St. Cloud Public School District, MN

Original Research by School Decision on St. Cloud Public School District

St. Cloud Public School District serves a large and diverse student population across multiple communities in Stearns County, including the city of St. Cloud and surrounding towns such as St. Joseph, Waite Park, Sauk Rapids, and Sartell. The district operates more than two dozen schools, from early childhood through grade twelve, and includes two senior high schools, several junior highs, a network of elementary schools, a virtual academy, and multiple alternative learning centers and special education programs. It is a comprehensive public school system that draws families from a broad geographic area, and the housing market across these communities shows a wide range of home values and rents, with some areas more affordable and others more expensive.

Academically, the district's performance on state assessments is below the midpoint among Stearns County's districts when looking at overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In reading and math, proficiency rates are generally below two in five students across most elementary and middle school grades, and in science the rates are lower still. The district's per-pupil spending, however, is in the upper range compared with neighboring districts, indicating a relatively high level of financial investment in its schools. A parent may want to ask the district directly about how those resources are directed and what academic supports are available for students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks.

Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern. The district's rate places it in the bottom quartile among county districts, meaning a substantial share of students are missing enough school days to affect learning. The district does not appear to have released recent data on the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price meals, nor on the share of students with individualized education programs or English learner status, so a parent may want to look into the extent of poverty and special-needs support across the system by consulting the district directly.

The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. The largest groups are Black students and white students, each making up a substantial share, followed by students who identify as two or more races, Hispanic students, Asian students, and small numbers of American Indian and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. The enrollment is large, with several thousand students spread across the grade levels, so families will find a wide mix of peers and a range of school settings within the district.

Publicly reported information about parent-relevant changes, such as boundary adjustments, new programs, or facility plans, was not found in recent searches. That may reflect a period of stability, but families considering the district should check with the district office for any upcoming changes that could affect their children's school assignment or available offerings.

Housing in the communities served by the district is moderately priced by national standards. Typical home values vary noticeably by location, with some ZIP codes showing higher values and others more modest. Rents are similarly varied. The area has been seeing modest home value growth. For many families, the choice of where to live within the district may influence both housing costs and the specific school their child attends, given the number of elementary and secondary options.

The district does not report a four-year graduation rate in the available data, so that metric cannot be assessed here. Because the district serves the full PK–12 range, a graduation rate would normally be expected, and its absence likely reflects a gap in the data source rather than the nature of the schools. A parent should verify the graduation rate directly with the district if it is a factor in their decision.

Overall, St. Cloud Public School District offers a large and varied educational landscape with a diverse student population and a relatively high per-pupil spending level. Families will find a broad range of schools and programs, but the academic proficiency numbers and elevated chronic absenteeism are points to explore further with the district to understand the supports and interventions in place.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

9,543

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 11%

Black 40%

White 37%

Asian 3%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

22%

55%

Gr 4

21%

46%

Gr 5

29%

59%

Gr 6

30%

57%

Gr 7

25%

54%

Gr 8

22%

52%

Math

Gr 3

26%

57%

Gr 4

24%

53%

Gr 5

12%

44%

Gr 6

13%

41%

Gr 7

12%

41%

Gr 8

12%

36%

Science

Gr 5

10%

35%

Gr 8

21%

Schools in this District

27 schools are officially reported under this district.

APOLLO SENIOR HIGH

CLEARVIEW ELEMENTARY

KENNEDY COMMUNITY SCHOOL

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY

MADISON ELEMENTARY

SOUTH JUNIOR HIGH

TECHNICAL SENIOR HIGH

WESTWOOD ELEMENTARY

SPECIAL EDUCATION FACILITIES

EC Sp Ed at Quarryview Ed Center

NORTH JUNIOR HIGH

OAK HILL COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY

TALAHI COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY

DISCOVERY COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY

St. Cloud Area Learning Center

ST. CLOUD HOSPITAL PROGRAMS NON-RES

Roosevelt Education Center

St Cloud Hospital Progs-Residential

Newport Academy

Katherine Johnson Education Center

Central Minnesota Virtual Academy

180 Degrees / Youth Shelter

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

35%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

22%

Grade 5

21%

Grade 6

21%

Grade 7

20%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

32%

Grade 3

29%

Grade 4

38%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 6

35%

Grade 7

32%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

18%

Grade 5

10%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$325,327

Year-over-year change+3.2%

Range across 13 ZIP codes$240K to $410K

vs. state typical0.93x

vs. national typical0.88x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (13 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
56301	Saint Cloud	$314K	+3.8%	25.2%
56304	Saint Cloud	$270K	+2.2%	21.3%
56374	Saint Joseph	$340K	+5.3%	14.2%
55319	Clear Lake	$410K	+2.5%	12.7%
55320		$374K	+3.2%	11.5%
56303	Saint Cloud	$240K	+2.3%	4.5%
55353		$361K	+2.7%	3.9%
56387	Waite Park	$254K	+2.4%	3.8%
56310	Avon	$386K	+3.6%	1.2%
56377	Sartell	$345K	+3.2%	0.5%
56320	Cold Spring	$377K	+3.3%	0.5%
55382	South Haven	$410K	+5.0%	0.3%
56379	Sauk Rapids	$301K	+2.8%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,473/mo

Year-over-year change+3.5%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$968 to $2,008/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
56301	Saint Cloud	$1,317	+3.7%	25.2%
56304	Saint Cloud	$1,457	+3.3%	21.3%
56374	Saint Joseph	$2,008	—	14.2%
56303	Saint Cloud	$968	—	4.5%
56387	Waite Park	$1,209	—	3.8%
56377	Sartell	$1,383	—	0.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,642/mo

Home price / national median income3.9x

Annual rent / national median income21.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$168/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.