For the 2026 school year, there are 28 public preschools serving 6,333 students in St. Louis County, MN.
The top-ranked public preschools in St. Louis County, MN are Homecroft Elementary School, North Shore Community School and Bay View Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
St. Louis County, MN public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Minnesota public pre school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 48% statewide average). Pre schools in St. Louis County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Minnesota public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 19% of the student body (majority American Indian and Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public preschool average of 43% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Best Public Preschools in St. Louis County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Homecroft Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4784 Howard Gnesen Rd
Duluth, MN 55803
(218) 336-8865
Duluth, MN 55803
(218) 336-8865
Gr: PK-5 | 448 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
North Shore Community School
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5926 Ryan Rd
Duluth, MN 55804
(218) 525-0663
Duluth, MN 55804
(218) 525-0663
Gr: PK-6 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #33.
Bay View Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
8708 Vinland St
Duluth, MN 55810
(218) 628-4949
Duluth, MN 55810
(218) 628-4949
Gr: PK-5 | 529 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #44.
Merritt Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
8659 Unity Drive
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
(218) 735-8271
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
(218) 735-8271
Gr: PK-6 | 354 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #55.
North Woods Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
10248 Olson Rd E
Cook, MN 55723
(218) 666-5221
Cook, MN 55723
(218) 666-5221
Gr: PK-6 | 234 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #66.
Floodwood Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
115 4th Ave W
Floodwood, MN 55736
(218) 476-2285
Floodwood, MN 55736
(218) 476-2285
Gr: PK-6 | 88 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #77.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
520 E Harvey St
Ely, MN 55731
(218) 365-6166
Ely, MN 55731
(218) 365-6166
Gr: PK-5 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #88.
Tower-soudan Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
415 N 2nd St
Tower, MN 55790
(218) 753-4040
Tower, MN 55790
(218) 753-4040
Gr: PK-6 | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #99.
Cherry Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3943 Tamminen Rd
Iron, MN 55751
(218) 258-8991
Iron, MN 55751
(218) 258-8991
Gr: PK-6 | 297 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1010.
Mesabi East Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
601 N 1st St W
Aurora, MN 55705
(218) 229-3321
Aurora, MN 55705
(218) 229-3321
Gr: PK-6 | 470 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1111.
South Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8162 Swan Lake Rd
Saginaw, MN 55779
(218) 345-6789
Saginaw, MN 55779
(218) 345-6789
Gr: PK-6 | 303 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1212.
Vaughan-steffensrud Elementary School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1000 1st Ave Ne
Chisholm, MN 55719
(218) 254-5726
Chisholm, MN 55719
(218) 254-5726
Gr: PK-3 | 207 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1313.
Piedmont Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2827 Chambersburg Ave
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 336-8950
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 336-8950
Gr: PK-5 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1414.
Stowe Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
715 101st Ave W
Duluth, MN 55808
(218) 336-8965
Duluth, MN 55808
(218) 336-8965
Gr: PK-5 | 245 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1515.
Raleigh Primary/el Academy
Charter School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5905 Raleigh St
Duluth, MN 55807
(218) 628-0697
Duluth, MN 55807
(218) 628-0697
Gr: PK-6 | 208 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #1616.
North Star Academy
Charter School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3301 Technology Dr
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 728-9556
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 728-9556
Gr: PK-8 | 572 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1717.
Nett Lake Elementary School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
13090 Westley Dr
Orr, MN 55771
(218) 757-3102
Orr, MN 55771
(218) 757-3102
Gr: PK-6 | 48 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1818.
Babbitt Elementary School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
30 South Dr
Babbitt, MN 55706
(218) 827-3101
Babbitt, MN 55706
(218) 827-3101
Gr: PK-6 | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1919.
Myers-wilkins Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1027 N 8th Ave E
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 336-8860
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 336-8860
Gr: PK-5 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #2020.
Laura Macarthur Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
720 N Central Ave
Duluth, MN 55807
(218) 336-8900
Duluth, MN 55807
(218) 336-8900
Gr: PK-5 | 277 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #2121.
Nlc 6076 Special Education Program
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1201 S 13th Ave
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 741-9201
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 741-9201
Gr: PK-12 | 64 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: n/an/a
Early Childhood Center
Special Education School
202 5th Street
Duluth, MN 55810
(218) 628-4958
Duluth, MN 55810
(218) 628-4958
Gr: PK | 36 students Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: n/an/a
Early Childhood Special Education
Special Education School
709 Portia Johnson Dr
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 336-8744
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 336-8744
Gr: PK | 249 students Student-teacher ratio: 36:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: n/an/a
Hermantown Early Childhood
Special Education School
4333 Hawk Circle Dr
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 729-9563
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 729-9563
Gr: PK | 43 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: n/an/a
2100 12th Ave E
Hibbing, MN 55746
(218) 208-0852
Hibbing, MN 55746
(218) 208-0852
Gr: PK | 110 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: n/an/a
1409 Progress Pkwy
Eveleth, MN 55734
(218) 735-6202
Eveleth, MN 55734
(218) 735-6202
Gr: PK-6 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: n/an/a
506 N 9th Ave W
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 742-3802
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 742-3802
Gr: PK-2 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: n/an/a
Special Ed. N.p.
Special Education School
709 Portia Johnson Dr
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 336-8740
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 336-8740
Gr: PK-12 | 25 students Minority enrollment: 4%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public preschools in St. Louis County, MN?
The top-ranked public preschools in St. Louis County, MN include Homecroft Elementary School, North Shore Community School and Bay View Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in St. Louis County?
26 public preschools are located in St. Louis County.
What is the racial composition of students in St. Louis County?
St. Louis County public preschools minority enrollment is 19% of the student body (majority American Indian and Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public preschools average of 43% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Which public preschools in St. Louis County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in St. Louis County include: Laura Macarthur Elementary School vs. Piedmont Elementary School, Mesabi East Elementary School vs. Cherry Elementary School, Cherry Elementary School vs. Mesabi East Elementary School
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
