St. Croix Valley
St. Croix Valley
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025
STILLWATER | BAYPORT | OAK PARK HEIGHTS | LAKE ELMO
Specialized education options available
Students and families have many options when it comes to quality education opportunities.
New Heights Charter School opened as the first K-12 charter school in the nation in 1993. As the community’ s first public“ choice” program, New Heights is home to students wanting or needing a smaller learning environment.
Opened in fall 2017, River Grove Elementary is the newest area public charter school. With its home campus in the forest, its focus is the area’ s natural resources, history, arts, and civic stewardship of the community as a foundation for K-5 study.
Since 1974, Salem Lutheran School in Stillwater has sought to instill Christian values in students while pursuing academic excellence. It serves children in
New Heights School 651-439-1962 newheightsschool. com
River Grove Elementary 651-409-3122 marineareaschool. org
Salem Lutheran School 651-439-7831 salemlutheranschool. org
St. Croix Catholic School 651-439-5581 stcroixcatholic. org
St. Croix Montessori School 651-436-2603 stcroixmontessori. org
St. Croix Preparatory Academy 651-395-5900 stcroixprep. org pre-K through eighth grade.
St. Croix Catholic School, located near downtown Stillwater, has more than 160 years of history educating children from pre-K through eighth grade.
St. Croix Montessori School takes a different approach of pre-K through elementary school learning. There are three“ classes”: Toddler, ages 16-33 months; Children’ s House, ages 33 months to 6 years; and Elementary, ages 6-12 years. They meet children where they are with hands-on experience.
St. Croix Preparatory Academy in Baytown Township is a K-12 public charter school that opened in 2004 and now serves more than 1,100 students. Located on 59 acres of land, St. Croix Prep continuously ranks as one of Minnesota’ s highest performing schools.
Community Guide | St. Croix Valley | 2025 | 19