Centennial Public School District, MN

Original Research by School Decision on Centennial Public School District

Centennial Public School District serves a broad stretch of Anoka County, covering the communities of Circle Pines, Hugo, and parts of Blaine and Shoreview. The district operates a full PK-through-12 system with an enrollment of several thousand students spread across a mix of elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, an early childhood center, and several specialized and online programs. The student body is predominantly white, with modest shares of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Data on free or reduced-price meal eligibility was not reported, and counts for students with individualized education plans or English learner status were also absent, so a family looking for that information would need to ask the district directly.

Academically, the district stands out among Anoka County’s districts. State assessment results in math and English language arts show proficiency rates that generally place the district in the top quartile of the county for overall proficiency across tested grades and subjects. Reading results are strongest in the elementary grades, with a noticeable dip in middle school, but still above the county median. Math proficiency follows a similar pattern: solid at third grade, then declining through middle school before recovering somewhat at eighth grade. Science performance is weaker. In fifth grade, less than half of students scored proficient, and in eighth grade the rate was notably low. The state changed the science assessment and cut scores in recent years, so it is hard to draw a clean trend, but a parent may want to look into this further with the school.

The district does not report a four-year graduation rate in the data provided, so it is not possible to speak to that metric directly. Chronic absenteeism, however, is higher than the midpoint among the county’s districts, meaning a meaningful share of students miss enough school to be considered chronically absent. Per-pupil current spending falls in the lower half of the county’s range.

Families considering the district will find a housing market where home values run above both state and national benchmarks. Rents are similarly elevated. The combined effect is that buying a home is about as expensive as renting on a monthly basis, and housing costs consume a moderate share of typical household income. The area has seen steady home value growth.

The district has taken several recent steps that affect the experience of current and future families. Voters approved an operating levy referendum in late 2023, which generates substantial annual funding for the general fund. That money supports class sizes, student support services, and academic programs. Without it, the district would have faced significant cuts. In another change, the school board adopted full-day kindergarten at no cost, starting in the 2025-2026 school year, replacing a half-day option and a fee-based full-day program. This is a lasting shift for families with young children. The district also operates under a five-year strategic plan anchored in academic excellence, social-emotional learning, and fiscal stewardship, developed with broad community input.

What this adds up to is a district that performs well in reading and math compared with its county peers, though science is an area of concern. Housing costs are high, which is typical for this part of the metro area. The district is responsive, as shown by the levy and kindergarten expansion. A family weighing this district should factor in the strong elementary and middle school test results, ask about science instruction and chronic absenteeism, and consider whether the housing market fits their budget. The online and alternative programs offer options for students who need a different setting. Overall, Centennial is a district with clear academic strengths, a recent infusion of operating funds, and a strategic direction that families can track.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

6,772

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 8%

White 72%

Asian 7%

Two+ 6%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

45%

67%

Gr 4

45%

62%

Gr 5

58%

77%

Gr 6

43%

72%

Gr 7

41%

62%

Gr 8

39%

66%

Math

Gr 3

58%

84%

Gr 4

55%

75%

Gr 5

45%

68%

Gr 6

34%

57%

Gr 7

25%

54%

Gr 8

37%

74%

Science

Gr 5

17%

40%

Gr 8

10%

25%

Schools in this District

18 schools are officially reported under this district.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

RICE LAKE ELEMENTARY

CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY

CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL

CENTERVILLE ELEMENTARY

GOLDEN LAKE ELEMENTARY

CENTENNIAL AREA LEARNING CENTER

CENTENNIAL MIDDLE

BLUE HERON ELEMENTARY

Journey

PROJECT SEARCH

PINES SCHOOL DAY PROGRAM

Pines School - RJC

Pines School - ACS

Pines School - NSP

Centennial High School Online

Centennial Middle School Online

Centennial Online Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

77%

Grade 3

70%

Grade 4

62%

Grade 5

51%

Grade 6

47%

Grade 7

65%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

61%

Grade 3

57%

Grade 4

72%

Grade 5

64%

Grade 6

57%

Grade 7

60%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

34%

Grade 5

22%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$414,786

Year-over-year change+1.9%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$383K to $463K

vs. state typical1.18x

vs. national typical1.13x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
55014	Circle Pines	$384K	+2.4%	57.5%
55038	Hugo	$457K	+1.3%	27.7%
55449	Blaine	$463K	+0.7%	12.6%
55126	Shoreview	$417K	+1.8%	2.2%
55110	White Bear Lake	$383K	+2.6%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,948/mo

Year-over-year change+4.8%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$1,726 to $2,337/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
55014	Circle Pines	$1,732	—	57.5%
55038	Hugo	$2,232	—	27.7%
55449	Blaine	$2,337	+5.0%	12.6%
55126	Shoreview	$1,796	+4.2%	2.2%
55110	White Bear Lake	$1,726	+3.6%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,093/mo

Home price / national median income5.0x

Annual rent / national median income27.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$145/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$350,891 (+2.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.