Original Research by School Decision on St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper
St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper is a public charter high school serving grades nine through twelve in Stillwater, Minnesota. It operates as a regular school within the St. Croix Preparatory Academy district, a K-12 charter network. Because it is a charter school, families choose to enroll rather than defaulting to a zoned attendance area. The school sits in the broader context of Stillwater, a historic city along the St. Croix River where tourism, manufacturing, and correctional facilities drive the local economy. Housing values in the Stillwater area are well above national medians, and rents are elevated, reflecting the community’s desirability and relative affluence.
Academically, the school posted strong proficiency results on Minnesota’s state assessments for the single school year reported. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was high, and in math it was also solid, though slightly lower than ELA. These numbers come from one year of data, so no trend is available. Parents should note that the school has not yet reported results for a second year, which would help show whether performance is stable. Because the school serves only the high school grades, state testing covers those students; however, no graduation rate was provided in the available data. A parent considering this school may want to ask directly about four-year graduation outcomes and college or career placement.
The student body is modest in size and relatively homogeneous. White students make up the majority of enrollment, followed by a smaller share of Asian students, with very small numbers of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. The proportion of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is low, indicating that the school serves a predominantly middle- to upper-income population. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so it is unclear how the school supports those populations. A family with a child who has an Individualized Education Program or is learning English should inquire directly with the school about available services.
No information was reported on program offerings such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, career and technical education, or dual enrollment. Without this, it is not possible to assess the breadth of academic pathways. A parent who wants a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum or a vocational track will need to seek specifics from the school. Similarly, data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, and staffing ratios are absent. The lack of these metrics means a full picture of school climate and student support is incomplete. The district brief for St. Croix Preparatory Academy found no recent parent-relevant changes, such as boundary adjustments, program expansions, or leadership shifts, so the school has been operating without major disruptions that are publicly documented.
The comparison data that would place St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper relative to other districts in Washington County was not available because the necessary metrics (proficiency index, graduation rate, chronic absenteeism) were missing at the school level. This limits a direct peer comparison, but the proficiency results themselves, in the context of a low-poverty population, are encouraging for families who value strong standardized test performance.
In sum, this is a charter high school with a solid academic showing on state tests, a small and relatively affluent student body, and a number of informational gaps that a prospective family will want to fill. The Stillwater setting offers a historic river town atmosphere with access to parks and trails, but the school itself does not appear to broadcast distinctive programs or recent developments. The decision to enroll hinges on whether the school’s academic profile matches a family’s expectations and whether the unanswered questions about graduation, special education, and program breadth are satisfactorily resolved.
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