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South St. Paul Middle School

Q: Is South St. Paul Middle School a good school?

South St. Paul Middle School ranks 339 th of 546 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

339^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 546 Minnesota Middle Schools

Better than 38% of Minnesota middle schools

Summary

South St. Paul Middle School is a grades 6–8 public middle school serving 535 students in South Saint Paul, Minnesota, part of the South St. Paul Public School District, which ranks 318th of 458 districts in the state. Its own 2025–2026 statewide rank is 339th of 546 middle schools (38th percentile, 2 stars), up from 14th percentile in 2022–2023 and a 1-star rating in prior years — a steady climb toward the middle of the state distribution. The school serves a relatively high-poverty population, with 64.67% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch in 2024–2025, and its student–teacher ratio has fallen to 11.2, the lowest among the nearby schools compared here.

Reading is the school's clear strength: 42.6% of students were proficient, above the district's 40.6% and 6 points below the state's 48.6%, with 8th-grade reading (48.3%) close to the state average. Math (23.2%) and science (12.9%) lag further behind, at 21.7 and 12.6 points below the state respectively. The weakest areas are 6th-grade math (18.1%) and 8th-grade science (12.9%), while 7th-grade math (29.0%) is the strongest middle-school math grade. Several student groups rank above the school's overall 38th percentile, including Native American students (74th), special education students (69th), and African American students (59th); English learners (48th) and low-income students (47th) are near the overall level.

Compared with nearby schools, South St. Paul Middle outperforms E-Stem Middle School, Txuj Ci HMong Language & Culture U, HOPE Community Academy Middle, Battle Creek Middle, and Quantum STEAM Academy Middle School across reading, math, and science. It is roughly comparable in overall rank to Inver Grove Heights Middle (40th percentile), with higher reading and science but lower math, and a much smaller student–teacher ratio (11.2 vs. 18.6). It trails higher-ranked suburban schools such as Friendly Hills Middle, Woodbury Middle School, Oltman Middle School, and Heritage E-Stem Magnet School. The biggest opportunity for continued improvement is in math and science, particularly 6th-grade math and 8th-grade science.

535

Students ?

11.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

64.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

700 2nd St N
South Saint Paul, MN 55075-8888

(651) 306-3659

District: South St. Paul Public School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

43.7%

Hispanic:

34.6%

African American:

9.9%

See top rated Minnesota middle schools

Compare South St. Paul Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 15th percentile in 2021 → 38th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 23 percentile points since 2021

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (30% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Math scores 22 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg32%

Minnesota avg43%

339^th of 546

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Bottom 38%▲ up 23 pts since 2021

From bottom 15% (2021) to bottom 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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	39.5	339 of 546	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.0	375 of 519	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.4	420 of 545	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.2	454 of 529	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.8	411 of 520	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.6	442 of 521	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	53.1	75 of 185	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.0	108 of 169	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.1	135 of 179	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.2	113 of 164	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.4	105 of 162	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.4	87 of 141	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	43.6	88 of 170	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.2	107 of 153	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.9	157 of 158	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	130 of 130	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	40.0	288 of 467	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.7	299 of 450	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.2	347 of 474	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.6	399 of 455	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.2	382 of 467	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.4	373 of 443	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	38.1	119 of 195	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.2	109 of 175	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.8	135 of 186	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.6	147 of 178	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.2	156 of 188	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.6	133 of 156	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	47.2	244 of 458	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.7	295 of 432	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.1	397 of 473	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.9	413 of 459	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.9	339 of 404	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.7	352 of 399	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	33.5	339 of 483	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.7	354 of 452	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.4	401 of 479	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.1	393 of 464	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	391 of 476	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.7	398 of 437	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	40.5	82 of 124	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.2	94 of 113	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.9	113 of 116	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.7	107 of 107	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.7	120 of 131	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.8	96 of 97	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	64.9	16 of 62	74.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	60.7	91 of 296	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	46.9	133 of 265	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	23.2	261 of 307	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.7	278 of 298	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.7	269 of 288	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.3	234 of 260	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	42.6	251 of 435	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.3	293 of 415	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.9	329 of 440	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.6	404 of 436	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.8	374 of 438	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.4	405 of 422	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Native American (2026)74th percentile+36 vs school

Special Education (2026)69th percentile+31 vs school

African American (2026)59th percentile+22 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)48th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)47th percentile+9 vs school

White (2026)42nd percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2026)39th percentile~ school

Female (2026)38th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)34th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2026)30th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading43%-6 vs state

Math23%-22 vs state

Science13%-13 vs state

★

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Schools Near South St. Paul Middle School

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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 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 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
South St. Paul Middle School	Public	6-8	700 2nd St N	South Saint Paul	55075	Dakota County	South St. Paul Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 306-3659	535	48	11.2	64.7%	234 (43.7%)	53 (9.9%)	185 (34.6%)	19 (3.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (7.7%)	39.5	339^th of 546 public middle schools	37.9%		33	375^th of 519 public middle schools	27.7%	36		44.1	35.4	48.3	42.6		12.9	12.9		18.1	29.0	22.6	23.2
Heritage E-Stem Magnet School	Public, Magnet	5-8	121 W Butler Ave	West Saint Paul	55118	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 403-7400	761	52	14.6	52.0%	332 (43.6%)	92 (12.1%)	255 (33.5%)	14 (1.8%)	16 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	51 (6.7%)	55.2	227^th of 546 public middle schools	58.4%		56.1	215^th of 519 public middle schools	58.6%	12	50.3	52.2	35.7	55.9	48.8	24.9	19.6	22.3	24.4	29.2	24.7	40.7	29.9	$13,831
Quantum STEAM Academy Middle School	Public, Charter	5-8	497 Humboldt Ave	Saint Paul	55107	Ramsey County	Quantum STEAM Academy Charter	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 615-6888	72	5	16.0	95.8%	0 (0.0%)	72 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13.4	482^nd of 546 public middle schools	11.7%		16.4	451^st of 519 public middle schools	13.1%	31	31.3	27.3	7.7	21.4	23.1	6.3	7.1	6.7	0.0	13.6	15.4	14.3	10.8
Battle Creek Middle	Public	6-8	2121 Park Dr N	Saint Paul	55119	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 293-8960	619	36	17.0	79.0%	22 (3.6%)	169 (27.3%)	109 (17.6%)	266 (43.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (8.2%)	8.8	508^th of 546 public middle schools	7.0%		7.5	492^nd of 519 public middle schools	5.2%	16		18.7	14.1	19.0	17.2		5.0	5.0		5.2	7.1	9.6	7.4	$16,110
Woodbury Middle School	Public	6-8	1425 School Dr	Woodbury	55125	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-4501	1,160	49	23.8	24.2%	672 (57.9%)	124 (10.7%)	140 (12.1%)	123 (10.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	100 (8.6%)	68	138^th of 546 public middle schools	74.7%		66.7	151^st of 519 public middle schools	70.9%	13		52.9	47.1	50.0	50.0		16.0	16.0		45.3	50.1	42.8	46.2	$11,011
Friendly Hills Middle	Public	5-8	701 Mendota Heights Rd	Mendota Heights	55120	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	No	No	No	(651) 403-7600	785	45	17.4	41.1%	388 (49.4%)	100 (12.7%)	192 (24.5%)	31 (3.9%)	7 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (8.5%)	70.6	121^st of 546 public middle schools	77.8%		70.6	133^rd of 519 public middle schools	74.4%	12	52.1	54.1	45.7	60.8	53.0	25.6	22.8	24.1	46.4	42.8	38.4	45.3	43.0	$13,047
Oltman Middle School	Public	6-8	6625 Goodview Avenue	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-3509	956	50	19.1	29.6%	542 (56.7%)	94 (9.8%)	95 (9.9%)	137 (14.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	85 (8.9%)	58.5	212^th of 546 public middle schools	61.2%		54	226^th of 519 public middle schools	56.5%	14		49.7	39.2	46.1	45.2		14.2	14.2		44.5	38.9	42.0	41.9	$11,351
Inver Grove Heights Middle	Public	6-8	8167 Cahill Ave E	Inver Grove Heights	55076	Dakota County	Inver Grove Heights Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 306-7200	817	44	18.6	49.4%	341 (41.7%)	106 (13.0%)	235 (28.8%)	40 (4.9%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	93 (11.4%)	40.8	329^th of 546 public middle schools	39.7%		38.5	328^th of 519 public middle schools	36.8%	1		37.1	37.6	42.0	38.9		8.9	8.9		28.7	33.0	32.4	31.5	$12,547
E-Stem Middle School	Public	6-8	600 Weir Drive	Woodbury	55125	Washington County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 744-2900	512	27	19.2	71.7%	60 (11.7%)	111 (21.7%)	79 (15.4%)	213 (41.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (9.0%)	16.3	470^th of 546 public middle schools	13.9%		17.5	446^th of 519 public middle schools	14.1%	24		27.1	17.0	29.3	24.4		10.1	10.1		11.4	12.0	17.2	13.4
Txuj Ci HMong Language & Culture U	Public	5-8	1363 Bush Ave E	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 744-3592	337	20	17.0	78.9%	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.5%)	11 (3.3%)	310 (92.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.0%)	23.2	434^th of 546 public middle schools	20.5%		18	444^th of 519 public middle schools	14.5%	10	40.5	26.8	17.0	34.2	30.0	11.5	13.2	12.1	33.1	16.2	18.1	30.7	24.4

Frequently Asked Questions about South St. Paul Middle School

How many students attend South St. Paul Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 535 students attended South St. Paul Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of South St. Paul Middle School?

Students at South St. Paul Middle School are 44% White, 35% Hispanic, 10% African American, 8% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What district is South St. Paul Middle School in?

South St. Paul Public School District

Is South St. Paul Middle School a good school?

South St. Paul Middle School ranks 339^th of 546 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate South St. Paul Middle School!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2022–23 dropout ratesNewNov 13, 2026

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

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.