesota)5244.4
 7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Benjamin E Mays Magnet)28.824
 4.8%
   5th Grade Reading (Saint Paul Public Schools)46.641
 5.6%
   5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)65.858.7
 7%
5th Grade Science (Benjamin E Mays Magnet)9.26
 3.2%
   5th Grade Science (Saint Paul Public Schools)29.828.9
 0.9%
   5th Grade Science (Minnesota)54.948.4
 6.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students406334
 17.7%
African American271207
 23.6%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian5829
 50%
Hispanic3127
 12.9%
Pacific Islander00
White1526
 73.3%
Two or More Races2944
 51.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients80.5%91.6%
 11.1%


Schools Near Benjamin E Mays Magnet









Frequently Asked Questions about Benjamin E Mays Magnet

Benjamin E Mays Magnet ranks in the bottom 2.7% of Minnesota elementary schools.

Students at Benjamin E Mays Magnet are 63% African American, 14% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 8% Hispanic, 7% White.

In the 2023-24 school year, 353 students attended Benjamin E Mays Magnet.


Rate Benjamin E Mays Magnet!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Benjamin E Mays Magnet!




SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 118 milliseconds.