Public schools in Waite Park, MN
5 open public schools with an address in Waite Park, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,107
4 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.1:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Waite Park public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Waite Park, MN: 1 elementary, 2 high, 2 combined or other. The 4 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,107 students, an average of 277 per school. The largest campus is Discovery Community Elementary (572 students).
Every listed school belongs to St. Cloud Public School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.1:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 0 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 70% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Waite Park
Elementary schools in Waite Park
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery Community Elementary St. Cloud Public School District | PK–05 | 572 | 13.2:1 |
High schools in Waite Park
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Minnesota Virtual Academy St. Cloud Public School District · Virtual | 06–12 | 53 | — | |
| St. Cloud Area Learning Center St. Cloud Public School District · Alternative School | 06–12 | 237 | 12.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Waite Park
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EC Sp Ed at Quarryview Ed Center St. Cloud Public School District · Special Education School | PK–PK | 245 | 6.6:1 | |
| Special Education Facilities St. Cloud Public School District · Special Education School | PK–12 | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White30.7%
- Hispanic17.4%
- Black42.2%
- Asian1.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.6%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial7.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 4 Waite Park schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,107 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Waite Park
How many public schools are in Waite Park, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Waite Park: 1 elementary, 2 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 1,107 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Waite Park?
All listed public schools with an address in Waite Park belong to St. Cloud Public School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Waite Park?
St. Cloud Area Learning Center reported the largest high-school enrollment in Waite Park, with 237 students in 2024–25 (grades 06–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Waite Park?
No school with an address in Waite Park is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Minnesota.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Waite Park schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Waite Park public schools is 12.1:1, lower than the Minnesota school median of 13.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Waite Park guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Minnesota cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Minnesota cities