The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Minnesota Math and Science Academy
Minnesota Math and Science Academy serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade as a single district in Ramsey County. The district operates two schools: MMSA Elementary School and MMSA Secondary School. The student body is predominantly Black, and total enrollment is modest for a K-12 district. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a reader should check directly with the district for those supports.
State testing results show proficiency rates that are low across all tested subjects and grade levels. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above remained in the lower range from third through eighth grade. Math proficiency was similarly low in those grades, and in a couple of intermediate grades the rate was very low. Science results for fifth and eighth graders were also very low. When placed among Ramsey County's districts, Minnesota Math and Science Academy's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades fell in the bottom quartile. A parent exploring this district will want to discuss with the school how it supports academic growth and whether there are intervention programs in place.
Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern. Compared with other Ramsey County districts, the academy's chronic absenteeism rate sits below the midpoint, meaning a substantial portion of students miss enough school to affect learning. A parent considering this district may want to ask what attendance initiatives the school runs and how it works with families to improve daily attendance.
The district spends at a level that is in the upper range among Ramsey County districts on a per-pupil basis. This higher spending suggests resources are available, but the connection between investment and academic outcomes is an important question a family may want to raise with the administration.
The academy is a single-district charter-like entity, not a traditional geographic school district tied to a particular city or town. The available community and economic context data was not provided, so there is no portrait of local housing or neighborhood conditions. The search for recent district changes turned up no major developments of lasting parent relevance, so the picture here is largely static based on current enrollment and testing data.
For a family weighing this option, the core considerations are clear: it is a small K-12 setting with homogeneous demographics serving mostly Black students, the academic results are low compared with the rest of the county, attendance is an ongoing challenge, and spending is relatively high. A parent should reach out to the school to understand its instructional approach, any academic improvement plans, and how it addresses student attendance. There is no data on programs such as Advanced Placement, career pathways, or extracurricular offerings, so those details would need to come directly from the district.
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