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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 526 th of 872 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades K-6

526^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 872 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

St. Paul School of Northern Lights is a public charter elementary school serving grades K-6 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with 185 students. The school is part of the St. Paul School of Northern Lights District, which is ranked 281 out of 446 districts in Minnesota and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While the school has consistently lower proficiency rates on the MCA-III Math and Reading assessments compared to the state averages, its performance varies significantly across different student subgroups. For instance, in 2024-2025, the proficiency rate for male students in math was 48% compared to only 1% for female students. Additionally, the school struggles with its white student population, ranking in the bottom 25% of Minnesota elementary schools for this subgroup. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at St. Paul School of Northern Lights has also increased from 10.53% in 2021-2022 to 33.51% in 2023-2024, indicating a growing population of economically disadvantaged students.

When comparing St. Paul School of Northern Lights to nearby schools, it becomes evident that the charter school is underperforming. For example, the nearby Rise Academy, another public charter school, has significantly lower proficiency rates in both math and reading compared to St. Paul School of Northern Lights. In contrast, the higher-performing Randolph Heights Elementary, a public school, consistently outperforms St. Paul School of Northern Lights across all grade levels and subject areas. The school's statewide ranking has also steadily declined over the past few years, suggesting the need for a comprehensive review and implementation of more effective instructional and support strategies to improve student outcomes and ensure equitable access to quality education.

212

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

28.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

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%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

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

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 26th percentile in 2021 → 40th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2021

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Math scores 15 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg41%

Minnesota avg47%

526^th of 872

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 13 pts since 2021

From bottom 26% (2021) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

281^st of 446St. 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
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
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%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
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
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
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)

Male (2025)40th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)29th percentile-10 vs school

Female (2024)26th percentile~ school

White (2025)24th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2024-2025) ?

Reading55%+5 vs state

Math31%-15 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

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	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
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%)	44.4	526^th of 872 public elementary schools	39.7%		30.5	648^th of 881 public elementary schools	26.4%	122	43.5	38.7	20.0	7.1			30.7	47.6	54.8	60.0	57.1			54.7
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%)	43.7	532^nd of 872 public elementary schools	39.0%		38.6	590^th of 881 public elementary schools	33.0%	58	39.6	39.2	30.3				35.4	36.7	49.0	63.2				51.7	$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%)	11.5	779^th of 872 public elementary schools	10.7%		14.4	764^th of 881 public elementary schools	13.3%	15	24.6	20.3	14.8				20.0	25.8	21.6	34.4				26.9	$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%)	45.3	517^th of 872 public elementary schools	40.7%		49.9	493^rd of 881 public elementary schools	44.0%	24	39.2	45.0	37.1				40.3	38.0	50.8	62.9				49.5	$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	98.8%	4 (1.0%)	42 (10.1%)	5 (1.2%)	358 (86.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.2%)	26.2	679^th of 872 public elementary schools	22.1%		25.8	682^nd of 881 public elementary schools	22.6%	3	37.5	26.1	29.0	18.8	38.5	68.2	34.7	31.3	4.4	60.5	31.3	38.5	59.1	38.7	$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%)	91.5	32^nd of 872 public elementary schools	96.3%		90.7	32^nd of 881 public elementary schools	96.4%		93.4	74.3	64.3				77.8	84.2	65.7	77.1				75.9	$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%)	86.6	79^th of 872 public elementary schools	90.9%		87.9	64^th of 881 public elementary schools	92.7%	15	75.0	71.6	77.8				74.8	56.3	61.7	86.4				68.2	$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%)	11.5	778^th of 872 public elementary schools	10.8%		8.6	804^th of 881 public elementary schools	8.7%	26	30.8	20.0					25.7	27.2	17.5					22.7	$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%)	90.4	43^rd of 872 public elementary schools	95.1%		90.3	36^th of 881 public elementary schools	95.9%	7	71.4	82.9	69.2				74.8	63.6	79.0	83.1				74.8	$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%)	94.4	16^th of 872 public elementary schools	98.2%		93.5	16^th of 881 public elementary schools	98.2%		90.3	81.7	78.8				83.8	70.8	74.6	80.3				75.1	$14,078

Frequently Asked Questions about 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.

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.

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

St. Paul School of Northern Lights ranks 526^th of 872 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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

St. Paul School of Northern Lights

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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.