Our Story
A quick history of St. Croix Prep
History
St. Croix Preparatory Academy is a K-12 charter school that opened in the Stillwater area in the fall of 2004. The school opened with 200 students in grades K-7. The School experienced tremendous growth and has served over 1,200 students in grades K-12 for the past six years.
Located on 59 acres of land, St. Croix Preparatory Academy’s educational philosophy is based on the classical methodology of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, an educational philosophy proven to achieve outstanding academic results.
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
Year
Enrolled
Grades
Waitlist*
2014
1150
K-12
500
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+
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
MCA Reading
St. Croix Prep vs MN State-Wide Results
MCA Science
St. Croix Prep vs MN State-Wide Results
Activities
Apart from the core academic classes, St. Croix Preparatory Academy offers Art, Music, and Physical Education, for all students beginning in Kindergarten. The school also offers Latin and Music Performance electives (Band, Orchestra, Choir, Jazz Band) for students in grades 5-12. Aside from field trips and service projects, St. Croix Prep also offers educational travel opportunities, with 8th Grade students traveling to Washington D.C. Juniors and seniors have international educational travel opportunities; the 2018-2019 class spent 12 days in Italy; future travels are scheduled for Greece. The School also offers a Marine Biology educational travel opportunity to the Cayman Islands and a service travel opportunity to Guatemala. In addition to the academic programming, St. Croix Prep offers its students a full range of extracurricular activities. In addition to the academic programming, St. Croix Prep offers its students a full range arts programming and extracurricular activities. These 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
- 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
2004-2008
216 West Myrtle Street
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
2006-2009
201 North 2nd Street
As we expanded enrollment for grades 8 through 11.
Herbergers Building
2008-2009
14781 59th Street
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
2009 - Today
4260 Stagecoach Trail North
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:
