The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on North Lakes Academy Upper School
North Lakes Academy Upper School is a small public charter school serving grades nine through twelve in Forest Lake, a rapidly growing suburban community in the northwestern corner of Washington County, about a half-hour from both Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The school operates independently of the larger Forest Lake Area School District, as one of two charter districts in the area. Its location on 15th Street SW places it within a car-oriented, low-density community where civic and commercial activity clusters near Lake Street and the lake itself, while schools are spread across the wider city and surrounding area.
This is a very small high school. Its enrollment means most students will know nearly every classmate and teacher, and the student body walks the halls as a community rather than a crowd. The school draws a student population that is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial students, broadly reflective of the surrounding region. A substantial share of students come from lower-income households, as measured by free and reduced-price meal eligibility, a factor that a family may want to keep in mind when thinking about resources and peer context. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners was not reported, so a family with a child in either category should ask the school directly about its services and staffing.
Academically, the school’s state assessment results place it in the bottom quartile among Washington County districts for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. On the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, proficiency rates in math and reading for seventh and eighth graders—the tested grades in this building—were well below state averages. Science proficiency for eighth graders was lowest among the tested subjects. A single year of data is available, so there is no trend to point at, but the picture from that single year is clear: most students at North Lakes Academy Upper School are not meeting state benchmarks in math, reading, or science. A family choosing this school will want to understand how the school addresses these gaps, whether through targeted intervention, small-group instruction, or a curricular approach that may not align with the state test. Because the school serves only high school grades and had no graduation rate reported in the available data, a parent should also ask directly about on-time graduation, postsecondary plans, and the school’s track record in getting seniors to a diploma.
Program offerings and course access details were not reported. As a small charter, North Lakes Academy’s course catalog may look different from a large comprehensive high school. A family should ask about Advanced Placement, concurrent enrollment with local colleges, career and technical education, and any specialty programs the school offers. The school’s public website is the logical next step for a family wanting a schedule of what is actually available.
Forest Lake itself is a city that has seen substantial growth, including a recent annexation of the surrounding township, and it continues to build new facilities like a sports center. Housing in the area is priced above the state median, and rents have been rising, consistent with the broader Twin Cities metro trend. The city offers extensive parkland, trails, golf courses, and lake access, with a family-friendly character that attracts residents looking for outdoor recreation and suburban space. The school’s charter status means it operates with more autonomy than a traditional district school, which can appeal to families seeking a specific educational philosophy or a smaller setting, but it also means the school operates independently of the local district’s resources and programming.
A parent weighing North Lakes Academy Upper School should see it as a niche option: a very small, community-oriented high school in a growing suburb, where academic mastery on state tests is currently an area of weakness the school will need to address directly. The school offers a scale and setting that can work well for a student who thrives in a small, close-knit environment, but the academic data demands the sort of pointed follow-up that only a visit and a conversation with the principal can answer.
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