The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Centennial Elementary
Centennial Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Circle Pines, a small, largely built-out suburban community about 17 miles north of Minneapolis–St. Paul. The school is part of the Centennial Public School District, which spans multiple cities in Anoka County including Circle Pines, Blaine, Lino Lakes, Centerville, and Lexington. Circle Pines itself was founded as a planned cooperative village and retains a municipally-owned natural gas utility as a legacy of that history. The city has a compact civic core along Lake Drive with City Hall, the post office, and the Anoka County Library, while an extensive trail system connects neighborhoods to natural spaces and the Rice Creek Regional Trail. Population has been stable for decades; no major new housing developments are noted, and the roughly two-square-mile footprint is largely built out.
The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary building in a suburban district. The student body is predominantly white, with Black and Asian students together making up a meaningful share, a smaller Hispanic population, and a modest number of students identifying as two or more races. Nearly half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a substantial share of households with economic need. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available; parents seeking that information may want to ask the school directly.
On the most recent state assessments, Centennial Elementary’s performance varied across grades and subjects, and overall the school places in the top quartile among Anoka County elementary schools on a combined proficiency index. In reading, third graders posted a moderate proficiency rate, fourth graders were at a similar level, and fifth graders reached a higher rate. In math, third graders were strong, fourth graders were below that mark, and fifth graders were notably lower. Science results for fifth graders, which come from a newly formatted assessment, were markedly lower than the reading and math scores at that grade; the state changed both the test name and cut scores for science that year, so those results come with a comparability caution and may not represent a one-to-one trend. Because the school only has one year of the current assessment configuration, no meaningful year-over-year trend can be drawn yet.
Centennial Elementary does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. The school’s disciplinary, attendance, and staffing data were not available in the provided records; parents looking into school climate or class sizes may wish to inquire with the building or district.
The Centennial district has made several recent changes that matter for families. Voters approved a multi-year operating levy in late 2023, which provides ongoing funding for class sizes, student support services, and academic programs; the previous levy was expiring, and the new one gives the district financial stability. The district also moved to full-day kindergarten at no cost beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, a shift from the previous half-day program and fee-based full-day option. A strategic plan adopted in 2022 centers on academic excellence, social-emotional learning, and fiscal stewardship, though specific implementation details were not included in the available material.
For families considering Centennial Elementary, the picture is of a school with solid reading performance and strong early math results, but with a drop in math as students move through the grades and very low science proficiency on a new test that parents may want to understand better. The student body is economically diverse and the community is stable, suburban, and built out. The district has secured its funding base and expanded early childhood access, both lasting changes. Families moving into the area should note that the district’s middle school and high school are not located in Circle Pines itself but elsewhere within the Centennial district boundaries. Because the available data does not include information on advanced coursework, class sizes, or special education staffing, these are gaps a prospective parent should fill through a school visit or conversation with the principal.
See more original research from School Decision →