The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on St. Cloud Math & Science Middle
St. Cloud Math & Science Middle is a small, grade six through eight charter school in Saint Cloud that serves a student population virtually all of whom come from low-income households. The school operates as a regular public school under the umbrella of the Saint Cloud Math and Science Academy Charter School district. Because it is a charter, it is a school of choice; any family within reach of the school may apply, and the school governs itself independently of the larger St. Cloud school district.
The school’s enrollment is overwhelmingly Black, with nearly all students identified as such and only a handful of white or multiracial students on the roster. Nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not provided, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are served. The school is small for a middle school, enrolling students across three grades but with a clear drop-off in numbers from sixth to eighth grade.
St. Cloud is a mid-sized regional center about an hour northwest of the Twin Cities along Interstate 94. It is the county seat of Stearns County and the home of St. Cloud State University, a major hospital system, and manufacturing and logistics employers. The downtown area has a walkable historic district and civic anchors. The city has been a significant destination for immigrants, particularly from Somalia, and that demographic shift is reflected in the school’s enrollment.
On state assessments, St. Cloud Math & Science Middle’s results are well below the midpoint among the districts in Stearns County, placing in the bottom quartile on an overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades. In reading, fewer than four in ten students met proficiency standards in grades six and seven, and that share dropped sharply for eighth graders. In math, proficiency rates were lower still, falling from modest levels in sixth and seventh grade to a very low figure in eighth grade. Science results for eighth graders were similarly low. The school had no multi-year trend data to show, so it is not possible to say whether performance is improving or declining over time; the available results are a single snapshot.
Because the school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was also absent, so a parent may wish to ask about attendance patterns directly. The school’s district brief did not identify any recent policy changes, leadership turnover, or facility investments that would be relevant for a family weighing enrollment.
The housing market in the Saint Cloud area is more affordable than the state as a whole. Home values are below the Minnesota median, and rents follow a similar pattern. For a family moving to the area, this may make the city an accessible option compared to the higher-cost Twin Cities metro.
This is a school that serves a high-need population with academic results that are low relative to other districts in the county. A parent considering it will want to understand what academic support structures are in place, how the school addresses skill gaps that are apparent in the testing data, and what the experience is like for the students who attend. The school’s charter mission emphasizes math and science, though the assessment results suggest that those subjects, along with reading, are areas where the school is working from a low baseline. A visit and a conversation with the principal about instructional approach and student progress would be essential to determine whether the school’s environment matches a child’s needs.
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