The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Steam Academy Charter School
STEAM Academy Charter School is a small public charter school in Dakota County, Minnesota, serving kindergarten through sixth grade, with a recently announced expansion to seventh grade for the 2025-2026 school year. As a tuition-free charter, it operates independently of any single school district and draws families who choose its specific program. The school opened in fall 2021, making it a new option in the area. Because it serves only elementary and middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
The school’s academic approach is built around STEAM subjects: science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Its curriculum is multidisciplinary, and publicly reported offerings include small class sizes, personalized learning plans, a Chromebook for every student, free breakfast and lunch, free transportation, and Arabic language classes as a family-choice option. For a parent weighing fit, these program features are the main draw.
On state assessments, the picture is straightforward. In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates in math and reading were low across all tested grades. In third grade math, no student scored proficient, a pattern that held in fifth grade math and third grade reading. Proficiency rates ticked up only in sixth grade, where a share of students met the math and reading standards. In fifth grade science, no student scored proficient. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages performance across tested subjects and grades, placed it in the bottom quartile among Dakota County’s districts. Because the school is small and the tested student counts are low in each grade, these results reflect a very small number of children, and a parent may want to discuss the school’s instructional approach and supports with the school directly. Participation in testing was complete, so the results are based on nearly all enrolled students.
The comparison to neighboring districts offers one clear strength. Chronic absenteeism was reported as absent entirely, placing the school in the top quartile among Dakota County’s districts. This suggests that the students who attend are showing up consistently, which is a positive sign for continuity of learning.
The student body is very small by Minnesota standards. The enrollment is composed overwhelmingly of Black students, with a small share of Asian students, and no white, Hispanic, or other racial groups were reported. Data on students receiving free or reduced-price meals, students with disabilities, and English learners was not available, so those dimensions of the student profile are not captured here. A parent seeking that information would need to ask the school directly.
Financially, the school’s per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among Dakota County’s districts. That higher spending may reflect the costs of operating a small school with a specialized program.
For a family, STEAM Academy Charter School is a deliberate choice option. It is not a neighborhood school tied to a local address. It offers a STEAM-focused, personalized model in a small setting where attendance is strong. The academic results on state tests are low, and a parent should investigate how the school is addressing that and whether its approach matches their child’s needs. The school’s mandate does not extend beyond seventh grade, so a family must plan for the transition to a new school after that.
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