The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hga Secondary
HGA Secondary is a charter school in Saint Paul serving grades eight through twelve. It is a small high school, part of the Higher Ground Academy district. The student body is almost entirely Black, and a very large share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
On state assessments, the school’s proficiency rates are a mixed picture. Eighth-grade reading and math scores sit near or above what many Minnesota schools post, but science proficiency is a clear soft spot. The comparison to other districts in Ramsey County shows overall proficiency across tested subjects landing in the top quartile, which is a strong relative position. Still, the science result is low enough that a parent may want to ask the school about science instruction and curriculum.
Saint Paul is Minnesota’s capital and the second-largest city in the state. It sits on the Mississippi River, with a downtown that holds the state capitol complex, county government offices, and cultural institutions like the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. The city’s neighborhoods are built into river bluffs, and its park system is nationally recognized. The population is diverse, with a large Hmong community and substantial Black and Hispanic populations. Housing values in the area are a bit above the national median, and rents have been rising. State government is the dominant employer. The city has been stable in population, with a slight recent decline.
The school building is on Brewster Street, in a Saint Paul neighborhood. Charter status means HGA Secondary operates with its own governance and enrollment process, separate from the city’s main public school district. Because it is a charter, families in Saint Paul and beyond can apply to attend if they meet the school’s admissions criteria.
The academic pathway here feels clear in direction but uneven in results. In English language arts and math, the school is performing at a level that would be competitive for its grade band in Ramsey County. In science, the numbers are notably lower. Graduation rate data was not available for this profile, so that important measure of whether the school carries students through to a diploma is missing. A parent would want to learn that directly from the school.
The peer environment is one of the school’s most distinctive features. The student population is very homogeneous by race and economic background, with nearly all students Black and nearly all from low-income households. For a family looking for a school that reflects that community, HGA Secondary provides it. For a family seeking a more diverse mix of backgrounds, this school would not offer that.
The school serves grades eight through twelve, which is an uncommon range. A student who starts in eighth grade would remain in the same building through high school graduation, which may appeal to families looking for stability through the adolescent years.
Housing in the area is expensive relative to the nation as a whole, and affordability is a consideration for any family moving to attend this school. The local unemployment rate has been around the national average.
Web research turned up no recent district-level changes, such as boundary shifts, leadership turnover, or program launches, that would be meaningful for a current parent. The district appears stable in that sense, though the lack of publicized changes also means there is little to point to as momentum.
Overall, HGA Secondary is a small charter high school with strong relative proficiency in reading and math but a significant gap in science, serving a student population that is nearly all Black and low-income. A family considering this school will want to ask about science instruction and graduation outcomes directly. The school fits a family seeking a charter with a consistent peer community in a stable urban setting.
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