C⁻

Schools in Waite Park · St. Cloud Public School District

Waite Park’s public schools score below 78% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

28% of students in Waite Park’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Waite Park, 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.

#270of 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

38%

▼ 13 pts vs MN 51%

2021–22

Math proficiency

28%

▼ 17 pts vs MN 45%

2021–22

Graduate on time

64%

▼ 19 pts vs MN 83%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$17.1K

▲ 0% vs MN $17.1K

FY2024

Students per teacher

13.9

MN 14.8 · smaller classes

Schools in town

5,530 students on the public path

In brief

Waite Park’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 823 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Waite Park’s, its schools beat 5%, lower than their 22% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 38% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 95% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

64% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,140 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then three middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Holy Innocents School (private) is in town. Central Minnesota Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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 Waite Park’s grade

C Test scoresD Graduation

C−: better than 22% of Minnesota school districts, #270 of 274 Minnesota towns. Both inputs trail the Minnesota average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 22%

Lower resultsHigher results

Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (823)Better than 5%

A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,224 test results and a graduating class of 815 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Waite Park’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,184 in math, 4,265 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

Kindergarten in Waite Park

Discovery Community Elementary

Grades PK–5 · 572 students · 13:1 students per teacher

C⁻

The path, start to finish

PK–5Discovery Community ElementarySt. Cloud Public School DistrictC⁻

6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC⁻ to C⁺

9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC

Waite Park’s public schools are run by St. Cloud 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.

St. Cloud Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 22 schools · 9,803 students, up 3% since 2021–22 · 13.9 per teacher (MN 14.8)

$17,140MN $17,091 · FY2024

C⁻

Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading38%

State average 51.1% · 4265 students tested

Math28%

State average 44.8% · 4184 students tested

Waite Park vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Waite Park	C⁻	St. Cloud Public
St. Cloud	C⁻	St. Cloud Public
St. Joseph	—	St. Cloud Public
St. Joseph (city)	C⁻	St. Cloud Public

All 3 neighbors share St. Cloud Public with Waite Park, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Waite Park

10 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 Waite Parkby address

Discovery Community Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–5

C⁻

572 students13:1Rate it →

Also serving Waite Parkin other towns

Kennedy Community School

Grades PK–9 · Saint Joseph

C⁺

582 students13:1Rate it →

South Junior High

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Saint Cloud

831 students16:1Rate it →

North Junior High

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Saint Cloud

C⁻

720 students16:1Rate it →

Technical Senior High

High · Grades 9–12 · Saint Cloud

1,561 students18:1Rate it →

Apollo Senior High

High · Grades 9–12 · Saint Cloud

1,264 students17:1Rate it →

Other district programsby referral or application

EC Sp Ed at Quarryview Ed Center

Prekindergarten · Grades PK

Special Education

245 students7:1Rate it →

St. Cloud Area Learning Center

High · Grades 6–12

Alternative Education

237 students12:1Rate it →

Online schools based in Waite Parknot counted as local schools

Central Minnesota Virtual Academy

High · Grades 6–12

Online

53 studentsRate it →

Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

Holy Innocents School

Grades K–12

Private · Catholic

12 students2:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Special Education Facilities).

Questions about Waite Park’s schools

Are Waite Park’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Waite Park children attend score below 78% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #270 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 Waite Park in?

St. Cloud Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 9,803 students in 22 schools (2024–25).

Where do Waite Park kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Technical Senior High and Apollo Senior High.

What is Waite Park’s graduation rate?

64% of the class of 2023 in St. Cloud Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Waite Park spend per student?

$17,140 in St. Cloud Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Waite Park?

Yes: Holy Innocents School (Catholic, grades K–12, 12 students).

Parents talk

What Waite Park families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Waite Park → 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.