The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Math. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Yinghua Academy
Yinghua Academy is a single-school charter district in Hennepin County that serves kindergarten through eighth grade. It is structured as a Chinese immersion program, a distinctive academic model where students learn core subjects in Mandarin alongside English. The district is small in enrollment relative to many of the county’s broader K-12 systems, and its grade span means it does not have a high school graduation rate. State testing data is available for all tested grades, so families can evaluate the academic program directly.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by sizable populations of Asian students and students who identify as two or more races. Smaller numbers of Hispanic and Black students also attend, along with a very small Native American population. Data on economic disadvantage and English learner status was not available in the provided records, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals or receive language support services.
Academically, Yinghua posts consistently strong results in mathematics across every grade level tested. Proficiency rates are very high, placing the school’s overall academic performance in the top quarter of Hennepin County’s districts when averaged across subjects and grades. English language arts proficiency is also solid in most grades, with one exception: third-grade reading results were notably lower than the school’s own performance in later grades. This is a pattern a parent might want to explore with the school to understand how early literacy support works in the immersion context. Science proficiency rates are lower than those in math and ELA, but a state assessment change that year—new test name and revised cut scores—makes direct comparisons to prior years unreliable, so these figures should be interpreted cautiously.
Chronic absenteeism is very low relative to other districts in the county, which is a positive indicator that students are consistently attending school. Per-pupil spending is in the lower range among Hennepin County districts, a typical profile for a leanly run charter school with a focused program.
The district operates one school, also named Yinghua Academy, and the available records show no major recent changes—staffing, facility, or curriculum shifts that would alter the academic landscape. The core offering remains stable for families considering the school.
For a family drawn to language immersion, Yinghua presents a compelling academic option with strong math achievement and improving literacy scores after the early grades. The lower third-grade reading results and the lower science scores are areas to investigate further, but the overall proficiency picture is strong for a K-8 charter. The school’s size and single-site model mean a close-knit community, and the low chronic absenteeism suggests students are engaged. Because it does not serve high school, families will need a plan for ninth grade, either through another charter, private school, or a resident district. The absence of information on special education and English learner services means families with children who need those supports should ask directly about availability and outcomes.
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