The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Math. The lowest is 43% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cologne Academy
Cologne Academy is a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade public charter school district based in Carver County, Minnesota. It serves roughly the southwest Twin Cities exurban corridor, and its student body is drawn from the town of Cologne and the surrounding area. Because the district only offers grades up to eighth, there is no high school graduation rate to report, and high-school-level program indicators such as Advanced Placement or career pathways do not apply. Families who enroll here will need to plan for a separate high school placement after eighth grade.
Academically, Cologne Academy performs at a notably high level in both math and reading across all tested grades. On the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, the district's proficiency rates in math for the most recent testing year were solid across the board, with every grade from three through eight posting rates that a parent would recognize as strong. Reading results followed a similar pattern, with multiple grade levels reaching proficiency rates that would be considered well above typical. In context, when compared against the other districts in Carver County, Cologne Academy placed in the top quartile on an overall proficiency index that averages performance across tested subjects and grades. That is a clear strength and suggests that most students are meeting state academic expectations.
Science results present a more mixed picture. Proficiency on the state science assessment, administered in grades five and eight, was substantially lower than what the district achieves in math and reading. There is an important caveat to note here. The state's science assessment changed in name and cut-score standards in the testing year reported, which makes direct comparisons to prior years unreliable and may partially explain the lower figures. Still, a parent considering this school may want to ask the school directly about its science curriculum and how it supports student performance in this subject, since the gap between science and other tested areas is wide.
The student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Asian population and smaller shares of students who are Hispanic, Black, or of two or more races. The district's free-or-reduced-price lunch rate, a common proxy for economic need, was not reported in the available data, so it is not possible to assess the level of economic diversity here directly. Special education and English learner counts were also missing from the data. A parent who needs those details should reach out to the school to understand what support structures are in place.
Cologne Academy launched an online program in 2021, called Cologne Academy Online, which serves grades one through eight and is approved as a full-time public online option in Minnesota. That gives families a way to stay within the district even if they prefer remote instruction. In 2023, the school invested in a new commercial kitchen that provides free breakfast and lunch to all students, a practical benefit that eliminates meal costs for families. In 2024, the district added a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program, expanding its offerings to include four-year-olds. All three of these developments are publicly reported operational changes that broaden the district's reach.
On chronic absenteeism, which tracks the share of students missing a significant number of school days, Cologne Academy's rate placed among the lower, more favorable end of the Carver County districts. That is a positive indicator for school engagement and consistent attendance. The district's per-pupil spending falls in the middle range, slightly below the midpoint among county peers, which suggests it operates on a leaner budget while still producing strong academic results.
For a family living in or near Cologne, this district offers a tightly defined K-8 experience with consistently strong math and reading outcomes, a free meal program, and the option of online schooling within the same organization. The science scores are a soft spot worth investigating. Because there is no high school, parents will need to research their options for ninth grade well in advance. The district's academic performance among Carver County peers is its standout feature, and for a family who values a school with a clear track record of proficiency in core subjects, Cologne Academy is a compelling choice within its grade band.
See more original research from School Decision →