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Rutherford Elementary

Q: Is Rutherford Elementary a good school?

Rutherford Elementary ranks 204 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

204^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 77% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Rutherford Elementary is a PK–5 school in Stillwater, Minnesota, serving 573 students as part of Stillwater Area Public Schools, a district ranked 47th of 458 in the state. In 2025–2026, Rutherford ranked 204th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools — the 77th percentile, with 4 stars. That is a solid, above-average position and reflects a positive trend: the school climbed from the 60th percentile in 2020–2021 to 77th today, though it has not yet returned to its 2015–2017 peak, when it ranked in the top 10% statewide.

Math and reading are the clear strengths. All-grade math proficiency is 62%, above the district (58%) and state (44.9%), and reading is 60.5%, also above the district (59.2%) and state (48.6%). Science is the main soft spot: at 33%, it beats the state (25.5%) but falls below the district (34.4%), and it has dropped sharply from its 2022–2023 level. Third and fourth grade reading and math look strong, while 5th grade is a relative weak point — 5th grade reading (54.5%) trails the district (61%), and 5th grade math (50.5%) is slightly below the district (52.4%).

Among nearby same-district PK–5 schools, Lily Lake Elementary ranks higher (151st, 83rd percentile), and Stonebridge Elementary is essentially tied with Rutherford at 205th, with stronger reading and science scores. Lake Elmo Elementary (285th) and Andersen Elementary (415th) trail Rutherford. Gate 4/5 and St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower post elite results but serve different grade ranges, so they are not direct comparisons. Notably, Rutherford ranks in the 93rd percentile for special education students and 85th for male students. With 14.31% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch and a 17.2 student-teacher ratio, the school produces above-district results with somewhat larger classes than several peers.

573

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,518

Per pupil spending ?

14.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

115 Rutherford Rd
Stillwater, MN 55082-4524

(651) 351-6400

District: Stillwater Area Public Schools

Students who attend Rutherford Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Stillwater Middle School
High:	Stillwater Area High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.9%

Two or more races:

5.9%

Hispanic:

4.5%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Rutherford Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 60th percentile in 2021 → 77th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (57% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of Minnesota elementary schools

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 77th (2026) from a 60th-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg54%

Minnesota avg43%

204^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 23%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 7% (2016) to top 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 8Elementary Schools in the Stillwater Area Public Schools

47^th of 458Stillwater Area Public Schools 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	75.2	204 of 869	76.5%	★★★★☆
2025	73.7	221 of 872	74.7%	★★★★☆
2024	72.3	234 of 881	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	65.1	306 of 845	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.8	255 of 858	70.3%	★★★★☆
2021	61.8	345 of 869	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	81.9	112 of 870	87.1%	★★★★☆
2018	79.2	133 of 847	84.3%	★★★★☆
2017	85.7	55 of 853	93.6%	★★★★★
2016	84.2	60 of 848	92.9%	★★★★★
2015	84.4	60 of 840	92.9%	★★★★★
2014	80.9	96 of 826	88.4%	★★★★☆
2013	81.1	99 of 824	88.0%	★★★★☆
2012	79.5	99 of 820	87.9%	★★★★☆
2011	81.2	75 of 814	90.8%	★★★★★
2010	76.7	115 of 803	85.7%	★★★★☆
2008	76.3	123 of 781	84.3%	★★★★☆
2007	77.2	113 of 777	85.5%	★★★★☆
2006	82.4	62 of 756	91.8%	★★★★★
2005	84.3	31 of 685	95.5%	★★★★★
2004	74.3	132 of 676	80.5%	★★★★☆
2003	76.0	112 of 674	83.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	65.3	257 of 790	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.7	315 of 799	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.2	290 of 809	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.0	312 of 787	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.5	289 of 799	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.7	407 of 783	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	76.6	151 of 787	80.8%	★★★★☆
2018	77.7	128 of 774	83.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	55.5	335 of 764	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	36.1	520 of 764	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.6	421 of 793	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.3	493 of 774	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	18.9	579 of 663	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.0	531 of 683	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	56.4	329 of 728	54.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	80.2	125 of 807	84.5%	★★★★☆
2025	79.5	129 of 812	84.1%	★★★★☆
2024	75.9	170 of 826	79.4%	★★★★☆
2023	63.2	300 of 799	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.0	223 of 808	72.4%	★★★★☆
2021	64.2	288 of 784	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.7	87 of 798	89.1%	★★★★☆
2018	77.0	146 of 779	81.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	83.2	43 of 579	92.6%	★★★★★
2025	65.0	141 of 562	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	65.0	147 of 572	74.3%	★★★★☆
2023	56.8	202 of 524	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.5	118 of 500	76.4%	★★★★☆
2021	46.5	226 of 417	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	82.0	48 of 515	90.7%	★★★★★
2018	82.5	46 of 463	90.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	56.4	310 of 710	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.7	286 of 714	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.3	306 of 730	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.1	366 of 712	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.8	278 of 725	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.9	395 of 710	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	73.4	151 of 722	79.1%	★★★★☆
2018	65.7	226 of 712	68.3%	★★★☆☆

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)93rd percentile+16 vs school

Male (2026)85th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)67th percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)56th percentile-20 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)56th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math62%+17 vs state

Reading60%+12 vs state

Science33%+8 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, January 24, 2011

This school is the best of both worlds. It is technically an Open Environment school, but this program is executed very much like a Traditional school. The children are encouraged to reach their own personal highest potential, wherever that might be. I have two gifted children who are being taught curricula well above grade level because that is where their skills are. This is done respectfully and quietly without the kids feeling any sense of differentiation between the skill levels. I also have a special needs child whose developmental delays are handled beautifully as well, with respect and enthusiasm. They have enough flexibility within this program to individualize and think outside the box, without going too crazy and leaving the children unprepared for the real world. There are other open environment schools in the area that seem to have less structure and more freedom of choice for the kids (which certainly has its merit for some) but this was not a good fit for my children. In my opinion Rutherford does an EXCELLENT job striking a balance between the open environment, and respectful accountability. It does not feel chaotic or distracting at all. I encourage you to tour it to see what I mean. Close Quote

Schools Near Rutherford 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 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 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	Total
Rutherford Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	115 Rutherford Rd	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 351-6400	573	33	17.2	14.3%	481 (83.9%)	13 (2.3%)	26 (4.5%)	18 (3.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.9%)	75.2	204^th of 869 public elementary schools	76.5%		73.7	221^st of 872 public elementary schools	74.7%	17	63.0	64.7	54.5	60.5	33.0	33.0	68.0	68.2	50.5	62.0	$12,518
Lily Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2003 Willard St W	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 351-6800	398	30	13.3	27.1%	314 (78.9%)	17 (4.3%)	28 (7.0%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	33 (8.3%)	79.8	151^st of 869 public elementary schools	82.6%		75.9	196^th of 872 public elementary schools	77.5%	45	56.3	67.7	74.3	65.6	37.7	37.7	51.2	83.6	65.2	65.2	$14,495
Stonebridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	900 Owens St N	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 351-8700	420	26	16.3	12.4%	366 (87.1%)	9 (2.1%)	16 (3.8%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.7%)	75.1	205^th of 869 public elementary schools	76.4%		68.9	281^st of 872 public elementary schools	67.8%	76	50.7	66.2	72.5	63.4	42.5	42.5	46.6	61.6	60.0	56.2	$12,892
New Heights Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-5	614 W Mulberry St	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	New Heights School Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 439-1962	39	3	11.9	53.8%	34 (87.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (10.3%)								(n/a)				42.1						42.1
A/O Program	Public	PK, KG-1	1111 South Holcombe St	Stillwater	55110	Ramsey County	Northeast Metro 916	No	No	No	No	(651) 964-1274	5	2	2.9	—	3 (60.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (20.0%)	1 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Gate 4/5	Public	4-5	523 Marsh St W	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 351-6905	64	1	64.0	4.7%	52 (81.3%)	1 (1.6%)	1 (1.6%)	6 (9.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.3%)	99.6	1^st of 869 public elementary schools	99.9%		99.3	2^nd of 872 public elementary schools	99.8%	1		100.0	100.0	100.0	85.7	85.7		100.0	96.4	98.2	$3,320
Falcon View Online Elementary	Public, Virtual	K-5	275 3rd Street South	Stillwater	55981	Wabasha County	Wabasha-Kellogg School District	No	No	Yes	Yes	(651) 565-3559	44	5	8.6	47.7%	27 (61.4%)	3 (6.8%)	6 (13.6%)	2 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (13.6%)								(n/a)				36.8						26.3
Wildwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	8698 75th Street North	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	Mahtomedi Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 407-2101	648	39	16.6	10.8%	545 (84.1%)	20 (3.1%)	24 (3.7%)	10 (1.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (7.1%)								(n/a)											$12,950
Lake Elmo Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11030 Stillwater Blvd N	Lake Elmo	55042	Washington County	Stillwater Area Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 351-6700	697	48	14.4	23.0%	417 (59.8%)	39 (5.6%)	144 (20.7%)	44 (6.3%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (7.0%)	66.7	285^th of 869 public elementary schools	67.2%		69.7	273^rd of 872 public elementary schools	68.7%	12	56.0	60.6	50.5	55.7	24.1	24.1	70.4	65.1	42.2	59.8	$14,731
St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower	Public, Charter	K-4	4260 Stagecoach Tr N	Stillwater	55082	Washington County	St. Croix Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 395-5920	450	26	17.3	11.3%	314 (69.8%)	40 (8.9%)	22 (4.9%)	61 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.9%)	96.4	10^th of 869 public elementary schools	98.8%		95.9	9^th of 872 public elementary schools	99.0%	1	75.6	80.0		77.8			94.4	85.6		90.0	$11,771

Frequently Asked Questions about Rutherford Elementary

What district is Rutherford Elementary in?

Stillwater Area Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Rutherford Elementary?

Students at Rutherford Elementary are 84% White, 6% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 2% African American.

What schools do graduates of Rutherford Elementary attend?

Students who attend Rutherford Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Stillwater Middle School
High : Stillwater Area High School

How many students attend Rutherford Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 573 students attended Rutherford Elementary.

Is Rutherford Elementary a good school?

Rutherford Elementary ranks 204^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Rutherford Elementary!

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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.