Best Schools in Stillwater, Minnesota
22 schools · 10 Elementary · 2 Middle · 7 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Stillwater?
Use this page to compare every school in Stillwater 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.
St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper
High · St. Croix Preparatory Academy. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower
Elementary · St. Croix Preparatory Academy. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
St. Croix Prep Academy Middle
Middle · St. Croix Preparatory Academy. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Stillwater for 2026 are St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper (9.3/10), St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower (8.4/10), and St. Croix Prep Academy Middle (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 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
22
18 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$459,500
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
22
18 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$459,500
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 9.3/10 despite 11% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Stillwater schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Stillwater
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (16 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | St. Croix Prep Academy Middle | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Chesterton Academy of the St Croix Valley | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Gate 4/5 | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Marine Area Community School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Stillwater Middle School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Rutherford Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 9 | New Heights School Inc. | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Lily Lake Elementary | 5.9 / 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
- 6.5/10
- Median household income
- $117,538
- Median home value
- $459,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 53%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 78%
42% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Stillwater compares
Minnesota rank
#70 of 229
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Minnesota avg (6.2)
Median household income
$118k
140% of Minnesota median
Schools in this city
19
About Schools in Stillwater, Minnesota
Stillwater, Minnesota gives parents 15 ranked public schools to evaluate, with an average score of 6.7 out of 10 across the city. That average sits above the midpoint, and the distribution skews positive: 6 of the 15 schools — 40% — score 7.0 or higher, meaning strong options are genuinely accessible rather than isolated at the top of the market.
The top performer is St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper, a high school scoring 8.5 out of 10. That score clears the city average by nearly two full points and makes it one of the highest-rated individual schools in the area. St. Croix Prep Academy Middle scores 7.6, which matters for families thinking long-term — the pipeline through the preparatory system holds up across grade levels. Families who enter in middle school arrive at the upper school on competitive footing.
At the elementary level, three schools crack the 7.0 threshold. Wildwood Elementary leads at 7.9, followed by Gate 4/5 at 7.7 and Marine Area Community School at 7.5. That concentration gives younger families real choices without having to compromise significantly. The spread between the top elementary (7.9) and the city average (6.7) is a 1.2-point gap — meaningful in practice, since it reflects measurably different academic environments depending on which attendance zone a family lands in.
The practical takeaway for parents evaluating Stillwater is this: the ceiling is high. An 8.5-rated high school fed by a 7.6-rated middle school is a genuinely competitive pathway, and it's the clearest grade-band story in the city. The floor matters too — with 9 of 15 schools below 7.0, address and school-of-choice options both deserve early attention. Families with elementary-aged children should prioritize Wildwood and Gate 4/5. Families planning further ahead should map their route through the St. Croix Prep campuses now. Stillwater rewards parents who think in terms of the full K–12 trajectory rather than just the next enrollment step.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 452 students · Kindergarten–4th | 8.4 | ||
| 2 | 584 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | 62 students · 4th–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 4 | 126 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.5 | ||
| 5 | 560 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 6 | 417 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.9 | ||
| 7 | 432 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Croix Montessori
Private
59 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.7 | ||
| 2 | St Croix Catholic School
Private
264 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.4 | ||
| 3 | Salem Lutheran School
Private
127 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.2 | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 375 students · 5th–8th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 925 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 375 students · 9th–12th | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | 68 students · 6th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 2,713 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 4 | 79 students · 7th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 5 | 1 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
| 6 | 29 students · 12th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 50 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 222 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.4 |
| 2 | 30 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.9 |
| 3 | 14 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
Schools in Stillwater
Stillwater, Minnesota · 22 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$117,538
Median Home Value
$459,500
Median Rent
$1,439/mo
Population
36,414
College Educated
53%
Homeownership
78%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Community Profile
Stillwater has a median household income of $117,538. It is a well-educated community where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $459,500, with a median rent of $1,439/month. The local poverty rate of 6.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Minnesota
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 7
- Other
- 3
Resources
Nearby Cities
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 Stillwater, Minnesota
How many schools are in Stillwater, Minnesota?
Stillwater has 22 schools, including 18 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Stillwater, Minnesota?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Stillwater is 6.5 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 Stillwater, Minnesota?
The top-ranked school in Stillwater on MySchoolScout is St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Stillwater, Minnesota?
The top-ranked elementary school in Stillwater on MySchoolScout is St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Stillwater, Minnesota?
The top-ranked middle school in Stillwater on MySchoolScout is St. Croix Prep Academy Middle with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Stillwater, Minnesota?
The top-ranked high school in Stillwater on MySchoolScout is St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper with a composite score of 9.3/10.
How many school districts serve Stillwater, Minnesota?
Stillwater is served by 5 school districts: St. Croix Preparatory Academy, Marine Area Community School, Mahtomedi Public School District, New Heights School Inc., Stillwater Area Public Schools.
What is the education level in Stillwater, Minnesota?
According to Census data, 53% of adults in Stillwater have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Stillwater, Minnesota?
The median household income in Stillwater is approximately $117,538 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Stillwater, Minnesota?
Yes, Stillwater has 4 private schools alongside 18 public schools. The top-rated private school is Chesterton Academy of the St Croix Valley with a score of 7.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Stillwater, Minnesota?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Stillwater is 17.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Stillwater, 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.
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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.