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Schools in Sauk Rapids · Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools

Sauk Rapids’s public schools outscore 62% of Minnesota districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Sauk Rapids, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Minnesota, not nationally.

#166of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
53%
▲ 2 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
43%
▼ 2 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▲ 4 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.6K
▼ 15% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.5
MN 14.8 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
3,916 students on the public path
In brief

Sauk Rapids’s schools, in brief

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 53% and math 43% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,571 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School, then Sauk Rapids-Rice Senior High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Whole Child Montessori School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Sauk Rapids’s grade

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 62% of Minnesota school districts, #166 of 274 Minnesota towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Minnesota average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 62%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1288)Better than 60%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,280 test results and a graduating class of 299 could put Sauk Rapids anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Sauk Rapids’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,236 in math, 2,324 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Sauk Rapids, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B+
6–8Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle SchoolSauk Rapids-Rice Public SchoolsC+
9–12Sauk Rapids-Rice Senior HighSauk Rapids-Rice Public SchoolsB+

Sauk Rapids’s public schools are run by Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools, which also serves Graham, Langola, Mayhew Lake and Minden and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Sauk Rapids-Rice Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 4,331 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 16.5 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$14,571MN $17,091 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading53%
State average 51.1% · 2324 students tested
Math43%
State average 44.8% · 2236 students tested

Sauk Rapids vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Sauk Rapids’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Sauk RapidsBSauk Rapids-Rice
Sauk Rapids Township—Sauk Rapids-Rice
MindenBSauk Rapids-Rice
SartellASartell-St. Stephen
St. CloudC−St. Cloud Public
Le SaukASartell-St. Stephen

2 of the 5 neighbors share Sauk Rapids-Rice with Sauk Rapids, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Sauk Rapids

7 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Minnesota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Sauk Rapidsby address
Pleasantview Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
734 students13:1Rate it →
Mississippi Heights Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
808 students15:1Rate it →
Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
1,055 students20:1Rate it →
Sauk Rapids-Rice Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,319 students19:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Hillside Early Childhood Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
58 studentsRate it →
Other public schools in Sauk Rapidsrun by other districts or the state
ALC - Sauk Rapids
High · Grades 7–12
Alternative Education
59 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Whole Child Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Religious
16 students11:1Rate it →

Left off: 4 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Benton-Stearns Education District, Benton Stearns Education District 1, Sauk Rapids ECFE and Sauk Rapids-Rice Online School (SRR).

Questions about Sauk Rapids’s schools

Are Sauk Rapids’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Minnesota: the public schools Sauk Rapids children attend outscore 62% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #166 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 60%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sauk Rapids in?

Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,331 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Sauk Rapids kids go to high school?

Sauk Rapids-Rice Senior High, with 1,319 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Sauk Rapids’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Sauk Rapids spend per student?

$14,571 in Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Sauk Rapids?

Yes: Whole Child Montessori School (religious, grades PK–K, 16 students).

Parents talk

What Sauk Rapids families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sauk Rapids → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.