The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in English language arts. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on International Spanish Language Acad
International Spanish Language Academy is a K-6 charter school in Edina, and a family considering it is choosing a distinctive academic pathway. The school’s defining feature is its mission: Spanish language immersion, and the student body reflects that focus. More than a third of students are Hispanic, and white students make up close to half, with smaller shares of two or more races, Black, and Asian students. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The school offers a continuous immersion pathway that now extends downward. The district recently added a fee-based pre-K program combining full Spanish immersion with an International Baccalaureate Early Years Programme, described as one of the only such programs in Minnesota. This means a family could enroll a child in pre-K and stay through grade 5 at the time of this reporting, with grade 6 added. The school’s grade span in the directory shows K-6, and enrollment is concentrated in the lower grades with a smaller cohort at grade 6, suggesting a relatively new or expanding upper grade. A parent should confirm the current upper grade ceiling and any plans to extend further.
State testing results show a mixed picture that warrants attention by grade level. In reading, the school’s grade 5 cohort posted a strong proficiency rate, while grades 3 and 4 were more moderate. In math, proficiency rates declined as students moved up: grade 3 was solid, grade 4 was moderate, and grade 5 was well below that. Science results for grade 5 were lower still, though the state changed its science assessment in this period and changed cut scores, making direct comparisons uncertain. The school’s combined proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed it in the top quartile among all districts in Hennepin County, a strong showing overall. But the pattern of declining math and science performance in the upper grades is something a parent may want to discuss with the school, particularly for families considering the school for the full K-6 span.
Because this is a charter school serving only elementary and middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was also not available. These gaps are common for schools of this grade band and type.
The school relocated in 2021 to its current campus on West 78th Street in Edina. Edina is a first-ring suburb southwest of Minneapolis, a primarily residential community with a high median home value and high adult educational attainment. The housing market is expensive, consistent with the city’s mature built-out character and modest population growth. Most families drive to work, and the city is bisected by major highways, reinforcing an auto-oriented layout. Metro Transit provides bus service to parts of the city. Free busing is provided for Edina school district residents, so a family living within the Edina district boundaries should factor in the commute to the 78th Street campus. Families living outside the district would need to arrange their own transportation.
The school’s location change is a settled fact, not a recent disruption, but it is a key piece for families deciding whether the commute and location work for them. The school also offers a before- and after-school program called Aventuras, which may matter for working families.
For a family that values full Spanish immersion from an early age and wants a charter school with a strong overall academic standing relative to other Hennepin County districts, International Spanish Language Academy offers a clear and coherent program. The strengths are in the mission, the early language exposure, and the solid elementary reading results. The soft spots are the declining math and science proficiency in grades 4 and 5, and the absence of data on how the school supports students who may need extra help. A parent who plans to stay through grade 6 would want to understand how the school addresses that upper-grade dip. A family looking for a traditional neighborhood K-5 or a school with a broader range of extracurriculars would find this a different kind of place entirely.
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