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Grandview ParkPhoto: Epsatre · CC BY-SA 4.0
C
Schools in South St. Paul · South St. Paul Public School District

South St. Paul’s public schools score below 73% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

In South St. Paul, 24% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving South St. Paul, 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.

#264of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% 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
37%
▼ 14 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
24%
▼ 21 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
78%
▼ 5 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.8K
▼ 1% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.3
MN 14.8 · smaller classes
Schools in town
8
2,691 students on the public path
In brief

South St. Paul’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1594 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of South St. Paul’s, its schools beat 5%, lower than their 27% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 37% of tested students were proficient in reading and 24% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 95% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

78% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,839 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 South St. Paul Middle School, then South St. Paul High School. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Holy Trinity Elementary 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 South St. Paul’s grade

C− Test scoresC Graduation

C: better than 27% of Minnesota school districts, #264 of 274 Minnesota towns. Both inputs trail the Minnesota average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 27%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1594)Better than 5%
C−CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,462 test results and a graduating class of 229 could put South St. Paul anywhere from C− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of South St. Paul’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,442 in math, 1,483 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve South St. Paul, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C
6–8South St. Paul Middle SchoolSouth St. Paul Public School DistrictD
9–12South St. Paul High SchoolSouth St. Paul Public School DistrictC

South St. Paul’s public schools are run by South St. Paul Public School District. 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.

South St. Paul Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 2,861 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 13.3 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$16,839MN $17,091 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading37%
State average 51.1% · 1483 students tested
Math24%
State average 44.8% · 1442 students tested

South St. Paul vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share South St. Paul’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
South St. PaulCSouth St. Paul Public
Inver Grove HeightsB+Inver Grove Heights Schools PK–12 · Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan PK–12
West St. PaulBWest St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan
St. PaulC−St. Paul Public
NewportA−South Washington County

Every school in South St. Paul

8 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 South St. Paulby address
Lincoln Center Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · South Saint Paul
C
670 students13:1Rate it →
Kaposia Education Center Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · South Saint Paul
C−
620 students12:1Rate it →
South St. Paul Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · South Saint Paul
D
535 students11:1Rate it →
South St. Paul High School
High · Grades 9–12 · South Saint Paul
C
866 students17:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
S St. Paul Community Lrng. Cntr.
High · Grades 7–12 · South Saint Paul
C−
Alternative Education
99 students13:1Rate it →
Early Childhood Special Ed Program
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · South Saint Paul
Special Education
68 studentsRate it →
Other public schools in South St. Paulrun by other districts or the state
917 Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Grades PK–12 · South Saint Paul
C−
Special Education
29 students1:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Holy Trinity Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · South Saint Paul
Private · Catholic
108 students11:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (SSP Virtual).

Questions about South St. Paul’s schools

Are South St. Paul’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools South St. Paul children attend score below 73% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #264 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 5%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is South St. Paul in?

South St. Paul Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,861 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

Where do South St. Paul kids go to high school?

South St. Paul High School in South Saint Paul, with 866 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is South St. Paul’s graduation rate?

78% of the class of 2023 in South St. Paul Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does South St. Paul spend per student?

$16,839 in South St. Paul Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in South St. Paul?

Yes: Holy Trinity Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 108 students).

Parents talk

What South St. Paul families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near South St. Paul → 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.