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St. Paul School of Northern Lights

Q: Is St. Paul School of Northern Lights a good school?

St. Paul School of Northern Lights ranks 640 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades K-6

640^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 26% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

St. Paul School of Northern Lights is a K–6 elementary school serving 212 students at 768 Hamline Ave S in Saint Paul's Highland Park neighborhood, where it operates as its own single-school St. Paul School of Northern Lights district — making it by far the smallest campus in its local comparison group.

In 2025–26 the school ranked in the 26th percentile statewide (1 star), a position it has held for six years without ever rising above the 40th percentile. Reading (42.7%) is its relative strength, sitting fairly close to the state's 48.6%, while math (23.6%) is about 21 points below the state and 19 points below the school's own reading score — an unusually wide internal gap, since statewide reading and math are within about 4 points of each other. Fifth-grade reading is the clear standout at 60.5%, above the state's 54.5%. Science has fallen sharply, from 40% in 2022–23 to 18.4%. Special education students are the brightest spot, ranking in the 59th percentile with 3 stars — far above the school overall. In 2024–25 the school hit a high-water mark (math 30.68%, reading 54.65%), so the 2025–26 drop suggests those gains have not yet been locked in.

The local comparison is stark. Within roughly a mile sit Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy (99th percentile), Horace Mann School (95th), Randolph Heights Elementary (93rd), and Nova Classical Academy Lower School (90th) — all with math proficiency above 70%. Northern Lights' 23.6% math is second-lowest in the group, ahead only of Highland Park Elementary (20.1%), while its reading lands in the middle-to-lower tier locally. Its free/reduced-lunch rate of 28.3% is lower than most nearby Saint Paul Public Schools campuses, including EXPO for Excellence Elementary School (45.3%) and Highland Park (72.4%), so demographics alone do not explain the gap. Encouragingly, the student–teacher ratio improved from 39.6 in 2022–23 to 13.3 in 2024–25, giving this small school room to adjust quickly.

212

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

28.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

768 Hamline Ave S
Saint Paul, MN 55116-8888

(651) 285-4672

District: St. Paul School of Northern Lights

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.0%

Two or more races:

13.2%

Hispanic:

10.8%

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Compare St. Paul School of Northern Lights to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 26th percentile in 2021 → 26th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (31% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Math scores 21 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

District avg32%

Minnesota avg43%

640^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 26%▬ steady since 2021

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

357^th of 458St. Paul School of Northern Lights 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

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	30.2	640 of 869	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.4	526 of 872	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.5	648 of 881	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.6	611 of 845	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	42.5	565 of 858	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.8	639 of 869	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	22.3	643 of 790	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.5	598 of 809	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.8	588 of 787	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.4	594 of 799	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.3	627 of 783	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	27.4	598 of 764	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	35.7	556 of 807	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.1	488 of 812	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.5	538 of 826	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.6	566 of 799	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	46.1	508 of 808	37.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	52.8	240 of 579	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	32.6	398 of 562	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.7	346 of 524	34.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	30.2	545 of 710	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.5	542 of 714	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.3	679 of 730	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.8	635 of 712	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.6	538 of 725	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.4	590 of 710	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)59th percentile+32 vs school

Male (2026)31st percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)23rd percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)22nd percentile-5 vs school

Female (2026)19th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading43%-6 vs state

Math24%-21 vs state

Science18%-7 vs state

3.8

4 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★2

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Wednesday, April 19, 2023

This school is a golden opportunity for everyone who steps within these doors. Close Quote

by a student
Wednesday, April 19, 2023

SPSNL is a wonderful school. I have had the opportunity to explore many of my interests, and I like all the teachers. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, November 19, 2021

We chooe this school because they believe in inclusion of all students and learning by doing. It's hard to judge with COVID-19 changing things. I think this was a great choice for our family. Close Quote

Schools Near St. Paul School of Northern Lights

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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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)							MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)							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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-IV Reading 4th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 5th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	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	Total
St. Paul School of Northern Lights	Public, Charter	K-6	768 Hamline Ave S	Saint Paul	55116	Ramsey County	St. Paul School of Northern Lights	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 285-4672	212	16	13.3	28.3%	142 (67.0%)	13 (6.1%)	23 (10.8%)	4 (1.9%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (13.2%)	30.2	640^th of 869 public elementary schools	26.4%		44.4	526^th of 872 public elementary schools	39.7%	114	33.3	46.4	60.5	28.1			42.7	18.4		18.4	24.2	42.3	15.8	16.7			23.6
Expo For Excellence Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	540 Warwick St	Saint Paul	55116	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 290-8384	393	36	10.9	45.3%	179 (45.5%)	132 (33.6%)	36 (9.2%)	14 (3.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.9%)	46.3	504^th of 869 public elementary schools	42.0%		43.7	532^nd of 872 public elementary schools	39.0%	28	42.4	40.4	54.0				45.5	32.0		32.0	51.7	37.0	32.0				40.9	$13,805
Highland Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1700 Saunders Ave	Saint Paul	55116	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 293-8770	406	33	12.3	72.4%	84 (20.7%)	200 (49.3%)	44 (10.8%)	22 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (13.8%)	11.1	788^th of 869 public elementary schools	9.3%		11.5	779^th of 872 public elementary schools	10.7%	9	21.3	25.4	25.4				24.0	11.1		11.1	21.0	28.8	11.1				20.1	$22,201
Adams Magnet Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	615 Chatsworth St S	Saint Paul	55102	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(651) 298-1595	605	41	14.7	40.5%	217 (35.9%)	48 (7.9%)	281 (46.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (9.4%)	49.3	475^th of 869 public elementary schools	45.3%		45.3	517^th of 872 public elementary schools	40.7%	42	42.6	43.1	56.7				46.4	25.0		25.0	58.8	44.4	33.3				47.9	$14,389
Urban Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1668 Montreal Ave	Saint Paul	55116	Ramsey County	Urban Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 215-9419	416	34	12.2	—	4 (1.0%)	42 (10.1%)	5 (1.2%)	358 (86.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.2%)	21.1	715^th of 869 public elementary schools	17.7%		26.2	679^th of 872 public elementary schools	22.1%	36	9.5	36.4	24.0	37.5	36.7	37.5	29.0	20.0	4.2	12.2	16.7	39.4	40.0	15.6	23.3	58.3	30.1	$14,951
Randolph Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	348 Hamline Ave S	Saint Paul	55105	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 293-8780	448	24	18.8	25.9%	306 (68.3%)	47 (10.5%)	30 (6.7%)	14 (3.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (11.2%)	87.9	58^th of 869 public elementary schools	93.3%		91.5	32^nd of 872 public elementary schools	96.3%	26	65.0	76.2	64.6				68.7	41.8		41.8	75.0	79.8	63.3				72.8	$13,333
Nova Classical Academy Lower School	Public, Charter	K-5	1455 Victoria Way	Saint Paul	55102	Ramsey County	Nova Classical Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 209-6320	485	35	13.8	23.5%	267 (55.1%)	83 (17.1%)	37 (7.6%)	62 (12.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	34 (7.0%)	85.9	86^th of 869 public elementary schools	90.1%		86.6	79^th of 872 public elementary schools	90.9%	7	58.2	67.1	77.8				67.8	36.3		36.3	70.9	74.7	70.4				72.0	$11,508
Global Arts Plus Lower	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-4	1023 Osceola Ave	Saint Paul	55105	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 293-6606	410	32	12.7	67.8%	111 (27.1%)	102 (24.9%)	84 (20.5%)	59 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	52 (12.7%)	15.4	748^th of 869 public elementary schools	13.9%		11.5	778^th of 872 public elementary schools	10.8%	30	31.6	25.3					28.1				35.5	22.1					28.1	$15,689
Horace Mann School	Public	PK, KG-5	2001 Eleanor Ave	Saint Paul	55116	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 293-8965	445	25	17.8	19.6%	312 (70.1%)	32 (7.2%)	42 (9.4%)	10 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (11.0%)	90	44^th of 869 public elementary schools	94.9%		90.4	43^rd of 872 public elementary schools	95.1%	1	64.0	69.3	80.5				71.6	56.1		56.1	70.7	80.0	62.2				70.7	$14,581
Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy	Public, Magnet	K-5	1845 Sheridan Ave W	Saint Paul	55116	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(651) 744-4770	431	26	16.4	33.2%	112 (26.0%)	27 (6.3%)	24 (5.6%)	151 (35.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	116 (26.9%)	95.5	13^th of 869 public elementary schools	98.5%		94.4	16^th of 872 public elementary schools	98.2%	3	71.0	75.8	82.5				76.0	52.6		52.6	81.7	90.9	94.2				88.4	$14,078

Frequently Asked Questions about St. Paul School of Northern Lights

What district is St. Paul School of Northern Lights in?

St. Paul School of Northern Lights

How many students attend St. Paul School of Northern Lights?

In the 2024-25 school year, 212 students attended St. Paul School of Northern Lights.

Is St. Paul School of Northern Lights a good school?

St. Paul School of Northern Lights ranks 640^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of St. Paul School of Northern Lights?

Students at St. Paul School of Northern Lights are 67% White, 13% Two or more races, 11% Hispanic, 6% African American, 2% Asian.

Rate St. Paul School of Northern Lights!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresSep 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.