The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Park Elementary
Highland Park Elementary is a regular public school in Saint Paul, part of the Saint Paul Public Schools district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits in the Highland Park neighborhood, a residential area of the city known for its steep river bluffs, historic homes, and proximity to the Mississippi River. The school itself is housed in a building on Saunders Avenue, a long street in a leafy part of town. As a neighborhood elementary school, it draws its students primarily from the surrounding area, which shapes the peer environment a family can expect.
The student body of roughly several hundred children is notably diverse, a reflection of Saint Paul itself. The largest share of students identifies as Black, followed by White students, and then smaller portions who identify as two or more races, Hispanic, Asian, or American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning the school serves a community with significant economic need. This context is important for understanding the school's academic results, as schools with higher concentrations of poverty often face additional challenges.
On state assessments, Highland Park Elementary's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades lands below the midpoint compared to other schools in Ramsey County. In reading, the share of students meeting state standards varied by grade, with the fifth-grade cohort performing at a higher level than the third- and fourth-grade groups. In math, proficiency rates were a challenge across all tested grades, with the fifth grade posting the lowest rate among them. In fifth-grade science, a very small share of students reached the proficient level. A parent looking at these results should note that the state changed the science test and its cut scores for the most recent year, making a direct comparison to prior years impossible. No multiyear trend data is available for either reading or math because the state's assessment system underwent changes that prevent safe comparisons over time; only results from the current year were reported.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no high school graduation rate to report. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available in the source materials, so a reader who wants to know the share of students receiving those services should ask the school directly. Information on chronic absenteeism and discipline was also absent. The school is not a charter school, and its magnet and Title I statuses were not reported in the data provided.
The district, Saint Paul Public Schools, has made recent changes that could affect a family's long-term choices. It opened a new environmental STEM magnet middle school in a neighboring suburb, offering a specialized pathway for students entering sixth grade. It also converted one of its elementary schools into a culturally focused magnet for East African families, demonstrating the district's emphasis on specialized program options. And it renamed one of its middle schools, a change that families researching school options should be aware of.
Housing in the area around Highland Park Elementary reflects a modestly priced market within the Twin Cities metro. Home values and rents are moderate relative to national benchmarks, though the cost of buying versus renting tilts slightly in favor of renting for now, given the prevailing mortgage rate environment. The neighborhood itself is amenity-rich, with parks, the Mississippi River bluffs, and access to the city's cultural institutions within a short drive. Saint Paul's downtown, with its state capitol and civic anchors, is a few minutes away by car or light rail.
A family considering Highland Park Elementary should weigh its diverse, neighborhood-based student body and the district's expanding magnet options against academic results that are below average for the county. The school's strengths lie in the community it serves and the foundation it provides for young children, but its math and science proficiency numbers are soft, and a parent may want to investigate what supports the school offers in those areas. The lack of multiyear data makes it hard to see whether the school is on an upward or downward trajectory in core subjects, so talking with the principal or visiting during a school day would be a practical next step.
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