Very Good
#532 of 1,986 schools in MN
Top 27% in state
The Next Step
High School · North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale
2586 7TH AVE E, North Saint Paul, MN 55109
Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on MN statewide data. Learn more
Enrollment
77
Student-Teacher
7:1
Score
7.3
Grades
11th – 12th
Enrollment
77
Student-Teacher
7:1
Score
7.3
Grades
11th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In North Saint Paul
#4 of 8
public schools
Minnesota high schools
#101 of 628
In district
#2 of 15
North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale
School environment
8.9 / 10
Exceptional
About The Next Step
The Next Step serves 77 students in grades 11 and 12 in North Saint Paul, Minnesota, offering a focused educational environment for upper-level high school students. This regular public school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7:1 with 11 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for individualized attention that many larger schools cannot provide. The school has earned a solid MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #407 out of 2027 Minnesota schools, placing it in the 80th percentile statewide.
This performance suggests The Next Step effectively serves its student population despite its small size, likely benefiting from the personalized learning environment that comes with such intimate class sizes. Located in the 55109 ZIP code area, the school serves a stable middle-class community where the median household income reaches $79,391 and median home values average $279,300. About one-third of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the poverty rate remains relatively low at 9.9 percent among the area's 34,220 residents.
The Next Step operates within North Saint Paul's large suburban setting in Ramsey County, providing an alternative educational pathway for juniors and seniors in this established Twin Cities metropolitan community.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 77 students, The Next Step is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
With a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, The Next Step offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Score Breakdown
Partial Profile · 3/4 metricsRequires 2+ years of test data
View breakdown
View breakdown
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
75.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Component weights adjusted due to data availability.
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
How The Next Step Compares
See how The Next Step performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
2586 7TH AVE E, North Saint Paul, MN 55109
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering The Next Step may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Lionsgate Academy AIM (rated 7.6/10, 0.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is 622 Online High School (rated 7.6/10, 0.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, 916 MAHTOMEDI ACADEMY (rated 6.6/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby White Bear Lake), with a comparable rating. For more schools in North Saint Paul, see our North Saint Paul schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| North Metro Flex Academy North Saint Paul | 0.2 mi | 6.2 |
| North Metro Flex Middle School North Saint Paul | 0.2 mi | 7.6 |
| Lionsgate Academy AIM North Saint Paul | 0.2 mi | 7.6 |
| 622 ALTERNATIVE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL North Saint Paul | 0.3 mi | — |
| 622 Online High School North Saint Paul | 0.3 mi | 7.6 |
| ST PETER CATHOLIC North Saint Paul | 0.5 mi | 6.4 |
| COWERN ELEMENTARY North Saint Paul | 0.5 mi | 6.2 |
| NORTH SENIOR HIGH North Saint Paul | 0.4 mi | 5.9 |
| RICHARDSON ELEMENTARY North Saint Paul | 0.6 mi | 4.7 |
| CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL North Saint Paul | 0.7 mi | 5.9 |
| Justice Alan Page Elementary School Maplewood | 1.2 mi | 7.0 |
| HILL MURRAY SCHOOL Saint Paul | 1.4 mi | 5.6 |
| CASTLE ELEMENTARY Oakdale | 1.1 mi | 5.8 |
| 916 MAHTOMEDI ACADEMY White Bear Lake | 1.7 mi | 6.6 |
| Passages Transition Program Mahtomedi | 1.7 mi | — |
| Harmony Learning Center Maplewood | 1.5 mi | 6.8 |
| MOUNDS PARK ACADEMY Saint Paul | 1.7 mi | 8.5 |
| PrairieCare Maplewood Maplewood | 1.7 mi | — |
| WHITE BEAR AREA LEARNING CENTER White Bear Lake | 2.2 mi | 6.6 |
| Level Up Academy White Bear Lake | 2.5 mi | 4.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 55109 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$81,759
Median Home Value
$291,200
Median Rent
$1,316/mo
Population
34,266
College Educated
30.7%
Homeownership
65.1%
Avg Commute
23.3 min
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Median Age
36.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding The Next Step has a median household income of $81,759. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $291,200, with a median rent of $1,316/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.4%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Academic Excellence Online Duluth, MN | 7.3 |
| BLOOMINGTON TRANSITION CENTER Bloomington, MN | 7.3 |
| Freshwater Education District ALC Wadena, MN | 7.3 |
| Osseo Education Center Osseo, MN | 7.3 |
| Runestone Alternative School Alexandria, MN | 7.3 |
| SAGE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL Brooklyn Park, MN | 7.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about The Next Step
What grades does The Next Step serve?
The Next Step serves students in grades 11th through 12th.
How many students attend The Next Step?
The Next Step has an enrollment of approximately 77 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Next Step?
The student-teacher ratio at The Next Step is 7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does The Next Step rank in MN?
The Next Step is ranked #532 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is The Next Step's MySchoolScout rating?
The Next Step has a composite rating of 7.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
Is The Next Step a charter school?
No, The Next Step is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is The Next Step a Title I school?
No, The Next Step is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for The Next Step?
75.3% of students at The Next Step 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
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 11th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 77
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 75.3%
- Type
- special_ed
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Ramsey County
- Phone
- (651) 621-1900
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale- District Enrollment
- 10,633
- Schools in District
- 23
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,478
- District Rank
- #2 of 15
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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