Rochester Math and Science Academy, Rochester MN

Original Research by School Decision on Rochester Math and Science Academy

Rochester Math and Science Academy is a charter school in Rochester, Minnesota, serving kindergarten through eighth grade. It is a regular public school that operates under a charter, meaning it is publicly funded but independently run. The school is part of a small district that has undergone recent structural change, including the consolidation of another local charter school into this entity. That merger, and the district's broader expansion to include high school grades through separate secondary and online programs, means the elementary and middle school campus is now one piece of a larger system, though this site itself remains focused on kindergarten through eighth grade.

The school's student body is almost entirely composed of students who identify as Black. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of economic need that is commonplace at many charter schools serving urban and suburban communities. The school is located in Rochester, a mid-sized city in southeastern Minnesota that functions as a regional healthcare and commercial hub, anchored by the Mayo Clinic. The city's economy, downtown character, and growth are all shaped heavily by the institution. Rochester is experiencing development and population growth, partly driven by the Destination Medical Center initiative.

On state assessments, proficiency rates vary noticeably by grade and subject. In mathematics, the share of students meeting state standards ranged from a smaller share in the upper elementary grades to a larger share in sixth grade. In English language arts, the pattern was similar, with a lower share proficient in third grade and a larger share in fifth and sixth grades. Science results for fifth grade showed a very small share proficient. Looking at the school's overall results across tested subjects and grades, its proficiency index ranks in the bottom quarter among districts in Olmsted County, meaning most other districts in the county posted higher proficiency rates. A parent may want to discuss how the school approaches instruction and addresses academic growth with the school directly.

Because this school serves only through eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism was not available. The school's status regarding special education services and English learner supports was also not reported in the data provided, so a family with a child who may need those services should confirm availability and support directly with the school.

Rochester Math and Science Academy is a small charter school serving a predominantly Black and economically disadvantaged student population in the K-8 grades. Its test scores are below the county average, and its academic performance varies by grade, with some grades showing a higher rate of proficiency than others. Families considering this school should weigh its focused mission and smaller environment against the academic outcomes currently reported, and seek further information on how the school plans to improve performance across the board. The recent district mergers and expansion into high school grades through separate programs may also be relevant for families planning for their child's full educational path.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 334%

School 34% · District 34%

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 421%

School 21% · District 21%

▼ 31 pts below state median · ▼ 35 pts below county median

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 18%

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 652%

School 52% · District 52%

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 314%

School 14% · District 14%

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 36 pts below county median

Grade 427%

School 27% · District 27%

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 48%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 647%

School 47% · District 47%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Science

Grade 58%

School 8% · District 8%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

This schoolROCHESTER MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.