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Lincoln Center Elementary

Q: Is Lincoln Center Elementary a good school?

Lincoln Center Elementary ranks 604 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

604^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 30% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Lincoln Center Elementary is a PK–5 school serving 670 students in South Saint Paul, Minnesota, the larger of the two elementary schools in the South St. Paul Public School District and located about 1.9 miles north of its sister school, Kaposia Education Center Elementary. Roughly 56% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has spent the past decade ranked between the 22nd and 32nd percentile of Minnesota elementaries, and in 2025-2026 it placed at the 30th percentile with 2 stars — its first 2-star rating since 2018-2019 and the high point of four straight years of gradual improvement (22nd to 25th to 29th to 30th). Its home district ranks in the lower third of Minnesota districts.

Results are sharply subject-specific. Math is the bright spot at 40.3% proficiency — 11.6 points above the district average and up about 5 points since 2022-23. Reading sits at 41.2%, essentially flat for three years and 7.4 points below the state. Science is the clearest red flag at 15.4%: 10.1 points below the state, 3.7 points below its own district, and the only subject where it trails its less-affluent district peer. Nearby schools with nearly identical poverty rates show what is achievable — Garlough Environmental Magnet (56.3% free/reduced lunch) scores about 10 points higher in math, and 3-star Newport Elementary (54.6%) is 12.9 points higher in math and 22.4 points higher in science. Both run smaller classes (10.8 and 9.5 students per teacher) than Lincoln Center's 12.9, though Lincoln Center's ratio did improve from 14.4 without a matching gain in results.

The school's effectiveness varies by group. Hispanic students rank near the 49th percentile statewide, well above the school's overall 30th, while multi-racial students (13th percentile) and special education students (25th) rank below the school average. The bottom line: a stable, modestly improving, mid-lower-tier school that leads its own district in math and reading but carries a persistent science deficit and flat reading performance.

670

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,877

Per pupil spending ?

56.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

91.5%

Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (2025-26)

Exemptions: 6.1% (MMR)

357 9th Ave N
South Saint Paul, MN 55075-1907

(651) 457-9426

District: South St. Paul Public School District

Students who attend Lincoln Center Elementary usually attend:

High:

South St. Paul High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.9%

Hispanic:

28.1%

Two or more races:

11.2%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Lincoln Center Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 32nd percentile in 2016 → 30th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (37% vs 43% meeting standards)

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

!Science scores 10 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg32%

Minnesota avg43%

604^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Elementary Schools in the South St. Paul Public School District

318^th of 458South St. Paul Public School District 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	35.4	604 of 869	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.5	614 of 872	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.0	627 of 881	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.1	636 of 845	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.2	671 of 858	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.4	654 of 869	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.3	602 of 870	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.7	630 of 847	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	40.9	593 of 853	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	43.5	577 of 848	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.1	595 of 840	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	34.3	626 of 826	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	38.4	608 of 824	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	36.0	649 of 820	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	38.0	623 of 814	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	42.3	589 of 803	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	34.9	349 of 434	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	39.9	595 of 781	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	40.2	593 of 777	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	41.7	557 of 756	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	37.2	523 of 685	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	54.1	366 of 676	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2003	54.1	374 of 674	44.5%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	61.8	104 of 310	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	18.4	248 of 282	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	50.1	143 of 283	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.2	68 of 266	74.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	27.9	243 of 303	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.5	268 of 276	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.3	250 of 256	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	80.3	20 of 242	91.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	38.8	521 of 790	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.3	600 of 799	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.9	602 of 809	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.1	608 of 787	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.4	602 of 799	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.8	589 of 783	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.8	527 of 787	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.1	596 of 774	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	45.7	130 of 256	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.6	123 of 238	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.7	88 of 249	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	33.5	144 of 214	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.5	143 of 209	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.4	84 of 153	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.2	95 of 219	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.6	108 of 220	50.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	32.7	565 of 764	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.3	504 of 764	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.5	554 of 793	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	20.4	652 of 774	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	559 of 663	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.3	577 of 683	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.9	549 of 740	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.0	576 of 728	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	31.1	591 of 807	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.9	570 of 812	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.0	589 of 826	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.3	608 of 799	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.1	666 of 808	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.2	625 of 784	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.0	573 of 798	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.8	582 of 779	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	19.1	80 of 92	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	13.3	69 of 73	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.2	67 of 81	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.2	72 of 77	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	30.1	64 of 87	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.0	72 of 96	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.0	84 of 98	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	29.6	437 of 579	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.3	465 of 562	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.6	358 of 572	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.5	339 of 524	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.9	389 of 500	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.3	378 of 417	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.7	461 of 515	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.7	348 of 463	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	36.0	489 of 710	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.2	536 of 714	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.8	607 of 730	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.0	610 of 712	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.3	665 of 725	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.7	642 of 710	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	39.0	515 of 722	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.1	624 of 712	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2024)66th percentile+38 vs school

Hispanic (2026)49th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2026)34th percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)31st percentile~ school

Male (2026)27th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)26th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2026)25th percentile-6 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)20th percentile-9 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)13th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading41%-7 vs state

Math40%-5 vs state

Science15%-10 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, February 17, 2012

I love this school. I have two children that go here. My son is now in third grade and my daughter is in first. They have a lot of programs that many other schools don't have. The teachers are great and the staff is caring and easy to communicate with. I have not had any problems and when we moved to Apple Valley I continued to keep my children here even with the drive. Close Quote

Schools Near Lincoln Center Elementary

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)				MCA-IV Science (2026)		MCA-III Math (2026)				Vaccination (2025-26)		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 All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Lincoln Center Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	357 9th Ave N	South Saint Paul	55075	Dakota County	South St. Paul Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 457-9426	670	52	12.9	56.1%	321 (47.9%)	52 (7.8%)	188 (28.1%)	27 (4.0%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (11.2%)	35.4	604^th of 869 public elementary schools	30.5%		33.5	614^th of 872 public elementary schools	29.6%	10	37.2	38.5	47.1	41.2	15.4	15.4	45.2	40.7	35.6	40.3	91.5%	6.1%	$14,877
Kaposia Education Center Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1225 1st Ave S	South Saint Paul	55075	Dakota County	South St. Paul Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 451-9260	620	52	12.0	70.2%	229 (36.9%)	47 (7.6%)	248 (40.0%)	28 (4.5%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (10.0%)	31	636^th of 869 public elementary schools	26.8%		34.2	603^rd of 872 public elementary schools	30.8%	33	39.6	31.8	40.9	37.6	18.3	18.3	46.9	37.6	26.1	37.0	93.7%	6.3%	$13,591
Garlough Environmental Magnet	Public, Magnet	K-4	1740 Charlton St	West Saint Paul	55118	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 403-8100	414	38	10.8	56.3%	145 (35.0%)	50 (12.1%)	176 (42.5%)	6 (1.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (8.5%)	48.4	484^th of 869 public elementary schools	44.3%		33.5	613^th of 872 public elementary schools	29.7%	129	45.9	44.7		45.3			48.8	52.1		50.6	92.5%	3.8%	$14,037
Salem Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5899 Babcock Tr E	Inver Grove Heights	55077	Dakota County	Inver Grove Heights Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 306-7300	281	27	10.3	44.8%	100 (35.6%)	49 (17.4%)	84 (29.9%)	16 (5.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (11.0%)	49.4	473^rd of 869 public elementary schools	45.6%		43.2	537^th of 872 public elementary schools	38.4%	64	40.0	39.0	56.3	45.5	12.5	12.5	62.2	51.2	50.0	54.5	82.6%	13%	$13,175
Atheneum Elementary	Public	2-5	5899 Babcock Tr E	Inver Grove Heights	55077	Dakota County	Inver Grove Heights Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 306-7300	69	3	23.0	14.5%	41 (59.4%)	4 (5.8%)	9 (13.0%)	9 (13.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (8.7%)	99.4	2^nd of 869 public elementary schools	99.8%		98.9	3^rd of 872 public elementary schools	99.7%	1		100.0	100.0	100.0	77.8	77.8		100.0	83.3	93.8			$7,574
Moreland Art/Health Science Magnet	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-4	217 W Moreland Ave	West Saint Paul	55118	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 403-7800	369	34	10.8	64.5%	107 (29.0%)	56 (15.2%)	152 (41.2%)	17 (4.6%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (9.2%)	29.3	653^rd of 869 public elementary schools	24.9%		40.6	566^th of 872 public elementary schools	35.1%	87	30.1	40.5		35.2			38.6	43.0		40.7	95.4%	1.5%	$16,650
Highwood Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2188 Londin Ln	Saint Paul	55119	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 744-3290	292	27	10.8	90.1%	31 (10.6%)	116 (39.7%)	52 (17.8%)	82 (28.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.8%)	4.6	841^st of 869 public elementary schools	3.2%		5.4	834^th of 872 public elementary schools	4.4%	7	7.5	9.8	16.7	11.1	8.8	8.8	7.7	14.6	8.3	10.3	90.7%	7%	$18,142
Riverview Spanish/English Dual Imme	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	160 Isabel St E	Saint Paul	55107	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 293-8665	297	80	3.7	69.0%	32 (10.8%)	24 (8.1%)	215 (72.4%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.4%)	20.3	721^st of 869 public elementary schools	17.0%		11.7	777^th of 872 public elementary schools	10.9%	56	34.9	25.0	26.5	29.2	8.6	8.6	44.2	34.3	20.0	33.6			$16,432
Hilltop Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3201 68th St E	Inver Grove Heights	55076	Dakota County	Inver Grove Heights Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 306-7400	626	41	15.2	55.1%	223 (35.6%)	103 (16.5%)	199 (31.8%)	25 (4.0%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	72 (11.5%)	19.6	726^th of 869 public elementary schools	16.5%		13.8	761^st of 872 public elementary schools	12.7%	35	15.3	21.6	40.2	25.5	14.1	14.1	25.8	42.0	28.3	31.8	96.8%	2.2%	$13,412
Newport Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	851 6th Ave	Newport	55055	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 425-4301	264	28	9.5	54.5%	111 (42.0%)	48 (18.2%)	28 (10.6%)	49 (18.6%)	2 (0.8%)	3 (1.1%)	23 (8.7%)	54.5	407^th of 869 public elementary schools	53.2%		54.8	426^th of 872 public elementary schools	51.1%	19	40.8	34.2	55.3	43.2	37.8	37.8	50.0	52.6	57.9	53.2	82.5%	12.5%	$16,288

Frequently Asked Questions about Lincoln Center Elementary

How many students attend Lincoln Center Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 670 students attended Lincoln Center Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Lincoln Center Elementary?

Students at Lincoln Center Elementary are 48% White, 28% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 8% African American, 4% Asian, 1% American Indian.

Is Lincoln Center Elementary a good school?

Lincoln Center Elementary ranks 604^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Lincoln Center Elementary in?

South St. Paul Public School District

What schools do graduates of Lincoln Center Elementary attend?

Students who attend Lincoln Center Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : South St. Paul High School

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2019–20 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

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

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.