Mn Academy for the Deaf, Faribault MN

Original Research by School Decision on Mn Academy for the Deaf

MN Academy for the Deaf is a state-operated special education school in Faribault that serves students who are deaf or hard of hearing from prekindergarten through twelfth grade. It sits on a campus in southeastern Faribault, above the Straight River, and is part of the Minnesota State Academies district, a state-run special education district with no local school board or tax levies. The school draws students from across the state, and its population of roughly eighty students is small by design, with enrollment distributed across all grades and a noticeable concentration in the high school years.

Faribault itself sits about fifty miles south of Minneapolis-Saint Paul along Interstate 35, at the confluence of the Cannon and Straight Rivers. It has a historic downtown with local businesses, the Paradise Center for the Arts, and a trail network including the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail. Major employers include food processing and manufacturing plants, the state correctional facility, and Faribault Woolen Mills. The city has grown steadily, and a 2026–2030 strategic plan has been adopted. The school’s campus is separate from the downtown core, alongside the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind.

Because this is a special education school serving a specific student population, many of the metrics used for typical schools do not apply in the same way. The state testing data that is available shows very low proficiency rates in math and reading in the tested grades, which is an expected outcome for a school whose student body has a disability that directly affects language development and academic assessment access. A parent looking at these scores should understand that they reflect the population served, not general instructional quality. In the grade seven math test, just over one in five students scored proficient, while in reading, less than one in six did. Most other grade levels had zero students reaching proficiency, though the numbers of students tested in each grade are very small, often only a handful, so a single student’s result can shift the rate substantially. Science testing data was suppressed due to low counts, but participation was low in eighth grade, a gap a parent may want to ask the school about.

The overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Rice County, but this comparison is of limited use given that no other district in the county has a comparable mission or student population. A four-year graduation rate was not available. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is common for a residential state school that serves families from across Minnesota, many of whom face economic challenges.

Housing in the Faribault area, based on the zip code, is priced below both the state and national medians, making it a relatively affordable market within the state. That context matters mostly for staff or families who relocate to Faribault to be near the school.

The school’s website and the district brief indicated no recent curriculum or policy changes to report. The district is a state entity, so it does not operate under the same referendum or levy structures as a local school district. Families considering MN Academy for the Deaf should start by contacting the school directly to understand the admissions process, the residential or day-student options, and how the academic program is designed for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The school’s purpose is specialized, and the available test results reflect that specialization rather than providing a direct comparison to a mainstream public school.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

Not publicly reportedCohort of 5 students · Class of 2021

The federal source does not publish a graduation rate for cohorts this small. The cohort size is shown for context.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

649 schools plotted. 88 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 30%