Three school districts serve the city

Although South Washington County School District 833 is the dominant district in Woodbury, there are two other districts within the city’s borders. A portion of the northeast corner lies in Stillwater Area School District 834. Part of the northwest corner is in North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District 622.

The Woodbury area schools were originally established in accordance with the precinct method of providing a school building within reasonable walking distance. The smaller precincts gradually merged into larger ones to create a system that was less costly and more efficient.

Transportation was a major factor in determining the boundaries of the new, larger districts. And because Woodbury at the time was mostly rural and its population was spread out, some of the city’s students were sent to schools in other cities because those schools were actually closer to where they lived.

Local public officials have tried in recent years to change the boundaries, but failed to come up with a solution on which all three districts could agree.

Today, District 833 consists of 14 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. A third high school opened this year. It has an enrollment of more than 16,000 students.

District 834 consists of nine elementary schools, two junior high schools and one high school. In District 622, there are seven elementary schools, three junior high schools and two high schools.

The three districts also collaboratively built Valley Crossing Community School, which opened at the beginning of the 1996-97 school year. Located at the intersection of Valley Creek Road and Park Crossing in Woodbury, the school is managed by Northeast Metropolitan Intermediate School District 916. It is the first collaborative school ever built in Minnesota.

In the fall of 2001, Crosswinds Middle School opened at 600 Weir Drive. It is an arts and science magnet school that serves students in St. Paul and nine surrounding suburbs. It’s governed by East Metro Integration School District 6067.

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