The top reported proficiency rate is 12% in English language arts. The lowest is 2% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Endazhi-nitaawiging
Endazhi-Nitaawiging is a school district in Beltrami County, Minnesota, but it is not a typical geographic district. It is a single charter school serving kindergarten through sixth grade, established in the early 2020s as Red Lake Nation’s first charter school. Its mission is rooted in Ojibwe intensive and immersion education, grounded in Ojibwe values and culture. For families on the Red Lake reservation who want a publicly funded option that centers Indigenous language and identity alongside academics, this school was created to fill that role. The enrollment is very small, and the student body is almost entirely American Indian and Alaska Native, reflecting the community it serves.
Because the district only goes through sixth grade, it has no graduation rate to report. State testing results are available for math, English language arts, and science across several grade levels, and they paint a clear picture: proficiency rates on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments are very low. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above is in the single digits across third, fourth, and sixth grades, with fifth grade showing a slightly higher but still low rate. A small number of students were tested at some grade levels, and the results for seventh grade were suppressed, though that grade falls outside the school’s stated grade span. In English language arts, the picture is similar, with proficiency rates in the single digits or low teens across third through sixth grades. Science, tested in fifth grade, shows a similarly low rate. When compared with other districts in Beltrami County, overall proficiency places this district in the bottom quartile.
Chronic absenteeism is reported at a rate that falls below the midpoint among the county’s districts, though that rate is still quite high. A parent may want to ask the school directly about attendance patterns and what supports are in place, since the data here comes from a single year. Per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among Beltrami County districts, which makes sense for a small, standalone charter school that likely carries fixed costs across a small student body. The data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility was not available, and no information was published on special education or English learner populations. Civil rights and discipline data were also absent from the available sources.
The school was publicly reported as being approved by its authorizer in 2021 and began operations shortly after, making it a very new institution. The district brief notes that planning started the prior year with support from the Red Lake Tribal Council and partner organizations. As a recently founded charter, it is still in the early stages of building its academic record and programs. The curriculum is described as Ojibwe immersion, which means that instruction is delivered in the Ojibwe language, and the school’s approach integrates cultural teaching. This is a defining characteristic that sets it apart from other schools in the region. For families who want a conventional mainstream academic setting or who are looking for test scores that align with state averages, this school would not match those expectations based on the available evidence. For families who prioritize a culturally grounded education and are comfortable with a school that is still establishing its track record, Endazhi-Nitaawiging represents a distinctive option.
The school’s website and public materials emphasize its cultural foundation and community ties. No information was found about extracurricular programs, after-school activities, or specific student support services. Given the small size and focused mission, families should expect a close-knit environment where the school’s identity is central to daily experience. Housing market data and a broader community context were not included in the available information, so it is difficult to describe the surrounding locale beyond what is implied by the school’s location on the Red Lake reservation. The district runs a single school building, and the organizational name Endazhi-Nitaawiging became effective in 2022. This is a school that is still taking shape, and a parent considering it would likely benefit from a direct conversation with the administration about academic expectations, support for students who may be behind grade level, and plans for growth.
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