The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Social studies. The lowest is 70% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on New Richmond Middle
New Richmond Middle is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in the small city of New Richmond, located in St. Croix County within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The enrollment is moderate for a junior high school and roughly balanced across the three grades. An above-average share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a measure commonly used to indicate economic need. The student body is predominantly white, with much smaller shares of Hispanic, two-or-more-races, Black, and Asian students.
Academically, the school posts strong results across all tested subjects. On the Wisconsin Forward assessments, the proportion of students scoring proficient or advanced is solid in both mathematics and English language arts, with performance generally rising from sixth to eighth grade. Eighth-grade science and social studies results are notably high, with social studies standing out as a particular strength. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested grades and subjects, places it in the top quartile among the six districts in St. Croix County. Participation rates on the assessments are very high, meaning the results reflect nearly the entire student population rather than a smaller tested subset. The school did not report data on students with individualized education plans or English learners, so families seeking information on special education services or English language support would want to inquire directly with the school.
New Richmond itself is a small city with a traditional downtown along Knowles Avenue, surrounded by residential neighborhoods and a mix of manufacturing, healthcare, and retail employment. The city is part of the expanding Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area and has experienced steady population and housing value growth in recent years. The median home value in the local ZIP code sits above both the state and national benchmarks, and rents are moderate relative to incomes. The area is car-dependent, with most residents driving alone to work. Schools in the district—three elementary schools, the middle school, and the high school—are on separate campuses away from the downtown core, and Northwood Technical College also maintains a local campus. The New Richmond Regional Airport, a large general aviation facility, is a notable community asset.
The district context adds an important layer for families to consider. In early 2025, a recall election was held against a school board member, which failed, but the effort reflected deep and ongoing divisions within the district. Publicly reported accounts describe the school board becoming a battleground over COVID-19 policies, book challenges, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ students, with the divisiveness having been present since the prior school year. This governance turbulence may be a factor for parents weighing the overall climate of the district.
New Richmond Middle School offers a clear academic strength, with achievement that compares well to other middle schools in the county. The community is a growing, car-oriented suburb within commuting distance of the Twin Cities. Families looking for a school with reliable state assessment results and a conventional program in a district that is working through recent political tensions will find the school a solid option, though those with specific needs around special education or English language support will want to verify what is available.
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