Our Story
A quick history of St. Croix Prep
History
St. Croix Preparatory Academy is a K–12 public charter school that opened in the Stillwater area in the fall of 2004. The school began with 200 students in grades K–7 and experienced significant growth in the years that followed. Today, St. Croix Prep serves more than 1,200 students in kindergarten through grade 12.
Located on 59 acres, St. Croix Prep provides an academically rigorous, content-rich education grounded in the classical tradition. Its educational approach is organized around the classical stages of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, helping students build foundational knowledge, think critically, communicate effectively, and develop the character and leadership skills needed for life.
Mission Statement
St. Croix Preparatory Academy will develop each student’s academic potential, personal character, and leadership qualities through an academically rigorous and content-rich educational program grounded in the classical tradition.
Enrollment & Waitlists
*Waitlists start at zero at the beginning of every school year.
| Year | Enrolled | Grades | Waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 200 | K-7 | 169 |
| 2005 | 252 | K-8 | 279 |
| 2006 | 342 | K-9 | 306 |
| 2007 | 444 | K-10 | 549 |
| 2008 | 743 | K-11 | 450+ |
| 2009 | 881 | K-12 | 500+ |
| 2010 | 958 | K-12 | 500+ |
| 2011 | 1010 | K-12 | 500+ |
| 2012 | 1056 | K-12 | 500 |
| 2013 | 1119 | K-12 | 500 |
| 2014 | 1150 | K-12 | 500 |
| Year | Enrolled | Grades | Waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1163 | K-12 | 500 |
| 2016 | 1155 | K-12 | 700+ |
| 2017 | 1164 | K-12 | 700+ |
| 2018 | 1158 | K-12 | 700+ |
| 2019 | 1207 | K-12 | 700+ |
| 2020 | 1208 | K-12 | 700+ |
| 2021 | 1213 | K-12 | 700+ |
| 2022 | 1216 | K-12 | 700+ |
| 2023 | 1214 | K-12 | 850+ |
| 2024 | 1208 | K-12 | 900+ |
| 2025 | 1232 | K-12 | 800+ |
School Profile
Academic Performance
Since its inception, based on standardized tests, the School has always ranked in the top 10% of Minnesota’s public schools. For the past seven years, St. Croix Prep has ranked as the #1 public school in Minnesota, based on these tests. Over its existence the school has been nationally recognized by the Washington Post, SchoolDigger, Niche; and in 2021 the Middle School was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. St. Croix Prep Lower School was the recipient of the 2023-2024 Minnesota School of Excellence Award. The School has consistently had a graduation rate that exceeds 95%, with over 90% of its graduates attending college.
MCA Math
St. Croix Prep vs MN State-Wide Results
| Year | st.croixprep | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| 05/06 | - | - |
| 06/07 | - | - |
| 07/08 | 57% | 39% |
| 08/09 | 69% | 46% |
| 09/10 | 71% | 49% |
| 10/11 | 70% | 48% |
| 11/12 | 75% | 51% |
| 12/13 | 69% | 53% |
| 13/14 | 79% | 53% |
| 14/15 | 86% | 53% |
| 15/16 | 80% | 55% |
| 16/17 | 83% | 54% |
| 17/18 | 86% | 53% |
| 18/19 | 86% | 51% |
| 19/20* | - | - |
| 20/21 | 76% | 43% |
| 21/22 | 75% | 43% |
| 22/23 | 82% | 42% |
| 23/24 | 68% | 40% |
| 24/25** | 59% | 26% |
*Test not administered due to COVID-19
**1st year of MCA IV using NGSS
**1st year of MCA IV using NGSS
MCA Reading
St. Croix Prep vs MN State-Wide Results
| Year | st.croixprep | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| 05/06 | 88% | 72% |
| 06/07 | 90% | 69% |
| 07/08 | 86% | 71% |
| 08/09 | 88% | 72% |
| 09/10 | 90% | 72% |
| 10/11 | 92% | 74% |
| 11/12 | 96% | 76% |
| 12/13 | 81% | 58% |
| 13/14 | 85% | 59% |
| 14/15 | 87% | 59% |
| 15/16 | 87% | 60% |
| 16/17 | 89% | 60% |
| 17/18 | 89% | 60% |
| 18/19 | 90% | 60% |
| 19/20 | - | - |
| 20/21 | 87% | 53% |
| 21/22 | 82% | 52% |
| 22/23 | 83% | 50% |
| 23/24 | 81% | 50% |
| 24/25 | 80% | 50% |
*Test not administered due to COVID-19
MCA Science
St. Croix Prep vs MN State-Wide Results
| Year | st.croixprep | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| 05/06 | - | - |
| 06/07 | - | - |
| 07/08 | 57% | 39% |
| 08/09 | 69% | 46% |
| 09/10 | 71% | 49% |
| 10/11 | 70% | 48% |
| 11/12 | 75% | 51% |
| 12/13 | 69% | 53% |
| 13/14 | 79% | 53% |
| 14/15 | 86% | 53% |
| 15/16 | 80% | 55% |
| 16/17 | 83% | 54% |
| 17/18 | 86% | 53% |
| 18/19 | 86% | 51% |
| 19/20* | - | - |
| 20/21 | 76% | 43% |
| 21/22 | 75% | 43% |
| 22/23 | 82% | 42% |
| 23/24 | 68% | 40% |
| 24/25** | 59% | 26% |
*Test not administered due to COVID-19
**1st year of MCA IV using NGSS
**1st year of MCA IV using NGSS
Activities
St. Croix Preparatory Academy offers students a wide range of academic, athletic, artistic, and extracurricular opportunities.
Beginning in kindergarten, students participate in art, music, and physical education. In grades 5–12, they may also study Latin and take part in performance-based music courses and ensembles, including band, orchestra, choir, and jazz band.
Learning extends beyond the classroom through field trips, service projects, and travel experiences. Eighth-grade students have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., while Upper School students may participate in additional domestic and international travel programs.
Extracurricular opportunities include, but are not limited to:
Academic
- Student Council
- Quiz Bowl
- Battle of the Books
- Continental Math League
- Upper School Math League
- Lego League
- School Newspaper
Athletic
- Football — (co-op with Gentry Academy)
- Cross Country
- Volleyball
- Archery
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Baseball
- Hockey
- Softball
- Girls Lacrosse
- Girls Tennis
- Track
- Golf
- Dance Team
- Alpine Skiing
- Ski Club
Performing Arts
- Concert Choir
- Chamber Choir
- Jazz Band
- Chamber Orchestra
- Concert Orchestra
- Pep Band
- Lower School Theater
- Middle School Theater
- Upper School Theater
- Speech
- Debate
Manifesto:
Schools today focus on giving children an education to help them get a job or gain acceptance to a college. We’re not this kind of school – our purpose far exceeds this.
We don’t just prepare students for a job or college, we prepare young people for life.
We partner with parents who are invested in their child’s future, and are committed to their children not just surviving in life, but thriving in life.
We combine a classical education with our culture of character to help children not just reach their career or educational goals, but to reach their life goals.
St. Croix Prep. Prep for Life.
Foundation:
Location History
The following is a quick visual tour of the various sites St. Croix Prep has used over the years:
First Building
216 West Myrtle Street
2004-2008
Opening with 200 students in the Fall of 2004, St. Croix Prep's first building was in downtown Stillwater on Myrtle Street.
- 10,000 sq ft
- One City Block
- 8 Classrooms
5-11 Expansion
201 North 2nd Street
2006-2009
As we expanded enrollment for grades 8 through 11.
Herbergers Building
14781 59th Street
2008-2009
As we expanded enrollment in 2008 from 444 to 743 students to prepare for our move to the new K-12 Campus.
Current K-12 Campus
4260 Stagecoach Trail North
2009 - Today
In 2008, Friends of St. Croix Preparatory Academy (FSCPA) selected a 59 acre site for the current campus.
- 137,000 sq ft
- 59 Acre Campus
- 50 Classrooms
- Gymnasium
- Performing Arts Center
- 8 Lane Track
- Turf Field
- Bleachers
- PressBox
- Trail Around Property
Campus Construction Projects
A quick history of campus expansions at 4260 Stagecoach Trail North:
Initial Construction
2009
In 2008, Friends of St. Croix Preparatory Academy (FSCPA) selected a 59 acre site. FSCPA issued bonds ($21.7 million) for the new school construction. Partners involved in this bond transaction included Dougherty & Company, Best & Flanagan, Briggs and Morgan, Wells Fargo, and Baytown Township. The School was designed by Kodet Architectural Group and constructed by Adolfson & Peterson Construction.
BUILDING EXPANSION
2012
FSCPA issued bonds ($5 million) for expansion of the school facilities. Expanded facilities included more classroom space, locker-rooms, fitness room and the PAC (Performing Arts Center) Partners involved in this bond transaction included Dougherty & Co, Best & Flanagan, Briggs and Morgan, Wells Fargo, and Baytown Township. The expansion was designed by Pope Architects and was constructed by Adolfson & Peterson.
Athletic Fields
2016
FSCPA refunded the 2008 and 2012 bonds and issued additional bonds ($4 million) for the development of athletic fields which include an 8 lane track, a competitive artificial turf field, two natural turf fields, and a building to accommodate potential overflow for baseball, softball, archery, golf, physical education classes, and recess. The project was completed by the middle of October 2017.
Athletic Stands
2022
The bleachers and pressbox were completed in June 2022.
Coming Soon:
Our Campus Today:
Authorizer
St. Croix Preparatory Academy is authorized by Friends of Education.
