The top reported proficiency rate is 90% in Math. The lowest is 66% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower
St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower is a charter school in Stillwater, Minnesota, serving kindergarten through fourth grade. It operates as part of a K-12 charter network, and this campus covers the youngest grades. Because it serves only early elementary, there is no graduation rate or high school data to report. The school is classified as a regular school under its charter status.
Academically, this school posts consistently strong results on state assessments. In math, proficiency rates across the tested grades (third and fourth) were very high. In reading, the rates were also strong, though somewhat lower than in math. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Washington County. This is a meaningful strength; parents looking for a school with a clear academic track record will find one here. Because only one year of current assessment data is available, trend information is limited, but what exists points to a solid foundation in core subjects.
The student body is moderately sized for an elementary school, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across kindergarten through fourth grade. The demographic composition is predominantly white, with a notable Asian population and smaller shares of Black and Hispanic students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals is low, indicating a largely middle- to upper-income family base. Data on special education and English learner populations is not available in the provided reporting, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those services.
The school is a charter, which means it operates with some autonomy from the traditional district structure. It is not a magnet school, and its Title I status is not listed. No information on disciplinary rates, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or course access was provided, so those areas are not possible to characterize here.
Stillwater is a city with a distinctive economic mix. Publicly reported sources describe a local economy that includes tourism drawn to the historic downtown and St. Croix River waterfront, alongside manufacturing of plastic molds, automotive parts, and medical supplies. The city also houses two state prisons, which are major employers. The downtown area is walkable, with historic buildings and a former lift bridge that now anchors a trail loop linking Stillwater to Wisconsin. The city has grown through annexation over time, and the population has increased in recent decades. Housing values in the area are well above state and national medians, and rents follow a similar pattern, making this a relatively expensive market for families.
The district brief for St. Croix Preparatory Academy noted no specific recent changes that meet the bar for parent relevance, so the organizational context appears stable.
Taken together, St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower offers a strong academic start in a charter environment that draws a relatively affluent and diverse-by-suburban-standards student body. Families who prioritize high early-elementary test scores and are comfortable with a charter school model will find a good fit here. The local housing market is costly, and the broader Stillwater community provides a mix of historic character, outdoor recreation, and industrial employment. For those seeking a smaller elementary setting with consistent academic results, this school is worth a close look.
See more original research from School Decision →