The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in English language arts. The lowest is 2% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Banaadir Academy
Banaadir Academy is a charter school in Minneapolis that serves only fifth and sixth grade. It operates under the Minnesota Transitions Charter School district and is classified as a regular school. Because it covers just two middle-grades years, it has no graduation rate to report, and state testing data is limited to the grades it actually serves.
The school is located in north Minneapolis, a dense urban setting. Minneapolis is the state's largest city and a major economic and cultural hub, home to large employers like Target Corporation, the University of Minnesota, and General Mills. The housing market in the immediate area shows home values near the lower end of the metro range, and rents have been rising. The city has a well-connected transit system, an extensive park network, and a strong downtown core, but the school's specific neighborhood is a densely built part of the city's north side.
The student body is entirely Black, and virtually all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. That level of economic need is very high and points to a population that often faces significant challenges outside the classroom. Enrollment is small, with roughly evenly split groups across the two grade levels.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year paint a mixed picture. In math, proficiency rates were extremely low in both fifth and sixth grade, with almost no students meeting the state standard. In reading, about two out of five students achieved proficiency in both grades, a figure that is below the state average but more moderate than the math results. Science results for fifth grade, the only tested science grade, showed very few students reaching proficiency. Participation rates were full for all tests, so the results reflect nearly the entire student population.
When placed against other districts in Hennepin County, the school's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint of the comparison group. This is a soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school, especially to understand what academic supports are in place and how the school is working to raise outcomes.
Several data points that would give a fuller picture are missing. The available data did not include information on special education or English learner populations, chronic absenteeism rates, discipline incidents, or staffing ratios. These are meaningful gaps, particularly for a school serving students from a high-poverty background, where rates of special needs and attendance challenges can be elevated. The school's website or a direct conversation with the administration would be the best way to fill those in.
Banaadir Academy is a small, focused upper-elementary charter option in an urban core. Its student body is economically disadvantaged and racially homogeneous. Academically, reading results, while below state averages, are substantially stronger than math and science results, which are very low. Families considering this school would want to understand the instructional approach, how the school addresses the steep math gap, and what support services are available for students who enter below grade level. The school's narrow grade span means students will need to transition to a new school after sixth grade, so knowing the feeder options and how well prepared students are for that next step is also relevant.
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