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Downtown Stillwater 2020-06-27Photo: August Schwerdfeger · CC BY 4.0
A
Schools in Stillwater · Stillwater Area Public School District

Stillwater’s public schools outscore 85% of Minnesota districts

On the state math tests, 56% of Stillwater’s students scored proficient, above the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Stillwater, 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.

#61of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% 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
59%
▲ 8 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
56%
▲ 11 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 9 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.7K
▼ 2% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
18.1
MN 14.8 · larger classes
Schools in town
13
5,052 students on the public path
In brief

Stillwater’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 59% and math 56% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,719 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Stillwater Middle School, then Stillwater Area High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

New Heights School Inc., New Heights Elementary School, St. Croix Catholic School (private), Salem Lutheran School (private) and Chesterton Academy of the St. Croix Valley (private) are in town. Falcon View Online High School, Falcon View Online Elementary and Falcon View Online Middle School, online schools, are based here too; they aren’t counted as local schools. 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 Stillwater’s grade

A Test scoresB Graduation

A: better than 85% of Minnesota school districts, #61 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 85%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1357)Better than 86%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,892 test results and a graduating class of 673 could put Stillwater anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of Stillwater’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,790 in math, 3,994 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB to B+
6–8Stillwater Middle SchoolStillwater Area Public School DistrictA−
9–12Stillwater Area High SchoolStillwater Area Public School DistrictA−

Stillwater’s public schools are run by Stillwater Area 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.

Stillwater Area Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 16 schools · 8,455 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 18.1 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$16,719MN $17,091 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading59%
State average 51.1% · 3994 students tested
Math56%
State average 44.8% · 3790 students tested

Stillwater vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
StillwaterAStillwater Area Public
Oak Park HeightsAStillwater Area Public
GrantAMahtomedi Public PK–12 · Stillwater Area Public PK–12

All 2 neighbors share Stillwater Area Public with Stillwater, so their letters differ mainly through other districts. Somerset, WI and St. Joseph, WI border Stillwater but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.

Every school in Stillwater

17 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 Stillwaterby address
Lily Lake Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
398 students13:1Rate it →
Rutherford Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
573 students17:1Rate it →
Stonebridge Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
420 students16:1Rate it →
Gate 4/5
Elementary · Grades 4–5
A+
64 studentsRate it →
Stillwater Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
939 students19:1Rate it →
Also serving Stillwaterin other towns
Stillwater Area High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
2,658 students22:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Stillwater Special Services-Ecse
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
259 students16:1Rate it →
St. Croix Valley Area Learning CNTR.
High · Grades 7–12
Alternative Education
75 students12:1Rate it →
Bridge Transition Program
High · Grades 12
Special Education
37 students7:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
New Heights School Inc.
High · Grades 6–12
D
Charter
70 students8:1Rate it →
New Heights Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
Charter
39 students12:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Stillwaternot counted as local schools
Falcon View Online High School
High · Grades 9–12
C
Online
187 students17:1Rate it →
Falcon View Online Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
Online
44 students9:1Rate it →
Falcon View Online Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
Online
70 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Croix Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
365 students17:1Rate it →
Salem Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
134 students16:1Rate it →
Chesterton Academy of the St. Croix Valley
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic
37 students6:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (A/O Program, Stillwater Dist. Special Services and WCJC).

Questions about Stillwater’s schools

Are Stillwater’s schools good?

By Minnesota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Stillwater children attend outscore 85% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #61 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 86%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Stillwater in?

Stillwater Area Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,455 students in 16 schools (2024–25).

Where do Stillwater kids go to high school?

Stillwater Area High School, with 2,658 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Stillwater’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Stillwater Area Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Stillwater spend per student?

$16,719 in Stillwater Area Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Stillwater?

Yes: St. Croix Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 365 students), Salem Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 134 students) and Chesterton Academy of the St. Croix Valley (Catholic, grades 9–12, 37 students). Stillwater also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Stillwater families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Stillwater → 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.