The top reported proficiency rate is 13% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Technical Academies of Minnesota
Technical Academies of Minnesota is a small charter district in Kandiyohi County serving grades seven through twelve. It operates two schools, DREAM Technical Academy and CHOICE Technical Academy. The district enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic share and a smaller but present multiracial group. No data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals was available, nor was information on students receiving special education services or English learner supports, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about these resources and how they are allocated.
The district states that in 2022 it transitioned to Osprey Wilds as its charter authorizer, a relationship it says brings expanded environmental education opportunities and alternative measures of student success beyond traditional test scores. Its publicly reported materials describe a focus on project-based learning, restorative justice, and healing-centered practices, which frame the educational experience families can expect.
State assessment results for the most recent school year cover seventh and eighth graders in math, English language arts, and eighth-grade science. In seventh-grade math, a small share of students scored proficient. In eighth-grade math and eighth-grade science, no students scored proficient. In English language arts, seventh graders showed a modest share of proficiency, while eighth graders showed a very small share. These are low proficiency rates, and the district itself notes that its authorizer relationship includes alternative measures of success, which suggests that the district’s mission is not solely oriented toward these standardized tests. Still, a parent should consider these numbers directly and discuss with the school how it tracks academic progress and readiness for postsecondary work.
The district’s overall proficiency index, calculated from the reported rates across tested grades and subjects, places it in the bottom quartile among Kandiyohi County’s districts. The chronic absenteeism rate is very high relative to the county’s other districts. Per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among the county’s districts.
Because Technical Academies of Minnesota serves grades seven through twelve, a graduation rate would normally be an important outcome metric, but none was reported. The reason is not given in the available data, and that is a notable gap for a high school-serving district. A family should inquire about graduation outcomes directly.
The district’s small enrollment means that classes and overall school community are likely close-knit, and the project-based, restorative approach described in its public materials suggests a nontraditional academic pathway that may appeal to families seeking an alternative to a larger, more test-centric public school environment. For a parent weighing this against other options in Kandiyohi County, the academics on state measures are weak, and the chronic absenteeism is a heavy signal to investigate further. The spending is relatively high, so a family may want to ask how those funds are being used to address these challenges.
See more original research from School Decision →