Community

Education

Community

Superior education is a cornerstone of the St. Cloud area’s economic success. Education is an invaluable investment in its residents’ lives. Area communities have ensured easy access to high-quality educational opportunities for students of all ages.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

St. Cloud Area Independent School District 742: The largest public school district in Central Minnesota, serving nearly 9,500 K-12 students located in nine communities with eight elementary schools, two junior high schools, two high schools, an alternative learning school, early childhood services and community education. These schools are staffed with more than 750 teachers, 70 percent of whom hold advanced degrees.

Athlos Academy of St. Cloud: Athlos Academy will provide high quality K-6 educational opportunities for the whole child built on the three foundational pillars of Prepared Mind, Healthy Body, and Performance Character.

Sauk Rapids-Rice Independent School District 47

Sartell-St. Stephen Independent School District 748

Rocori Independent School District 750

STRIDE Academy: A St. Cloud charter school providing core knowledge education for students K-8 grade.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Catholic Community Schools provides an option for parochial education through seven facilities located within the St. Cloud area. Six preschool and elementary schools and Cathedral High School make up the local system.

St. Cloud Christian School is an independent nondenominational Christian school providing K-12 education.

St. John’s Preparatory School, a Catholic/Benedictine, coeducational day and boarding international baccalaureate college preparatory school for students in grades 6-12, located in nearby Collegeville, on the St. John’s University campus.

HIGHER EDUCATION

St. Cloud State University, the state’s second-largest public university, serves more than 14,000 students with nearly 200 majors, minors and pre-professional programs, along with nearly 200+ clubs and organizations, a state-of-the-art library, NCAA athletics and opportunities for recreational and cultural enrichment.

The College of Saint Benedict and St. John’s University serve nearly 4,000 students with 37 major and 33 minor programs. They have earned recognition as two of the top Catholic liberal arts colleges in the U.S., with an integrated learning environment that allows students to share an academic program while attending classes at both the St. Joseph and Collegeville campuses.

St. Cloud Technical and Community College serves nearly 6,000 students with more than 90 programs of study, including certificate, diploma and associate degree programs in Science, Applied Science and Arts.

The College of St. Scholastica has an outreach program in St. Cloud. Students are able to complete their undergraduate and, in some cases, graduate degrees during evenings and weekends and online, often through accelerated learning programs.

Rasmussen University is a private, two- and four-year degree-granting college that offers on-campus, online and blended-learning courses with a flexible schedule.

Additional post-secondary education opportunities include the Model College of Hair Design.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Lifelong educational, social and recreational learning opportunities are readily available to people of all ages in the St. Cloud area. Area school district community education programs offer adult and youth enrichment, aquatics and early childhood developmental screening. St. Cloud State University’s Center for Continuing Studies brings degree programs and professional development training to adult learners. St. Cloud’s Whitney Senior Center offers Third Age University courses.

CHAMBER EDUCATION & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

The best way to grow businesses and improve productivity is to build the capacity of the workforce. The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce dedicates considerable resources to this effort through their business and workforce development initiatives.

Cost-effective training for:

St. Cloud Area Leadership: linking leaders in the community together, increasing their effectiveness and encouraging expanded networking.

NEXT-Chamber’s Emerging Leaders: networking and professional development for the NEXT generation of community leaders and business owners.

Unite For Success: annual high school scholarship program providing more than $60,000 in cash and in-kind scholarships to graduating high school seniors.