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Cornerstone Montessori Elementary

Public, Charter Grades K-6
675th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools
Better than 22% of Minnesota elementary schools
Summary

Cornerstone Montessori Elementary is a small K–6 school at 1611 Ames Ave in Saint Paul, MN, serving 132 students — less than half the size of the next-smallest school nearby. In 2025–2026 it ranked 675th of 869 Minnesota schools (22nd percentile, 1 star), while its district, Cornerstone Montessori Elementary, placed 375th of 458. All-grade proficiency was 19.4% in math, 43.1% in reading, and 12.5% in science, compared with state rates of 44.9%, 48.6%, and 25.5%. About 54.55% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025, and the student-teacher ratio improved to 12.4.

Reading is the clearest bright spot: 43.1% is higher than every nearby school except L'Etoile du Nord French Immersion (50.4%), and roughly double the average of the others, including Achieve Language Academy (29.1%) and Eastern Heights Elementary (28.1%). Math (19.4%) and science (12.5%) are mid-pack locally but far below state, with Txuj Ci HMong Language & Culture Lo (34.5%) and The Heights Community School (23.8%) ahead in math, and Nokomis Montessori South Campus (21.4%) ahead in science. Cornerstone's free/reduced-lunch rate is lower than every neighbor except L'Etoile, and its ranking is second-best in the immediate area, ahead of Frost Lake Elementary School, Hazel Park Preparatory Academy, and Academia Cesar Chavez Elementary.

The trend is the biggest concern. After reaching the 53rd–54th percentile with 3 stars in 2021–2022 and 2022–2023, the school slipped to the 34th, 31st, and now 22nd percentile. Reading fell from 60.49% to 43.1% and math from 36.25% to 19.4%, and grade-level math drops with age (33.3% in 3rd grade versus 6.3% in 6th). Science fell to 12.5%, though it is tested mainly in one grade and swings easily at this size. Effectiveness ratings for student groups are generally below state average. With only 132 students, a few students can shift percentages, but the multi-year pattern is consistent.

132
Students ?
12.4
Student/teacher ratio ?
$13,321
Per pupil spending ?
54.5%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 1611 Ames Ave
       Saint Paul, MN  55106-2903

(651) 774-5000

District: Cornerstone Montessori Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:
36.4%
Hispanic:
20.5%
African American:
17.4%
more
 See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

 Compare Cornerstone Montessori Elementary to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 54th percentile in 2023 → 22nd in 2026
Worth a look
!Test scores below the Minnesota average (29% vs 43% meeting standards)
!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)
!Ranking has slipped from its 54th-percentile peak (2023) to 22nd (2026)
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school29%
District avg29%
Minnesota avg43%
675th of 869
Minnesota public elementary schools ?
Bottom 22%▲ up 6 pts since 2016
From bottom 16% (2016) to bottom 22% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
375th of 458Cornerstone Montessori Elementary among Minnesota districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMinnesota percentileRating
202625.9675 of 86922.3%★☆☆☆☆
202534.0606 of 87230.5%★★☆☆☆
202440.5580 of 88134.2%★★☆☆☆
202358.1392 of 84553.6%★★★☆☆
202257.3405 of 85852.8%★★★☆☆
202136.7624 of 86928.2%★☆☆☆☆
201927.2679 of 87022.0%★☆☆☆☆
201830.1662 of 84721.8%★☆☆☆☆
201720.8718 of 85315.8%★☆☆☆☆
201622.4710 of 84816.3%★☆☆☆☆
20159.5765 of 8408.9%☆☆☆☆☆
201418.5720 of 82612.8%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMinnesota percentileRating
202628.1602 of 79023.8%★☆☆☆☆
202438.2546 of 80932.5%★★☆☆☆
202356.1384 of 78751.2%★★★☆☆
202260.1355 of 79955.6%★★★☆☆
201925.2637 of 78719.1%★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMinnesota percentileRating
202533.5546 of 76428.5%★☆☆☆☆
202436.4548 of 79330.9%★★☆☆☆
202347.2425 of 77445.1%★★☆☆☆
201927.9592 of 74020.0%★☆☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMinnesota percentileRating
202448.4476 of 82642.4%★★☆☆☆
202357.5362 of 79954.7%★★★☆☆
202262.1317 of 80860.8%★★★☆☆
201820.0660 of 77915.3%★☆☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMinnesota percentileRating
202638.5464 of 71034.6%★★☆☆☆
202456.8303 of 73058.5%★★★☆☆
202356.4313 of 71256.0%★★★☆☆
202262.2248 of 72565.8%★★★☆☆
201957.1309 of 72257.2%★★★☆☆
201865.7223 of 71268.7%★★★☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Male (2024)42nd percentile+8 vs school
White (2026)35th percentile+12 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)29th percentile~ school
Female (2026)24th percentile~ school
By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?
Reading43%-6 vs state
Math19%-26 vs state
Science12%-13 vs state

4.2
5 ratings · 4 written reviews
5★4
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What people are saying
by a parent
Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Open Quote Wonderful small school that is focused on building up the whole child. Very caring staff and administration. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, March 7, 2019

Open Quote Not a school for non-white students! We’re getting ready to organize a turnaround or shut down of this school. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, January 22, 2018

Open Quote Great family environment. Personal attention to students. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, February 6, 2014

Open Quote Cornerstone Montessori is an outstanding school. This school is a beautiful place, where students feel supported and encouraged to develop their minds. The school is designed for what is best for kids, and it is clear in how the Montessori philosophy is alive and well at the school. Both my sons love school and are alive with learning. It is also an incredibly diverse environment, that truly values its diversity. It is a gem of a school. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Cornerstone Montessori Elementary

In the 2024-25 school year, 132 students attended Cornerstone Montessori Elementary.

Cornerstone Montessori Elementary ranks in the bottom 22.3% of Minnesota elementary schools.

Students at Cornerstone Montessori Elementary are 36% White, 20% Hispanic, 17% African American, 16% Two or more races, 10% Asian.

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »
2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresNewSep 30, 2026
2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026
2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025
2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025


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.

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