Schools in Staples, MN

Staples, Minnesota is a small city served by three public schools — Staples-Motley Elementary (PK–4), Staples-Motley Middle School (5–8), and Staples-Motley Senior High (9–12) — all part of the Staples-Motley School District, with 901 students total and enrollment fairly balanced across the three buildings.

Each school has its own bright spots. Staples-Motley Senior High stands out for completion outcomes, with a 94.2% graduation rate versus the state's 84.9% and a 2.9% dropout rate versus 4.2%. Its science results also top the state all-grades average in both years reported (45.57% vs 26.15% in 2024–2025, and 32.9% vs 25.5% in 2025–2026). Staples-Motley Elementary is the district's math standout at 52.5% versus the state's 44.9%. Staples-Motley Middle School has the best ranking trend, rising from the 47th to the 58th percentile and from 2 to 3 stars, with above-state results in 8th-grade math (50.6% vs 42.3%) and 6th-grade reading (56.1% vs 53.4%).

The biggest shared concern is math as students progress: proficiency falls from 52.5% at the elementary, to 38.3% at the middle school, to 25% at the high school, which is far below the district's 39.9% and the state's 44.9%. Reading is below state at the elementary (34.4% vs 48.6%) and middle school (37.4% vs 48.6%), while the high school is closer at 41.7% and was above state in 2024–2025. Middle school science is very low at 12.6% versus the state's 25.5%, with 5th-grade math at 16.2% and 5th-grade reading at 30.9%. Districtwide, proficiency trails the state in math, reading, and science, and the district ranks 237 of 458 in Minnesota, at the 48th percentile with 2 stars.