Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 25 schools in district

St. Cloud Area Learning Center

216 N 8TH AVE, WAITE PARK, MN 56387ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT →
Federal DataAlternative Education SchoolGrades 06–12Non-Charter
255
Students
Total enrolled
37%
Grad Rate
Nat'l avg 87%
↓ 57% vs nat'l
$20,297
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 41% vs nat'l
13.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 15% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 255 students in grades 06–12 in WAITE PARK, Minnesota.
41% above average funding
District spends $20,297 per pupil, 41% more than the national average of $14,347.
13.1 : 1 student-teacher ratio
This is well below the national average — smaller classes of 15.4:1.
About This School

St. Cloud Area Learning Center is a mid-sized high in WAITE PARK, Minnesota, serving grades 06–12 with 255 students. The district invests $20,297 per student — 41% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 70% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. The 37% graduation rate is below the national average of 87%, a data point worth exploring further during a school visit.

Student Body & Demographics at St. Cloud Area Learning Center

255
Total Students
13.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
70%
Free Lunch
20
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–12) are served by this school
Gender Distribution132 male · 123 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility70%
National avg 52% · 179 students
Student Composition
26%
9%
49%
12%
Asian2%
White26%
Hispanic / Latino9%
Black49%
Multiracial12%
Native American2%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 273351003003

Academic Outcomes at St. Cloud Area Learning Center

Graduation Rate (Adjusted Cohort)
37
Below avg
National avg 87%
Graduation Rate Comparison
This school
37%
State avg
81%
National avg
87%

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$20,297Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$20,297
State avg
$26,183
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,931
Student Support$3,856
Administration$2,436
Operations$3,045
Other$2,030
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $20,297 spent per student, an estimated $8,992 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
62%
19%
State government
61.7%
Local (property tax)
18.7%
Federal programs
19.7%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $20,297/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 37% graduation rate — below the national average of 87%
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
OAK HILL COMMUNITY ELEMENTARYMADISON ELEMENTARYKENNEDY COMMUNITY SCHOOLTALAHI COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY
+4 more
↓
Middle
SOUTH JUNIOR HIGHNORTH JUNIOR HIGH
↓
High School
TECHNICAL SENIOR HIGHAPOLLO SENIOR HIGHALC - FoleyNewport Academy
+4 more
School Profile
TypeAlternative Education School
LevelHigh
Grades06 – 12
Location—
CountyStearns County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT →
Phone: (320)370-6790
NCES ID: 273351003003
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in WAITE PARK seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
High
TECHNICAL SENIOR HIGH
1,515 students · 09–12
● 52 opp67% FRL
High
APOLLO SENIOR HIGH
1,225 students · 09–12
67% FRL
Mid
SOUTH JUNIOR HIGH
867 students · 06–08
● 52 opp73% FRL
Elem
OAK HILL COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY
814 students · PK–05
● 52 opp69% FRL
Mid
NORTH JUNIOR HIGH
708 students · 06–08
77% FRL
Elem
MADISON ELEMENTARY
649 students · PK–05
74% FRL
Elem
KENNEDY COMMUNITY SCHOOL
626 students · PK–08
● 56 opp53% FRL
Elem
TALAHI COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY
563 students · PK–02
83% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
216 N 8TH AVE, WAITE PARK, MN 56387
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.