The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hamline Elementary School
Hamline Elementary is a regular public school in the Saint Paul Public Schools district, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It sits in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul, a dense, residential part of the city with a mix of older homes and apartments. The school’s student body is diverse: Black students make up the largest share, followed by White, Asian, two or more races, and a smaller number of Hispanic and American Indian students. A substantial majority of students come from low-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals, which gives the school a high level of economic need.
On state assessments, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Ramsey County—an important context for a school that serves a high-poverty population. Still, the absolute proficiency rates are modest. In mathematics, the share of students meeting state standards declined across the tested grades: roughly a third in third grade, about a fifth in fourth, and closer to a sixth in fifth. In English language arts, the pattern was uneven; third and fourth grade rates were around a quarter and a fifth respectively, while fifth graders reached a notably higher rate, approaching half. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, about a quarter of students were proficient. These results represent the only year of available testing data, so families cannot see a trend line yet. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate, and data on chronic absenteeism and special education or English learner populations was not available.
The housing context around the school reflects the broader Saint Paul market. Home values in the area are moderate relative to the state median, and rents have seen some upward pressure. For a family considering this neighborhood, the typical monthly rent is somewhat lower than a mortgage payment on a median-priced home, which may affect decisions about renting versus buying. The surrounding neighborhood is walkable, with access to the city’s park system—Saint Paul’s parks ranked among the highest nationally—and proximity to Como Park and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.
Saint Paul itself is the state capital and a culturally rich city. Its downtown is anchored by the Minnesota State Capitol, state government offices, and venues like the Ordway Center and the Science Museum of Minnesota. The city’s identity is shaped by its Mississippi River location and by its role as the seat of Ramsey County government. Major employers include state and county government, healthcare, and professional sports. The population has been relatively stable, and the city remains one of the most diverse in the upper Midwest, with a large Hmong community and significant Black and White populations. Public transit via bus and light rail connects the city to Minneapolis.
Within the district, several recent changes may interest families. Saint Paul Public Schools opened a new E-STEM Middle School in Woodbury, a magnet focused on environmental science and technology. It also converted Jackson Elementary into the East African Elementary Magnet, serving pre-K through seventh grade. And Ramsey Middle School was renamed Hidden River Middle School. These shifts reflect the district’s ongoing effort to offer specialized options. For Hamline Elementary families, these magnets present potential pathways after fifth grade, though the school itself is not a magnet.
For a parent or resident trying to understand Hamline Elementary, the picture is this: it is a neighborhood school serving a population with high economic need, performing above the typical level among Ramsey County’s districts on a composite of state tests, though individual grade-level results show room for improvement. The lack of data on special education and English learner services is a gap a prospective parent would want to explore directly with the school. The surrounding neighborhood offers walkable access to parks and cultural amenities, and the broader city provides a stable, diverse urban environment. The school’s size is moderate for an elementary, and its composition reflects the diversity of the city itself.
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