Creekstone Montessori

Creekstone Montessori is a PK–8 charter school serving 122 students in Red Wing, Minnesota, in the Mississippi River valley southeast of the Twin Cities; it operates as its own single-school district, Creekstone Montessori Charter.

It is the smallest brick-and-mortar school in its local comparison group — nearby elementaries enroll 294 to 519 students — and the only PK–8 school among them, so all-grade test comparisons are imperfect. It has the lowest free/reduced-lunch rate (17.21%) but the highest student-teacher ratio (15.6) among nearby brick-and-mortar schools. Science is the standout: 50% proficiency versus the state's 25.5%, higher than Goodhue Elementary and Cannon Falls Elementary. Reading sits at the state average (48% vs. 48.6%), while math is the weak spot (34% vs. 44.9%), the lowest among nearby brick-and-mortar schools. The school is climbing the state rankings — from 23rd percentile (1 star) in 2023–24 to 42nd percentile (2 stars) in 2025–26 — but still trails Christa McAuliffe Elementary, Pinecrest Elementary, Cannon Falls Elementary, and Goodhue Elementary in math and reading.

A few cautions: math has been below state in every year with data and remains the most consistent challenge; reading has slipped from 71.43% in 2022–23 to 48% in 2025–26, and 3rd-grade reading (31.6%) is a particular concern. State subgroup rankings also place male students and White students below the school's overall standing, suggesting uneven effectiveness across groups. The nearest school, Burnside Elementary, ranks lower overall (19th percentile) and in reading, though its math is slightly higher. Because enrollment is small and some 2025–26 data is state-suppressed, year-to-year swings may reflect cohort changes rather than school-wide trends. Parents may want to ask about math instruction, 3rd-grade reading supports, and how the Montessori approach aligns with state standards.