Excellent
#103 of 1,992 schools in MN
Top 5% in state
St. James Northside Elementary
Elementary School · ST. JAMES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
P. O. BOX 509, Saint James, MN 56081
Enrollment
492
Student-Teacher
14.5:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
492
Student-Teacher
14.5:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Minnesota schools
#103 of 1,992
In Saint James
#1 of 3
public schools
In district
#1 of 3
ST. JAMES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Academic growth
9.3 / 10
Excellent
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St. James Northside Elementary
Elementary School in Saint James · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
St. James Middle/high School
0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
St Pauls Lutheran School
0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About St. James Northside Elementary
St. James Northside Elementary is a public elementary school in Saint James, MN, part of ST. JAMES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
St. James Northside Elementary serves approximately 492 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. St.
James Northside Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #103 of 1,992 schools in MN. Structured state assessment records for St. James Northside Elementary show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 8.5 · Excellent
- MN avg 6.4
What Parents Should Know
St. James Northside Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
St. James Northside Elementary — Students at St. James Northside Elementary score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
64.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.3/10.
How St. James Northside Elementary Compares
See how St. James Northside Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
P. O. BOX 509, Saint James, MN 56081
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering St. James Northside Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MADELIA ELEMENTARY (rated 7.5/10, 11.1 miles away, in nearby Madelia), with a comparable rating. Another option is ST MARYS CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 11.2 miles away, in nearby Madelia), a more accessible option. Additionally, TRIMONT ELEMENTARY (rated 6.9/10, 16.3 miles away, in nearby Trimont), a more accessible option. For more schools in Saint James, see our Saint James schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 19.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| St. James Middle/High School Saint James | 0.2 mi | 7.1 |
| ST PAULS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Saint James | 0.7 mi | 6.5 |
| ST. JAMES EARLY CHILDHOOD Saint James | 0.9 mi | — |
| Armstrong School Saint James | 0.9 mi | 3.4 |
| BUTTERFIELD ELEMENTARY Butterfield | 8.7 mi | 5.6 |
| BUTTERFIELD SECONDARY Butterfield | 8.7 mi | 5.0 |
| MADELIA ELEMENTARY Madelia | 11.1 mi | 7.5 |
| MADELIA SECONDARY Madelia | 11.1 mi | 7.7 |
| ST MARYS CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Madelia | 11.2 mi | 7.2 |
| TRIMONT ELEMENTARY Trimont | 16.3 mi | 6.9 |
| ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Truman | 14.4 mi | 5.6 |
| TRUMAN ELEMENTARY Truman | 14.8 mi | 6.0 |
| TRUMAN SECONDARY Truman | 14.8 mi | 6.2 |
| ELMENDORF CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Mountain Lake | 15.4 mi | 6.0 |
| MOUNTAIN LAKE ELEMENTARY Mountain Lake | 15.5 mi | 5.5 |
| MOUNTAIN LAKE SECONDARY Mountain Lake | 15.6 mi | 8.7 |
| COMFREY ELEMENTARY Comfrey | 16.4 mi | 6.4 |
| COMFREY SECONDARY Comfrey | 16.4 mi | 7.9 |
| MOUNTAIN LAKE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Mountain Lake | 15.6 mi | 8.1 |
| MARTIN LUTHER HIGH SCHOOL Northrop | 19.7 mi | 6.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 56081 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$66,612
Median Home Value
$153,400
Median Rent
$810/mo
Population
6,092
College Educated
18%
Homeownership
74.4%
Avg Commute
20.1 min
Poverty Rate
16.8%
Median Age
40.8
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| DAYTON ELEMENTARY Dayton, MN | 8.5 |
| EDEN LAKE ELEMENTARY Eden Prairie, MN | 8.5 |
| GLACIER HILLS SCHOOL - ARTS/SCIENCE Eagan, MN | 8.5 |
| Great Oaks Academy - Grammar Farmington, MN | 8.5 |
| LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY Cottonwood, MN | 8.5 |
| WESTWOOD ELEMENTARY Saint Cloud, MN | 8.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about St. James Northside Elementary
What grades does St. James Northside Elementary serve?
St. James Northside Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend St. James Northside Elementary?
St. James Northside Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 492 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at St. James Northside Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at St. James Northside Elementary is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does St. James Northside Elementary rank in MN?
St. James Northside Elementary ranks #103 of 1,992 schools in MN.
What is St. James Northside Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
St. James Northside Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 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 St. James Northside Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, St. James Northside Elementary has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is St. James Northside Elementary a charter school?
No, St. James Northside Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is St. James Northside Elementary a Title I school?
No, St. James Northside Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for St. James Northside Elementary?
64.8% of students at St. James Northside 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 492
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 64.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Watonwan County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.0%
- Phone
- (507) 375-3325
Resources & Links
District
ST. JAMES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 1,150
- Schools in District
- 4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,649
- District Rank
- #1 of 3
Other Schools in This District
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