The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Social studies. The lowest is 56% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Saint Croix Falls Middle
Saint Croix Falls Middle serves grades five through eight in the Saint Croix Falls School District, a small public school district in Polk County. The town itself is a historic river community situated along the St. Croix River, roughly an hour northeast of Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Known as the “City of Trails,” it functions as both a residential base and a hub for outdoor recreation, with access to the Gandy Dancer Trail, the Ice Age Trail, and Interstate Park. The town’s economy has shifted from logging to agriculture and now to tourism, but the downtown remains compact and the overall population is stable.
The middle school has a modest enrollment that is typical of a small district serving this grade band. The student body is predominantly white, reflecting the surrounding community. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the profile; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these supports.
On state assessments, the school posted proficiency rates that place it above the midpoint among districts in Polk County. The strongest results were in the earlier grades in both math and English language arts, with fifth graders showing the highest proficiency levels in both subjects. As students moved through the grade levels, proficiency rates generally declined, particularly in math, where the eighth-grade rate was noticeably lower than the fifth-grade rate. In English language arts, seventh grade marked the softest spot. Science proficiency among eighth graders was modest, while social studies proficiency for the same grade was stronger. Overall, the pattern suggests solid academic foundations in the early middle school years, with some softening by eighth grade that families may want to understand in context of the school’s curriculum and support structures.
The school participates in the Wisconsin Forward Exam, the state’s standard assessment, and participation rates across all tested grades and subjects were high, indicating that nearly all enrolled students took the tests.
Because the school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate data to report. That absence reflects the grade band, not the school’s performance.
In early 2024, voters in the Saint Croix Falls School District approved two referendums that carry lasting implications for families. One is a capital referendum funding major facility improvements across the district, including safety and security upgrades, HVAC and electrical work, classroom renovations, and new career and technical education and agricultural science lab spaces. The other is an operating referendum that allows the district to exceed its state revenue limit for five years, supporting building maintenance, curriculum and instruction, technology, and transportation. Together, these investments signal a commitment to modernizing school facilities and sustaining core operations, though their impact on the middle school specifically will depend on how the district prioritizes spending over the coming years.
Housing in the area has a typical price profile for this part of western Wisconsin, roughly in line with state benchmarks and slightly below the national median. The local economy is supported by tourism and recreation, and the unemployment rate has been stable. For families considering a move, the town offers a small, walkable center with trail access and riverfront amenities, though major employment is dispersed.
Saint Croix Falls Middle fits a family seeking a small, community-anchored middle school in a town with strong outdoor recreation and a stable, predominantly white student body. The academic picture shows a school that generally performs well relative to other Polk County districts, with particularly strong early middle school results in both reading and math. Families who value a district that has recently secured funding for facility and program improvements may find that reassuring. Those whose children are entering the upper middle grades may want to ask the school about how it addresses the drop in proficiency from fifth to eighth grade, especially in math, and what academic supports are available for students who need them.
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