The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Banaadir Secondary
Banaadir Secondary is a charter school in Minneapolis, part of the Minnesota Transitions Charter School district. It serves seventh through twelfth grade as a regular public school, but under a charter structure that families choose into rather than being assigned by address. The school is located at 1201 Bryant Avenue North, on the north side of Minneapolis, a neighborhood within a major urban center that is dense, diverse, and home to major employers like Target Corporation and the University of Minnesota.
The school is small, with an enrollment that reflects that scale. Nearly all students who attend are Black, and a very large share qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the economic circumstances many families are navigating. The student body is almost entirely drawn from this single demographic and economic background; there is little racial or economic diversity beyond that. Data on the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
On state assessments, performance varies by grade and subject. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency was roughly a fifth or slightly higher in sixth and eighth grade, and lower in seventh grade. In English language arts, outcomes were more mixed, with proficiency at roughly half in sixth grade, a figure that dropped to below a fifth in seventh grade and rose again to around two-fifths in eighth grade. Science proficiency at eighth grade was low. Compared to districts across Hennepin County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint of the distribution. A parent reading these results should consider them in context: this is a school serving a student population with high economic need, and the state test data is a single snapshot.
Because Banaadir Secondary serves students through twelfth grade, a graduation rate would ordinarily be part of the picture, but it was not available in the data. That leaves a gap a family would want to fill with a direct inquiry to the school about its graduation outcomes and postsecondary plans for seniors.
The school environment and access data, including information on discipline, staffing, attendance, and course access, was also absent from the record. Families considering Banaadir Secondary may want to explore what advanced coursework, career and technical programs, or support services are offered, particularly at the high school level. The school’s website was not included in the available data, so those details would need to come from the school itself or the Minnesota Transitions Charter School district office.
Housing in the surrounding zip code is below the national benchmark for home values, and rents are somewhat higher but still below many parts of the Twin Cities metro. Minneapolis itself has seen slight population decline since the 2020 census, but the broader metro remains large and economically active, anchored by healthcare, retail, finance, and education. Public transit via Metro Transit buses and light rail connects the north side to downtown and the University of Minnesota campus.
No major changes or recent developments at the district level were surfaced in publicly available information, so a parent’s experience is likely to be shaped by the school’s own practices and leadership rather than systemwide shifts. Families looking at Banaadir Secondary should weigh the proficiency and demographic data alongside their own priorities for academic pathways, peer environment, and the kind of support their child needs. The school serves a specific community with a clear focus, and a visit and conversation with staff would be the best next step.
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