The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Horizon Science Academy Twin Cities
Horizon Science Academy Twin Cities is a small charter school district in Hennepin County, serving kindergarten through sixth grade with a publicly reported STEM-focused, college-preparatory mission. It operates as a single-campus entity, with the school itself carrying the same name. Published accounts indicate it opened as a K-6 option for Richfield families and has since received authorization to expand through eighth grade, though the school’s own website and current enrollment data continue to show grades through six, so the timeline of that expansion is not yet clear from what is available.
The student body is small and overwhelmingly Black, with a small share of Hispanic students and a tiny share of White students. Data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education, and English learner status were not reported, which leaves a gap in understanding the district’s support needs. The school sits in a high-cost segment of the county’s districts on a per-pupil spending measure, in the upper range among Hennepin County’s districts.
State assessment results for the most recent tested year show that proficiency rates in math and reading were low across most grade levels. In math, a small fraction of students met the state standard in third and fourth grades, and in fifth and seventh grades the share was even smaller; one grade had no students scoring proficient. In reading, a modest share of fourth graders reached proficiency, but the pattern was similar elsewhere, with a very small share proficient in third, fifth, and seventh grades. Science results for fifth grade also showed no students proficient. The number of students tested in sixth grade was too small to report results publicly, a pattern that also appeared in several other tested groups. Participation rates in testing were below typical benchmarks, dipping to a low share in some grades, which means the reported results may not represent all enrolled students. A parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports test participation and whether the results reflect the full student experience.
Chronic absenteeism is a notable concern: the rate places the district in the bottom quartile among Hennepin County’s districts, meaning a high share of students are missing substantial instructional time. No data on discipline, staffing ratios, or course access were available, so it is not possible from this record to assess classroom conditions or program breadth.
Because the district does not serve high school, there is no graduation rate to consider. For families seeking an elementary and early middle school pathway with a stated emphasis on math, science, and technology, Horizon Science Academy Twin Cities offers a specific focus. However, the academic results and attendance patterns are areas that families will want to explore further with the school, particularly around how instruction and support are delivered for students who are not yet meeting state benchmarks.
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