| District | City | Rating | Students | Schools | Grades | Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sartell-St. Stephen School District | Saint Stephen | 10/10 Excellent · 95th pct | 4,098 | 5 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Albany Public School District | Albany | 9/10 Excellent · 89th pct | 1,788 | 4 | PK–12 | 3 |
| Holdingford Public School District | Holdingford | 8/10 Good · 74th pct | 1,082 | 2 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Rocori Public School District | Cold Spring | 7/10 Good · 65th pct | 2,387 | 7 | PK–12 | 3 |
| Melrose Public School District | Freeport | 7/10 Good · 64th pct | 1,277 | 3 | PK–12 | 4 |
| Kimball Public School District | Kimball | 6/10 Average · 55th pct | 784 | 2 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Paynesville Public School District | Paynesville | 6/10 Average · 51st pct | 894 | 3 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Sauk Centre Public School District | Sauk Center | 5/10 Average · 49th pct | 1,139 | 3 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public School District | Belgrade | 5/10 Average · 48th pct | 645 | 2 | PK–12 | 3 |
| St. Cloud Public School District | Saint Cloud | 3/10 Below Average · 22nd pct | 9,286 | 26 | PK–12 | 5 |
How Stearns County compares
Together they enroll 23,380 students across 57 schools. The largest is St. Cloud Public School District with 9,286 students. Districts here average 6.6/10, above the Minnesota average of 6.4/10. Ratings range from 3/10 to 10/10.
School Districts in Stearns County, Minnesota
Stearns County has 10 public school districts covering 25 zip codes. The top-rated district in Stearns County is Sartell-St. Stephen School District (10/10). Ratings are based on the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (MCA 2024–25), ranked against all districts in Minnesota. Directory details come from NCES CCD 2024–25.
Enter your zip code on any page to confirm your exact district assignment — district boundaries are address-specific and may not follow county or city lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many school districts are in Stearns County, MN?
10 school districts serve zip codes in Stearns County, MN. This page lists each one with its rating, enrollment, grade span and the zip codes it covers.
What is the best-rated school district in Stearns County, MN?
Of the districts serving Stearns County, Sartell-St. Stephen School District has the highest rating on this site at 10/10. That places it in the 95th percentile among Minnesota school districts.
How are these school district ratings calculated?
Each rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above on Minnesota reading and math assessments, ranked against other districts in Minnesota and converted to a 1–10 scale. Percentiles compare districts within Minnesota only, never across state lines.