For the 2026 school year, there are 33 public high schools serving 8,924 students in Stearns County, MN.
The top-ranked public high schools in Stearns County, MN are Albany Area High School, Sartell Senior High School and Beacon Program W Central Ed. Dist.. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Stearns County, MN public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 31% (versus the Minnesota public high school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 51% statewide average). High schools in Stearns County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Minnesota public high schools.
Stearns County, MN public high school have a Graduation Rate of 81%, which is less than the Minnesota average of 83%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Sartell Senior High School, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Minnesota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 30% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Minnesota public high school average of 38% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Best Public High Schools in Stearns County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Albany Area High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
30 Forest Ave
Albany, MN 56307
(320) 845-5043
Albany, MN 56307
(320) 845-5043
Gr: 9-12 | 584 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #22.
Sartell Senior High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3101 Pine Cone Rd
Sartell, MN 56377
(320) 656-0748
Sartell, MN 56377
(320) 656-0748
Gr: 9-12 | 1,269 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #33.
Beacon Program W Central Ed. Dist.
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9 2nd St Sw
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-6026
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-6026
Gr: PK-12 | 10 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #44.
West Central Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9 2nd St Sw
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-7836
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-7836
Gr: 6-12 | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #55.
Melrose Secondary
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
546 5th Ave Ne
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-5160
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-5160
Gr: 9-12 | 505 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #66.
Kennedy Community School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1300 Jade Rd
Saint Joseph, MN 56374
(320) 370-7430
Saint Joseph, MN 56374
(320) 370-7430
Gr: PK-9 | 582 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #77.
Kimball Secondary
(Math: 37% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 W State Highway 55
Kimball, MN 55353
(320) 398-7700
Kimball, MN 55353
(320) 398-7700
Gr: 6-12 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #88.
Holdingford Secondary
(Math: 38% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
900 5th St
Holdingford, MN 56340
(320) 746-2221
Holdingford, MN 56340
(320) 746-2221
Gr: 7-12 | 509 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #99.
Sauk Centre Secondary
(Math: 38% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
903 State Rd
Sauk Centre, MN 56378
(320) 352-2258
Sauk Centre, MN 56378
(320) 352-2258
Gr: 7-12 | 597 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1010.
Roosevelt Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3015 3rd St N
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 370-6890
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 370-6890
Gr: K-12 | 14 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1111.
Technical Senior High School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4200 33rd St S
Saint Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 370-8350
Saint Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 370-8350
Gr: 9-12 | 1,561 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #1212.
Belgrade-brooten-elrosa Secondary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
710 Washburn Ave
Belgrade, MN 56312
(320) 254-8211
Belgrade, MN 56312
(320) 254-8211
Gr: 6-12 | 316 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1313.
Apollo Senior High School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1000 44th Ave N
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 370-6790
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 370-6790
Gr: 9-12 | 1,264 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1414.
Rocori Senior High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
534 5th Ave N
Cold Spring, MN 56320
(320) 685-8683
Cold Spring, MN 56320
(320) 685-8683
Gr: 9-12 | 824 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1515.
Paynesville Area Secondary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
795 Business 23 S
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 243-3761
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 243-3761
Gr: 6-12 | 465 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1616.
Katherine Johnson Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
713 Anderson Avenue North
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 370-6897
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 370-6897
Gr: K-12 | 79 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1717.
St. Cloud Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
216 N 8th Ave
Waite Park, MN 56387
(320) 370-6790
Waite Park, MN 56387
(320) 370-6790
Gr: 6-12 | 237 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: n/an/a
180 Degrees / Youth Shelter
Alternative School
1101 Washington Memorial Dr
Saint Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 370-8020
Saint Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 370-8020
Gr: 6-12
Rank: n/an/a
Alc - Holdingford
Alternative School
900 5th St
Holdingford, MN 56340
(320) 746-2196
Holdingford, MN 56340
(320) 746-2196
Gr: 7-12
Rank: n/an/a
Alc - Kimball
Alternative School
100 W State Highway 55
Kimball, MN 55353
(320) 398-5585
Kimball, MN 55353
(320) 398-5585
Gr: 7-12
Rank: n/an/a
Alc - Sartell
Alternative School
212 3rd Ave N
Sartell, MN 56377
(320) 656-0748
Sartell, MN 56377
(320) 656-0748
Gr: 9-12 | 2 students
Rank: n/an/a
Bbe Learning Center
Alternative School
710 Washburn Ave
Brooten, MN 56316
(320) 254-8211
Brooten, MN 56316
(320) 254-8211
Gr: 7-12
Rank: n/an/a
1201 2nd St S
Waite Park, MN 56387
(320) 370-8656
Waite Park, MN 56387
(320) 370-8656
Gr: 6-12 | 53 students Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: n/an/a
Grafton School
Alternative School
224 Krays Mill Road
Cold Spring, MN 56320
(320) 426-6301
Cold Spring, MN 56320
(320) 426-6301
Gr: K-12 | 10 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: n/an/a
Mn Correctional Facility-st. Cloud
Alternative School
2305 Minnesota Blvd Se
Saint Cloud, MN 56302
(320) 240-3062
Saint Cloud, MN 56302
(320) 240-3062
Gr: 9-12 | 14 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: n/an/a
Newport Academy
Alternative School
1726 7th Ave S
Saint Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 370-6895
Saint Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 370-6895
Gr: 7-12 | 17 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: n/an/a
Rocori Alc
Alternative School
534 N 5th Ave
Cold Spring, MN 56320
(320) 685-4910
Cold Spring, MN 56320
(320) 685-4910
Gr: 7-12 | 27 students Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: n/an/a
534 5th Ave N
Cold Spring, MN 56320
(320) 685-4908
Cold Spring, MN 56320
(320) 685-4908
Gr: 6-12 | 72 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: n/an/a
St. Cloud Hospital Programs Non-res
Alternative School
1406 6th Ave N
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 370-6895
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 370-6895
Gr: PK-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
Rank: n/an/a
St. Cloud Hospital Progs-residential
Alternative School
1406 6th Ave N
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 650-6895
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 650-6895
Gr: K-12 | 6 students Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: n/an/a
Special Education Facilities
Special Education School
1201 2nd St S
Waite Park, MN 56387
(320) 370-8000
Waite Park, MN 56387
(320) 370-8000
Gr: PK-12
Rank: n/an/a
Wced 18-22 Program
Special Education School
805 E State Highway 55
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 256-6026
Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 256-6026
Gr: 12 | 10 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: n/an/a
Wced Credit Recovery
Alternative School
9 2nd St Sw
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-7836
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-7836
Gr: 9-12
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public high schools in Stearns County, MN?
The top-ranked public high schools in Stearns County, MN include Albany Area High School, Sartell Senior High School and Beacon Program W Central Ed. Dist..
How many public high schools are located in Stearns County?
30 public high schools are located in Stearns County.
What is the racial composition of students in Stearns County?
Stearns County public high schools minority enrollment is 30% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Minnesota public high schools average of 38% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Which public high schools in Stearns County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public high schools in Stearns County include: Technical Senior High School vs. Apollo Senior High School, Apollo Senior High School vs. Technical Senior High School, Sauk Centre Secondary vs. Melrose Secondary
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