The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in Math. The lowest is 31% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Stevenson Elementary
Stevenson Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Fridley, a first-ring suburb of Minneapolis. The school is part of Fridley Public Schools and sits on East River Road, a historic route that follows the Mississippi River. The building is currently undergoing classroom renovations as part of a district-wide facility improvement plan funded by a voter-approved bond passed in late 2024. The same election renewed and increased the district's operating levy, generating additional revenue for class size reduction, student support services, and academic programs. This means the community has recently made a tangible financial commitment to its schools, and Stevenson is receiving direct facility upgrades.
Fridley itself is a postwar suburb that grew rapidly through the mid-twentieth century and now has a stabilized population. Its economic base is a mix of residential neighborhoods and major industrial and corporate campuses, including Medtronic, Target distribution, and Unity Medical Center. The built environment is car-dependent, with commercial strips along highways and a rail corridor that runs through the city, physically dividing some areas. Housing values in the area fall below the state median, and rents are moderate relative to local incomes, making this one of the more attainable parts of the Twin Cities metro for families.
The student body is racially and economically diverse. No single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority. Black students make up the largest share, followed by White students, with substantial populations of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the school's role in serving a community with modest household incomes. Data on special education enrollment and English learner services was not available in the records we reviewed; a parent whose child may need those supports should ask the school directly about the availability and structure of services.
On state assessments, about a third of students scored proficient in math and about a third in English language arts across the tested grades, with fourth-grade results trailing third-grade in both subjects. The school's overall proficiency index sits near the midpoint when compared with other districts in Anoka County. Only a single year of testing data was available, so there is no trend to report and no way to tell whether the school is moving in a particular direction. Because the school ends at fourth grade, there is no graduation rate to consider here; students move on to Fridley Middle School and then Fridley High School, which are part of the same district.
The school's program offerings were not listed in the available data. The district operates an International Baccalaureate K-12 program, according to public reports, but the record does not specify whether that curriculum is available at Stevenson or limited to other buildings. A family interested in IB programming should confirm placement with the school office.
Stevenson Elementary is a neighborhood school serving a diverse, working-class community in a suburb with a strong industrial base. Academic proficiency is modest and in line with many peer districts in the county. The recent infusion of local funding through the levy and bond is a practical point of confidence for families weighing the district's trajectory. A parent exploring this school will want to visit, ask about the school's approach to math and literacy instruction given the assessment results, and get a clear picture of the special education and English learner supports available.
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