The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in English language arts. The lowest is 53% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on St. Croix Prep Academy Middle
St. Croix Prep Academy Middle is a charter school in Stillwater, Minnesota, serving grades five through eight. It is a regular school, not an alternative or special-purpose campus, and it operates as part of the St. Croix Preparatory Academy, a K-12 charter network. The school’s location in Stillwater places it in a city that mixes historic riverfront tourism, manufacturing such as plastic molds and automotive parts, and correctional facilities including two state prisons. The downtown area is walkable along the St. Croix River, with a former lift bridge now part of a trail loop, and nearby state parks. The city has grown through annexation agreements, and its population has increased. Housing values in the area are well above the national median, and rents have been rising, reflecting a relatively expensive market for families seeking to live within the school’s attendance zone.
Academically, this school posts strong results. On state assessments in math and English language arts, proficiency rates are high across all four tested grades, with a clear rise in math from the lower grades to eighth grade. English language arts proficiency is also consistently high, with the strongest performance in eighth grade. Science proficiency is more moderate, especially in fifth grade where just under half of students met the standard; eighth-grade science is somewhat stronger. The school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Washington County, a competitive peer group. Because St. Croix Prep Academy Middle serves only middle school grades, there is no graduation rate or college readiness data to report. The school has only one year of available test data, so trends cannot yet be assessed, but the single snapshot shows a school where the majority of students are meeting state standards in core subjects.
The student body is predominantly white, with Asian, Black, Hispanic, and two-or-more-races students making up smaller but present shares. The proportion of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch is modest, indicating a relatively low rate of economic disadvantage compared to many Minnesota schools. Data on students with IEPs and English learners were not available in the provided records, so a parent who wants to understand how the school supports these groups should ask directly. The enrollment is steady across grades, with each grade level holding a similar number of students, giving the school a consistent cohort feel as students move through the middle years.
As a charter school, St. Croix Prep Academy Middle operates with its own governance and may have a distinct academic approach, though the available data does not detail that philosophy. The school’s website was not queried for program specifics, so offerings such as arts, athletics, or elective pathways are not described here. No information on discipline or chronic absenteeism was provided, which are relevant factors for understanding school climate.
The district brief did not identify any recent major changes such as boundary adjustments, program overhauls, or leadership transitions. Stillwater itself offers a range of civic and recreational anchors, but the school is not located in the downtown core; it sits on Stagecoach Trail North, in an area that likely serves families from across the city and surrounding unincorporated areas.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is the standout feature: consistently high proficiency in math and ELA relative to the county, with science being the one subject that lags. The student body is moderately diverse but not economically disadvantaged at high rates. The housing market in Stillwater is expensive, so this is a school that tends to serve families who can afford the local cost of living. A parent should inquire about support services for students with special needs or language barriers, as those data were not reported. Overall, St. Croix Prep Academy Middle presents a strong academic environment for middle school students, particularly for those who are already meeting grade-level benchmarks and need a school that can sustain high expectations through eighth grade.
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