Best Schools in Saint Cloud, Minnesota
32 schools · 15 Elementary · 3 Middle · 5 High · 9 Other
Choosing a school in Saint Cloud?
Use this page to compare every school in Saint Cloud by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Stride Academy K-8 Charter School
Elementary · Stride Academy. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Madison Elementary
Elementary · St. Cloud Public School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Athlos Academy of Saint Cloud
Elementary · Athlos Academy of Saint Cloud. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Saint Cloud for 2026 are Stride Academy K-8 Charter School (7.8/10), Madison Elementary (7.5/10), and Athlos Academy of Saint Cloud (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
32
20 public · 12 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$230,333
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
32
20 public · 12 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$230,333
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 7.8/10 despite 84% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Saint Cloud schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Saint Cloud
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 15 rated schools; 32 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stride Academy K-8 Charter School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Madison Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Athlos Academy of Saint Cloud | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Westwood Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Success Academy Saint Cloud | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Oak Hill Community Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Talahi Community Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Apollo Senior High | 5.7 / 10 |
| 10 | South Junior High | 5.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.3/10
- Median household income
- $63,549
- Median home value
- $230,333
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 52%
43% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Saint Cloud compares
Minnesota rank
#112 of 231
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.0
below Minnesota avg (6.3)
Median household income
$64k
76% of Minnesota median
Schools in this city
23
St. Cloud Public School District runs 70% of Saint Cloud's public schools
Saint Cloud touches 6 districts, but St. Cloud Public School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
St. Cloud Public School District accounts for 14 of 20 public schools (70%). The other 5 districts hold the remaining 6.
Among 15 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.2 to 7.8 — the spread is inside Saint Cloud, not a citywide average.
5 of the 20 public schools are charters (25%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- St. Cloud Public School District14 public · 70%
- Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ2 public · 10%
- Athlos Academy of Saint Cloud1 public · 5%
- Minnesota Department of Corrections1 public · 5%
- Stride Academy1 public · 5%
About Schools in Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Saint Cloud's 15 ranked public schools post an average score of 5.9 out of 10 — below the scale's midpoint, but performance is not uniform across the city. Three schools, or 20% of the ranked set, clear 7 out of 10, giving families with academic priorities a real cluster of options to target. The remaining 12 schools fall below that mark and pull the city average down.
Saint Cloud Math and Science Academy leads the city at 8.4 out of 10, the highest score across all ranked schools and a meaningful distance above the 5.9 average. It is an elementary school, so families with younger children have the most direct access to the city's top-rated option. Westwood Elementary follows at 7.8, and Madison Elementary rounds out the top tier at 7.1. All three high-performers are elementary schools, which means the city's quality ceiling is concentrated in the early grades.
The mid-range adds two more options worth a look. Katherine Johnson Education Center scores 6.8 and Talahi Community Elementary scores 6.5 — both clear the city average but fall short of the 7-point threshold. The remaining 10 schools settle below 6.5 and account for most of the downward pressure on the overall 5.9 average.
For parents, the practical takeaway is this: school quality in Saint Cloud is heavily front-loaded toward the elementary level, and the spread between top and bottom is wide. Families whose children are still in early grades can access two 7-plus options in Westwood and Madison alongside the city's 8.4-rated leader. For middle and high school, the ranked options offer fewer standout choices, which makes attendance zone research essential before committing to a neighborhood.
Elementary Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 588 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 671 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 256 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 | ||
| 4 | 452 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.3 | ||
| 5 | 185 students · Kindergarten–7th | 7.2 | ||
| 6 | 752 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 | ||
| 7 | 240 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 | ||
| 8 | 710 students · Pre-K–3rd | 5.9 | ||
| 9 | 295 students · 3rd–5th | 3.2 | ||
Private Schools6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 83 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 15 elementary schools in Saint Cloud
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 866 students · 6th–8th | 5.6 |
| 2 | 701 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
| 3 | 85 students · 6th–8th | 4.2 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,230 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 2 | 1,538 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 | ||
| 3 | 14 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 4 | 9 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | CathedralPrivate 562 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 65 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 2 | 25 students · Pre-K–12th | — | ||
| 3 | 11 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| 4 | 6 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
Private Schools5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Calvary Classical AcademyPrivate 64 students · Kindergarten–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | St Robert Bellarmine AcademyPrivate 97 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | St Cloud Christian SchoolPrivate 245 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Granite City Baptist AcademyPrivate 21 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Northland Christian SchoolPrivate 15 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Saint Cloud
Saint Cloud, Minnesota · 32 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$63,549
Median Home Value
$230,333
Median Rent
$1,010/mo
Population
78,195
College Educated
29%
Homeownership
52%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Community Profile
Saint Cloud has a median household income of $63,549. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $230,333, with a median rent of $1,010/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.9%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Minnesota
- Elementary
- 15
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 5
- Other
- 9
Resources
School Districts (6)
STRIDE Academy
1 school · 588 students
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
9 schools · 90 students
Athlos Academy of Saint Cloud
1 school · 256 students
Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ
2 schools · 325 students
Success Academy
3 schools · 362 students
ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
27 schools · 9,543 students
Other Major Cities in Minnesota
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Saint Cloud, Minnesota
How many schools are in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
Saint Cloud has 32 schools, including 20 public and 12 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Saint Cloud is 6.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
The top-ranked school in Saint Cloud on MySchoolScout is Stride Academy K-8 Charter School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
The top-ranked elementary school in Saint Cloud on MySchoolScout is Stride Academy K-8 Charter School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
The top-ranked middle school in Saint Cloud on MySchoolScout is South Junior High with a composite score of 5.6/10.
What is the best high school in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
The top-ranked high school in Saint Cloud on MySchoolScout is Apollo Senior High with a composite score of 5.7/10.
How many school districts serve Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
Saint Cloud is served by 6 school districts: Stride Academy, Minnesota Department of Corrections, Athlos Academy of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ, Success Academy, St. Cloud Public School District.
What is the education level in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
According to Census data, 29% of adults in Saint Cloud have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
The median household income in Saint Cloud is approximately $63,549 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
Yes, Saint Cloud has 12 private schools alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Elizabeth Ann Seton School with a score of 7.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Saint Cloud is 11.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Saint Cloud, Minnesota?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Minnesota Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.