Brooklyn Center Community Schools, MN

Original Research by School Decision on Brooklyn Center Community Schools

Brooklyn Center Community Schools serves about two thousand students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in a single district that covers the city of Brooklyn Center, a suburban community within Hennepin County. The district is a full-service community schools system, a model it formally adopted in 2023 when it changed its name from Brooklyn Center School District. This model integrates academics with health and social services, youth programs, and community engagement, meaning families can expect a range of wraparound supports housed on campus rather than a traditional school-only approach. The district operates several buildings, including an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school, along with a handful of alternative and special-education programs.

The student body is diverse. A large share of students are Black, with many Hispanic, white, and Asian students as well, and smaller numbers of children who are American Indian or of two or more races. Data on free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education identification, and English learner status was not available in the records reviewed, so a family would want to ask the district directly about the level of economic and academic support services available.

On state assessments, proficiency rates are low across all tested grade levels and subjects. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above falls in the single digits in every grade from third through eighth, reaching roughly in the low single digits in some grades. Reading and English language arts results are also low, generally in the single digits or low teens depending on the grade. Science results, available for fifth and eighth grades, show a similarly small share of students meeting the proficiency bar. The district sits in the bottom quartile among Hennepin County districts on a combined proficiency index that averages all tested subjects and grades. A parent looking at these numbers will want to discuss with the school what academic interventions and supports are in place, especially since participation rates in the upper grades drop noticeably, which could affect how representative the reported scores are.

Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern. The district's rate places it in the bottom quartile among county districts, meaning a very high proportion of students miss substantial amounts of school. This is directly tied to academic outcomes and a family considering the district would be wise to inquire about attendance outreach and what the district does to keep students connected to school.

The district spends well above the county median per pupil on current operations, ranking in the upper range among its Hennepin County peers. That spending level reflects the community schools model, which funds not just classroom instruction but also the health, social, and family services the district wraps around its students.

Housing in the district's primary zip code is moderately priced relative to the broader metro area, with home values that have seen modest recent growth. Rental costs are typical for the region. The broader economic context shows a national mortgage rate around six and a half percent and a national unemployment rate just over four percent, but the district itself sits in a county with a strong job market overall.

State testing data for high school grades was not available in the information reviewed, so the proficiency picture for older students is incomplete based on what is here. The graduation rate was also missing from the data, so a family researching the district would want to ask the high school directly about its four-year graduation rate and postsecondary outcomes.

For a family weighing this district, the core question is fit. The community schools model means a family can access extensive wraparound services, from health care to family support, all through the school. The student body is one of the most diverse in the metro area. But the academic results on state tests are very low, chronic absenteeism is very high, and the data does not show how the high school sends its graduates into college or careers. A parent who values integrated social and health supports and wants a school that positions itself as a neighborhood resource may find the model appealing. A parent primarily focused on conventional academic outcomes would want to investigate further with the building principals to understand what the district is doing to lift performance and attendance.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,099

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 23%

Black 40%

White 16%

Asian 12%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 2%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

14%

Gr 4

20%

Gr 5

19%

—

Gr 6

12%

25%

Gr 7

13%

12%

Gr 8

25%

Math

Gr 3

14%

Gr 4

15%

Gr 5

Gr 6

Gr 7

Gr 8

10%

Science

Gr 5

Gr 8

14%

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

Brooklyn Center High School

Brooklyn Center Elementary School

INSIGHT SCHOOL OF MINNESOTA

Brooklyn Center Middle School ALC

Early Childhood Special Education (

Brooklyn Center Independent Study

Brooklyn Center Early College Acad

Brooklyn Center Summer School

Brooklyn Center ECSE Age 3 - 5

Brooklyn Center Middle School

Brooklyn Center 9 Grade Summer ALC

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

Grade 3

10%

Grade 4

20%

Grade 5

15%

Grade 6

13%

Grade 7

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

Grade 5

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$281,404

Year-over-year change+1.2%

vs. state typical0.80x

vs. national typical0.76x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
55430	Brooklyn Center	$281K	+1.2%	100.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,813/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
55430	Brooklyn Center	$1,813	—	100.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,420/mo

Home price / national median income3.4x

Annual rent / national median income26.0%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$393/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$350,891 (+2.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.