Below Average
#1734 of 1,992 schools in MN
Discovery Community Elementary
Elementary School · St. Cloud Public School District · Waite Park, MN
A St. Cloud Public School District elementary school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
700 7TH ST S, Waite Park, MN 56387
- Math 25% proficient (2022)
- Reading 27% proficient (2022)
- 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Discovery Community Elementary score 26% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MN average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 31 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 26% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
84.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Discovery Community Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 40Car-Dependent
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,255/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Waite Park), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$57,387
Median home value
$230,500
Median rent
$1,072/mo
College educated
19%
Homeownership
48.6%
Poverty rate
24.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 56387; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ec Sp Ed at Quarryview Ed CenterEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | PK | 0.1 mi | 304 | Compare → |
| Holy Innocents SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 1–12 | 0.7 mi | 13 | Compare → |
| Special Education FacilitiesEnrollment path unverified | 3.4 | PK–12 | 0.8 mi | 59 | Compare → |
| Clearview ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | K–5 | Not available | 403 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
St. Cloud Public School District
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #12 of 16
- District spending per student
- $16,825NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Discovery Community Elementary is listed in ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Discovery Community Elementary
Discovery Community Elementary is a public elementary school in Waite Park, MN, part of St. Cloud Public School District, serving approximately 540 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,734 of 1,992 schools in MN.
State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Discovery Community Elementary
What grades does Discovery Community Elementary serve?
Discovery Community Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Discovery Community Elementary?
Discovery Community Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 540 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Community Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Community Elementary is 12.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Discovery Community Elementary rank in MN?
Discovery Community Elementary ranks #1,734 of 1,992 schools in MN.
What is Discovery Community Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Discovery Community Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Discovery Community Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Discovery Community Elementary has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Discovery Community Elementary a charter school?
No, Discovery Community Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Discovery Community Elementary a Title I school?
No, Discovery Community Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Discovery Community Elementary?
84.8% of students at Discovery Community Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 540
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 43
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Stearns County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.4%
- Phone
- (320) 370-6180
- Area population (ZIP 56387)
- 7,705
- Area average commute
- 18.2 min
- Area median age
- 38.8
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 56387; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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