The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Avalon Middle School
Avalon Middle School is a small charter school in Saint Paul, serving students in grades six through eight. It operates as part of the Avalon School district, a very small charter district known for project-based learning and teacher-powered governance, though no recent policy changes or referendums were publicly reported. Because it is a charter and not a traditional neighborhood school, it draws families from across the city who choose its specific academic model and culture.
The school enrolls a relatively small student body. The student composition is predominantly White, with a notable Hispanic share and smaller groups of students who identify as two or more races, Black, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native. About one in three students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that suggests some economic diversity. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, which is a gap a parent may want to follow up on with the school directly, especially since these supports can shape a middle school experience.
On the Minnesota state assessments, overall proficiency in math and reading across tested grades sits above the midpoint when compared to other districts in Ramsey County. In practice, that means reading proficiency rates across grades six through eight fell in a range that includes roughly half of students meeting standards, while math proficiency was somewhat lower. Science results, available only for grade eight, showed a smaller share of students at the proficient level. The broader academic context is one of moderate performance relative to the county, but the small size of the school means a handful of students can move the overall rates noticeably.
Saint Paul itself shapes the context a family would experience. As the state capital and the eastern half of the Twin Cities, it is a dense, diverse city with a strong civic core of government buildings, cultural institutions like the Science Museum and the Ordway Center, and a park system that ranks among the best in the country. Housing values in the school’s immediate area are close to the national median, though slightly lower than the Minnesota state benchmark, and rents have been rising modestly. The neighborhood around the school on Glendale Street is part of Saint Paul’s Midway area, near the border with Minneapolis, a location that offers access to the Green Line light rail and major roadways.
The school is a regular public charter, not an alternative or special-purpose school, and it does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Nor were there data on chronic absenteeism or discipline, though those are typical areas of interest for middle school families. The small enrollment means class sizes are likely modest, and the charter’s project-based orientation suggests a learning environment that may emphasize hands-on work and student autonomy.
Overall, Avalon Middle School offers a small, choice-based educational setting in a large urban environment. Its academic results are mixed but place it in the upper half of the county’s districts for proficiency. The school’s size, charter status, and pedagogical approach are the main draws; a family considering it would want to confirm how special education and English learner services are provided, and how the school’s project-based model aligns with their child’s learning style. The surrounding city provides ample cultural and recreational resources, though the school itself is a standalone campus within that larger landscape.
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