The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on St. Paul City Primary School
St. Paul City Primary School is a small charter school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in downtown Saint Paul. It operates as part of the St. Paul City School district, which is itself a charter district. The school occupies a location on University Avenue, a major east-west corridor that runs through the city's core. Saint Paul is Minnesota's capital and the state's second-largest city, a dense urban environment where state government, cultural venues, and professional sports are all within a short distance of the school. The city is notably diverse, and that diversity is reflected directly in the school's student body. Hispanic students make up the largest group, with Asian and Black students each representing a substantial share; very few White students are enrolled. The school serves a student population that is predominantly low-income, with a very large share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
State testing data from the most recent school year shows that proficiency rates in both math and reading are low across all tested grades. In third grade math, for example, the share of students meeting the state standard is in the single digits, and the pattern holds through fourth and fifth grade. Reading proficiency is similarly low in the early grades, though it reaches a somewhat higher level by fifth grade. Fifth grade science results follow the same trajectory, with a small share of students scoring proficient. The school's overall proficiency index, which combines results across subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quartile among all districts in Ramsey County. Because the school's grade band ends at fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report.
The school has no disciplinary or attendance data available in the record, and information on special education and English learner populations was also missing. The district itself had no parent-relevant changes or strategic priorities reported in the available research. A parent considering this school would need to follow up with the school directly on those topics.
The school is located in a city where the housing market is somewhat more affordable than the state average, with home values and rents both below the statewide benchmark. The neighborhood around University Avenue is urban and walkable, with access to bus and light rail that connect Saint Paul to Minneapolis. The city's park system is highly rated, and there are numerous cultural institutions nearby, but the school itself sits on a busy commercial corridor rather than in a residential enclave.
For a family, this is a school that serves a high-need population in an urban charter setting. The academic results are very low by state standards, and the school's performance on state tests would be a central concern for any family weighing this option. The school's small size means that class sections are likely small as well, but the academic challenges are significant and clearly documented in the state's assessment data.
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