The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in Math. The lowest is 13% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Minnesota State Academies
Minnesota State Academies is not a typical school district. It is a state-operated special education district serving students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind, with two campuses in Faribault: the Minnesota Academy for the Deaf and the Minnesota Academy for the Blind. The district draws students from across the state, so there is no single town or neighborhood where families live to attend. A family considering this district is looking at a specialized placement rather than a local public school assignment.
The enrollment is small, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The student body is predominantly white, with Hispanic students making up about one-sixth of the population and Black and Asian students together accounting for roughly one-seventh. The district does not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, nor does it report the number of students with an Individualized Education Program or English learner status. Given the nature of the two schools, it is reasonable to assume that special education services are deeply integrated into daily instruction.
State test results for this district are heavily suppressed, making a clear judgment of academic performance difficult. For most grade levels in math, reading, and science, the state reports the proficiency rate as suppressed, likely because the tested group in each grade is so small that releasing a rate could identify individual students. In the only grade where proficiency rates were reported, seventh grade, roughly one in five students scored proficient in math and about one in eight in reading. While that is low compared to statewide averages, testing a specialized, small population of students who are deaf or blind against general state standards presents challenges families should discuss directly with the school. Participation rates in testing also varied, with some grades showing low participation. The state did not report a four-year graduation rate for the district. On a broader academic index that averages proficiency across tested grades and subjects, Minnesota State Academies placed in the bottom quartile among Rice County’s eight districts.
The district’s chronic absenteeism rate, reported as about one-third of students, sits below the midpoint among the county’s districts. That is a high rate, but for a statewide residential and day program serving students with disabilities, the reasons for absence may differ from a typical neighborhood school. A parent may want to ask the school how it tracks attendance and what supports are available.
Financially, this is not a district that relies on local property taxes or referendum votes. As a state-operated entity, per-pupil spending figures were not available. There were no recent parent-relevant changes, such as curriculum shifts, boundary changes, or school closures, found in public search results. The academy functions as a stable, specialized institution focused on a specific mission.
This district is for families who need or are considering a specialized educational environment for a child who is deaf, hard of hearing, or blind. It does not compete with or compare neatly to a general-purpose district. The academic picture is incomplete but reflects the reality of serving a small, unique student population. A family should expect to work closely with the school to understand how its curriculum, testing, and postsecondary planning align with their child’s needs.
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