📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (MCA 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 10 Rated Districts in Stearns County, MN
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sartell-St. Stephen School District | Sartell | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #2 | Albany Public School District | Albany | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #3 | Holdingford Public School District | Holdingford | 8/10 Good | 74th |
| #4 | Rocori Public School District | Cold Spring | 7/10 Good | 65th |
| #5 | Melrose Public School District | Melrose | 7/10 Good | 64th |
| #6 | Kimball Public School District | Kimball | 6/10 Average | 55th |
| #7 | Paynesville Public School District | Paynesville | 6/10 Average | 51st |
| #8 | Sauk Centre Public School District | Sauk Centre | 5/10 Average | 49th |
| #9 | Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public School District | Belgrade | 5/10 Average | 48th |
| #10 | St. Cloud Public School District | Waite Park | 3/10 Below Average | 22nd |
Best School Districts in Stearns County, Minnesota (2026)
This page lists the 10 public school districts headquartered in Stearns County, Minnesota that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using MCA 2024–25 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Minnesota, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Stearns County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Stearns County, Minnesota? ▼
Among the 10 rated districts in Stearns County, Minnesota, the highest-rated is Sartell-St. Stephen School District (Sartell), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 95th percentile of Minnesota districts on MCA 2024–25 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (MCA 2024–25), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Minnesota and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.