The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 3% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Aspire Academy Charter School
Aspire Academy Charter School is a STEM-focused public charter district serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Shakopee, Minnesota. The district opened in fall 2021, as publicly reported, and operates two schools: Aspire Academy Elementary and Aspire Academy Middle School. Enrollment is small, making it one of the smaller districts in Scott County by student population.
The student body is almost entirely Black, a demographic profile that stands apart from most other districts in the county, which tend to be predominantly white. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status were not available in the source material, so a full picture of student need is not possible from these records alone.
State assessment results for the 2024–25 school year show that overall academic proficiency is well below the midpoint of Scott County’s districts. Across tested grades and subjects, the district’s composite proficiency rate placed it in the bottom quartile among its county peers. In mathematics, proficiency rates ranged from very low in the upper elementary grades to somewhat higher in seventh and eighth grade, though still below half of students. In reading, the pattern is more uneven. Third and fourth grade proficiency rates were low, while fifth and sixth grade rates were modestly higher. Seventh grade reading was an outlier: a large majority of tested students met or exceeded the state standard, a strong result that parents may want to understand in the context of a small tested group. Eighth grade reading proficiency was above the district’s average but still below a majority of students.
Science results, from a grade five and grade eight assessment, were very low. The state changed the science test and its cut scores starting in 2024–25, so those results may not be comparable to prior years; readers should treat them as a baseline in a new testing regime.
Because the district does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The district also did not have high school course access data such as Advanced Placement or dual credit, as those options do not apply to this grade span.
Chronic absenteeism is notably low, and the district’s rate puts it in the top quartile among county districts for regular attendance, a metric where lower is better. This suggests strong daily student engagement, though the underlying reasons were not available in the data.
Per-pupil current spending is high relative to other Scott County districts, in the upper range. The district’s finance profile may reflect its small scale and the costs of operating a charter with a specialized STEM curriculum.
The school’s emphasis on STEM is a core feature, as publicly reported, and families considering the district should weigh that focus. No information about specific program offerings, such as course sequences or extracurricular STEM activities, was present in the data.
The district’s locale context was not available, so the surrounding housing market and community environment are not described here. The school is located in or near Shakopee, a community that has seen growth, but no specific local details were in the source.
A parent looking at Aspire Academy will encounter a small, relatively new charter with a clear STEM mission, a student body that is overwhelmingly Black, and academic proficiency levels that are generally low by county standards, with notable variation by grade and subject. The chronic absenteeism rate is a positive signal, and the spending per student is high. Families may wish to visit the school, speak with staff about the instructional approach, and ask about how the STEM focus is implemented in the elementary and middle grades, especially in light of the test results. The data gaps around special populations and community context mean that a fuller assessment would require additional information from the school directly.
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