South Elementary School

Set in SAINT PETER, Minnesota, South Elementary School is a tight-knit elementary-level community, part of ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. It teaches 269 students across grades K through 1. Enrollment runs roughly 22% smaller than the state mean of about 344.

South Elementary School is one of 7 schools operated by ST. PETER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, a district that hosts 2,107 students overall.

Demographically, South Elementary School logs that White students make up the majority at 71%. The remainder breaks down as 20% Hispanic, 4% Black, 4% multiracial. By comparison, Nicollet County as a whole is about 87% White, so the school skews considerably less White than its surroundings.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 20 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 13.4:1 students per teacher. The state averages about 13.7:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. An estimated 43% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is above Nicollet County's rate of about 34%.

In the broader community, census data for Nicollet County shows the typical household earns roughly $79,756 per year, 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 3%. Across Nicollet County's 25 public schools (combined enrollment of about 4,447 students), South Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Oshawa Learning Academy, roughly 0.5 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Geographically, the school is in a town-based area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at South Elementary School has shrank 14%, going from 312 students in 2018 to 269 in 2025. The Hispanic share of enrollment climbed from 14% to 20% over that span. Class-load math has narrowed: from 15.1:1 in 2018 to 13.4:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.