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Best Elementary Schools in Stearns County, MN

Coming soon: We're expecting this year's test scores from the Minnesota Department of Education any day now — new rankings will be posted the moment they're released!

Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the Minnesota Department of Education any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

At a glance

Schools

10,094

Students

Districts

Top rankedHoldingford Elementary120^th of 872 Minnesota elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Richmond Elementary up 196 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Sauk Centre Elementary 10 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

4★

3★

2★

1★

4 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCA-III Math (2025)							MCA-III Reading (2025)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	Total
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	245 School Avenue	Brooten	56316	Stearns County	Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 254-8211	294	24	12.2	39.8%	264 (89.8%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	52	457^th of 872 public elementary schools	47.6%		63.2	337^th of 881 public elementary schools	61.7%	120	52.2	58.5	28.3				46.9	37.0	49.1	65.2				50.3	$11,382
STRIDE Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	K-4	3241 Oakham Ln	Saint Cloud	56301	Stearns County	STRIDE Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(320) 230-5340	569	56	10.2	83.7%	37 (6.5%)	493 (86.6%)	25 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	9 (1.6%)	16.4	740^th of 872 public elementary schools	15.1%		10.3	790^th of 881 public elementary schools	10.3%	50	34.3	15.1	26.7	10.0	3.2	9.9	16.5	18.3	11.1	53.3	33.8	20.3	24.3	26.2	$12,178
STRIDE Virtual Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3241 Oakham Ln	Saint Cloud	56301	Stearns County	STRIDE Academy	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(320) 230-5340	0																		(n/a)
Saint Cloud Math and Science Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	1025 18th St N	Saint Cloud	56303	Stearns County	Saint Cloud Math and Science Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(320) 774-2201	266	25	10.4	97.4%	4 (1.5%)	262 (98.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21.2	706^th of 872 public elementary schools	19.0%		20.7	720^th of 881 public elementary schools	18.3%	14	39.0	31.1	28.3				32.6	34.2	22.2	34.8				30.3	$14,533
Success Academy St. Cloud Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	809 12th St N	Saint Cloud	56303	Stearns County	Success Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(612) 876-3050	140	8	17.5	98.6%	0 (0.0%)	138 (98.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	11.4	780^th of 872 public elementary schools	10.6%		12.6	775^th of 881 public elementary schools	12.0%	5	32.0	29.2	8.3				23.3	28.0	20.8	16.7				21.9
Albany Elementary	Public	1-5	10 Forest Ave	Albany	56307	Stearns County	Albany Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 845-2161	380	27	13.8	23.7%	357 (93.9%)	2 (0.5%)	13 (3.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.8%)	72.8	233^rd of 872 public elementary schools	73.3%		72.6	228^th of 881 public elementary schools	74.1%	5	65.7	64.5	55.4				61.5	59.7	50.0	63.9				58.0	$10,474
Avon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	410 Avon Ave N	Avon	56307	Stearns County	Albany Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 845-5300	264	21	12.8	18.6%	247 (93.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.0%)	77.4	174^th of 872 public elementary schools	80.0%		68.6	273^rd of 881 public elementary schools	69.0%	99	65.1	81.3	45.5				64.4	50.0	68.8	70.5				63.2	$10,674
Albany Area Early Learning Center	Public	PK-K	300 3rd Ave	Albany	56307	Stearns County	Albany Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(320) 845-2171	59	9	6.4	32.2%	51 (86.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.4%)								(n/a)
Cold Spring Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	601 Red River Ave N	Cold Spring	56320	Stearns County	Rocori Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 685-7534	656	43	15.3	37.3%	518 (79.0%)	4 (0.6%)	118 (18.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.4%)	50.4	472^nd of 872 public elementary schools	45.9%		53	455^th of 881 public elementary schools	48.4%	17	56.8	56.1	43.3				52.0	40.0	43.9	48.1				44.1	$12,776
Richmond Elementary	Public	K-5	34 2nd St NE	Richmond	56368	Stearns County	Rocori Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 597-2016	135	11	12.6	25.2%	113 (83.7%)	2 (1.5%)	10 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.4%)	62.2	350^th of 872 public elementary schools	59.9%		44.8	546^th of 881 public elementary schools	38.0%	196	81.8	47.8	52.0				60.0	68.2	39.1	48.0				51.4	$11,339
John Clark Elementary	Public	K-5	415 W Broadway	Rockville	56369	Stearns County	Rocori Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 251-8651	129	10	13.5	24.0%	110 (85.3%)	1 (0.8%)	17 (13.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	61.3	358^th of 872 public elementary schools	58.9%		51.3	478^th of 881 public elementary schools	45.7%	120	61.9	62.5	56.5				60.3	42.9	40.0	60.9				47.8	$11,865
Holdingford Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	900 5th St	Holdingford	56340	Stearns County	Holdingford Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 746-4462	589	43	13.7	31.6%	564 (95.8%)	3 (0.5%)	6 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.9%)	82.3	120^th of 872 public elementary schools	86.2%		82.9	114^th of 881 public elementary schools	87.1%	6	79.0	78.6	53.8	52.4			66.0	56.8	51.2	72.5	76.2			64.1	$9,694
Kimball Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	405 Hazel Ave E	Kimball	55353	Stearns County	Kimball Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 398-5425	346	27	12.6	30.6%	319 (92.2%)	4 (1.2%)	19 (5.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	47.8	498^th of 872 public elementary schools	42.9%		50.9	483^rd of 881 public elementary schools	45.2%	15	33.9	67.8	50.0				50.3	29.0	37.3	72.7				43.6	$10,851
Melrose Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	566 5th Ave NE	Melrose	56352	Stearns County	Melrose Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 256-5160	512	40	12.9	48.0%	310 (60.5%)	0 (0.0%)	196 (38.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.2%)	48.8	487^th of 872 public elementary schools	44.2%		54.3	439^th of 881 public elementary schools	50.2%	48	50.0	58.2	37.3				49.6	40.5	46.2	47.8				44.8	$11,747
Paynesville Area Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	205 W Mill St	Paynesville	56362	Stearns County	Paynesville Area Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 243-3725	429	30	14.4	29.6%	388 (90.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.1%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (2.8%)	71	257^th of 872 public elementary schools	70.5%		74	215^th of 881 public elementary schools	75.6%	42	62.3	56.6	54.0				57.7	53.6	55.3	71.4				59.6	$11,355
Pine Meadow Primary School	Public	1-2	1029 5th St N	Sartell	56377	Stearns County	Sartell-St. Stephen School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 253-8303	489	32	15.0	25.6%	391 (80.0%)	25 (5.1%)	32 (6.5%)	12 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (5.9%)								(n/a)															$11,083
Oak Ridge Early Learning Center	Public	PK-K	1111 27th St N	Sartell	56377	Stearns County	Sartell-St. Stephen School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 258-3693	288	27	10.7	24.7%	224 (77.8%)	14 (4.9%)	15 (5.2%)	6 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.7%)								(n/a)															$9,686
Riverview Intermediate School	Public	3-5	627 Third Avenue North	Sartell	56377	Stearns County	Sartell-St. Stephen School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 253-2200	914	56	16.2	21.9%	766 (83.8%)	29 (3.2%)	41 (4.5%)	31 (3.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (5.0%)	78.1	165^th of 872 public elementary schools	81.1%		82.5	120^th of 881 public elementary schools	86.4%	45	67.8	68.0	61.8				65.7	57.1	61.0	63.6				60.7
Sauk Centre Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	901 State Rd	Sauk Centre	56378	Stearns County	Sauk Centre Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 352-6521	368	36	10.0	41.0%	274 (74.5%)	1 (0.3%)	78 (21.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.1%)	30.7	639^th of 872 public elementary schools	26.7%		34.7	624^th of 881 public elementary schools	29.2%	15	38.8	54.1					46.8	19.7	36.5					28.6	$10,607
Kennedy Community School	Public	PK, KG-8	1300 Jade Rd	Saint Joseph	56374	Stearns County	St. Cloud Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 370-7430	582	46	12.6	49.7%	344 (59.1%)	144 (24.7%)	56 (9.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.2%)	41.5	558^th of 872 public elementary schools	36.0%		50	492^nd of 881 public elementary schools	44.2%	66	58.6	33.3	42.7	23.3	42.2	21.8	36.7	46.6	24.2	58.8	46.0	50.0	40.0	44.4	$12,860
Madison Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2850 10th Street N	Saint Cloud	56303	Stearns County	St. Cloud Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 370-6330	704	52	13.6	68.9%	216 (30.7%)	294 (41.8%)	81 (11.5%)	21 (3.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	90 (12.8%)	25.5	683^rd of 872 public elementary schools	21.7%		23.6	701^st of 881 public elementary schools	20.4%	18	37.0	29.3	31.9				33.0	34.4	30.6	43.5				35.7	$12,943
Westwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5800 Ridgewood Rd	Saint Cloud	56303	Stearns County	St. Cloud Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 370-7630	531	36	14.7	59.7%	221 (41.6%)	106 (20.0%)	117 (22.0%)	21 (4.0%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	62 (11.7%)	39.6	575^th of 872 public elementary schools	34.1%		36	606^th of 881 public elementary schools	31.2%	31	41.4	55.7	31.8				43.4	40.0	42.0	42.2				41.4	$15,046
Oak Hill Community Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2600 County Road 136	Saint Cloud	56301	Stearns County	St. Cloud Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 370-6000	878	59	14.8	66.4%	266 (30.3%)	486 (55.4%)	46 (5.2%)	21 (2.4%)	4 (0.5%)	10 (1.1%)	45 (5.1%)	28.6	660^th of 872 public elementary schools	24.3%		29	660^th of 881 public elementary schools	25.1%		37.6	45.1	23.2				35.4	36.8	33.3	42.0				37.4	$13,981
Discovery Community Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	700 7th St S	Waite Park	56387	Stearns County	St. Cloud Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 370-6180	572	43	13.1	78.8%	134 (23.4%)	240 (42.0%)	145 (25.3%)	9 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	41 (7.2%)	10.3	793^rd of 872 public elementary schools	9.1%		8.6	803^rd of 881 public elementary schools	8.9%	10	21.4	23.4	16.9				20.9	20.2	24.2	28.2				23.9	$14,592

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.