The top reported proficiency rate is 5% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Benjamin E Mays Magnet
Benjamin E Mays Magnet is a public elementary school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in Saint Paul, as part of Saint Paul Public Schools. It carries the magnet label in its name, though available data does not specify a particular magnet theme or program focus. The school sits within a city that is Minnesota’s capital, a densely settled urban center with a mix of government offices, cultural institutions, and diverse residential neighborhoods. The school itself is located in the Frogtown area near the state capitol.
The student body is predominantly Black, with smaller but notable shares of students who identify as two or more races, Asian, Hispanic, and White. A small number of American Indian students also attend. Poverty is widespread: a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate well above the national average. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not provided; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these programs and supports.
State testing results from the most recent school year show that proficiency rates in math and reading are low across all tested grades. In math, the share of students meeting state standards was in the single digits in third, fourth, and fifth grades, with fifth grade recording no proficient scores. In reading, the pattern is similar: third and fifth grade proficiency was under three percent, while fourth grade approached ten percent. Science results for fifth grade, the only tested grade in that subject, also showed no students reaching proficiency. A one-year trend is available, but with only a single data point there is no basis to assess improvement or decline. When compared with other elementary schools in Ramsey County, Benjamin E Mays Magnet’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. This is a straightforward reading of the numbers, and families considering the school will want to understand what academic support and intervention programs are in place.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and measures like chronic absenteeism were not available in the data provided. Course access, staffing ratios, and disciplinary statistics also were not included in what was shared.
Saint Paul’s housing market reflects the mix of an older, established city. Home values and rents in the area are around the national median, though the neighborhood around the school is more affordable than many parts of the metro. The city’s park system is highly rated, and public transit connects the area to downtown and beyond.
Recent district-level changes include the opening of a new environmental STEM magnet middle school in Woodbury and the conversion of another elementary into an East African-focused magnet, but these do not directly affect Benjamin E Mays Magnet. The school itself has not been the subject of recent publicly reported renovations or program additions.
For a family weighing this school, the primary takeaway is an elementary environment with a high concentration of students from low-income households and very low measured academic proficiency on state tests. Without more detailed information on classroom instruction, intervention strategies, or the magnet program’s content, a parent will likely want to visit, speak with the principal and teachers, and ask about how the school addresses foundational literacy and math skills. The setting is a dense urban neighborhood with the cultural and civic resources of Saint Paul nearby.
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