Best Schools in Stearns County, MN
Stearns County, MN has 88 public schools (18 high, 9 middle, 46 elementary) serving 31,341 students. On average they score 35% on state proficiency tests against a projected 44%, so schools in Stearns County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Stearns County, MN
The top high schools in Stearns County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Annandale Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Annandale Public School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 611 Students
2. Sartell Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sartell-st. Stephen School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1349 Students
3. Melrose Secondary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Melrose Public School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 472 Students
4. Albany Area High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Albany Public School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 536 Students
5. Rocori Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rocori Public School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 876 Students
6. Eden Valley Secondary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Eden Valley-watkins School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 458 Students
7. Upsala Secondary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Upsala Public School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 160 Students
8. Kimball Secondary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kimball Public School District • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 474 Students
9. Sauk Centre Secondary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sauk Centre Public School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 608 Students
10. Belgrade-brooten-elrosa Sec.
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Belgrade-brooten-elrosa School Dist • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 338 Students
Best Middle Schools in Stearns County, MN
The top middle schools in Stearns County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Sartell Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sartell-st. Stephen School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 978 Students
2. Annandale Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Annandale Public School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 476 Students
3. Albany Area Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Albany Public School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 454 Students
4. Sauk Centre Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sauk Centre Public School District • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 141 Students
5. Rocori Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rocori Public School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 560 Students
6. Melrose Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Melrose Public School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 334 Students
7. South Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
St. Cloud Public School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 867 Students
8. North Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
St. Cloud Public School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 708 Students
9. St. Cloud Math & Science Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saint Cloud Math And Science Academ • Charter • Grades 6 - 8 • 44 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Stearns County, MN
The top elementary schools in Stearns County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Holdingford Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Holdingford Public School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 594 Students
2. Prince Of Peace Lutheran School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Prince Of Peace Lutheran School • Private • Grades Pre K - 8 • 211 Students
3. Eden Valley Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Eden Valley-watkins School District • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 403 Students
4. Riverview Intermediate School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sartell-st. Stephen School District • Public • Grades 3 - 5 • 938 Students
5. Paynesville Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Paynesville Public School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 405 Students
6. Annandale Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Annandale Public School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 962 Students
7. Avon Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Albany Public School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 300 Students
8. Albany Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Albany Public School District • Public • Grades 1 - 5 • 498 Students
9. Rockville Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rocori Public School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 133 Students
10. Kimball Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kimball Public School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 310 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Stearns County, MN
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Stearns County, MN has a total population of 158,292 with 28% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 92%, and 29% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Stearns County, MN
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Stearns County, MN.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
19.50 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
2.65 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
16.85 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Stearns County, MN.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Stearns County, MN.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Stearns County, MN Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Stearns County, MN
How many schools are in Stearns County, MN?
Stearns County, MN has 88 public schools: 18 high schools, 9 middle schools and 46 elementary schools, serving 31,341 students in total.
How do schools in Stearns County perform on state tests?
On average, 88 schools in Stearns County score 35% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 44%, so on average schools in Stearns County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Stearns County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Stearns County, MN
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 37%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 37%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 51%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 38%
- Projected: 51%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 46%
- Projected: 51%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 30%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 35%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 44%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Stearns County
15 places in Stearns County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (15)
- Sartell (5)
- Cold Spring (4)
- Melrose (4)
- Albany (3)
- Sauk Centre (3)
- Waite Park (3)
- Holdingford (2)
- Kimball (2)
- Paynesville (2)
- Avon (1)
- Belgrade (1)
- Brooten (1)
- Eden Valley (1)
- Richmond (1)
- Rockville (1)
School districts (7)
- St. Cloud Public School District (19 schools)
- Rocori Public School District (7 schools)
- Sartell-St. Stephen School District (5 schools)
- Albany Public School District (4 schools)
- Benton-Stearns Education District (3 schools)
- Melrose Public School District (3 schools)
- Sauk Centre Public School District (3 schools)