The top reported proficiency rate is 9% in Math. The lowest is 7% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Kipp North Star Primary
KIPP North Star Primary is a public charter school in Minneapolis serving kindergarten through fourth grade, operating under the KIPP Minnesota Charter School network. It is classified as a regular school and sits within the city’s dense urban fabric, near the northern edge of Minneapolis.
Because the school serves only early elementary grades, state testing data is available only for third and fourth graders, and there is no graduation rate to report—that metric does not apply to a KG–4 school. On the Minnesota state assessments, the share of students meeting proficiency standards in both math and English language arts was low enough to place the school in the bottom quartile among all districts in Hennepin County when measured by a composite proficiency index. Across tested grades and subjects, the proficiency rate was below a tenth of students, meaning the vast majority of students tested did not reach the state’s benchmark for grade-level performance. Only a single year of testing data was available for this school, so a trend cannot be established. Parents considering this school may want to ask the school directly about its instructional strategies, interventions, and how it measures academic growth year to year, since the snapshot from state tests alone is limited.
The student body is small for a full elementary school. The composition is overwhelmingly Black, with a very small share of white and Hispanic students. Nearly all students come from low-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students with Individualized Education Programs (special education) and English learner status was missing from the available records; families may wish to ask the school about its support services for those populations.
KIPP North Star Primary is a charter school, so it operates independently of the local school district, though its authorizing entity is subject to oversight. The parent network, KIPP Minnesota Charter School, underwent a notable change between the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 school years: the number of school sites dropped from four to two, with a corresponding decline in total enrollment. This consolidation suggests that families within the KIPP Minnesota network have fewer school options than in prior years, and that the network may be restructuring its footprint in the city.
No information about specific program offerings—such as music, art, foreign language, or extended learning—was provided. The school’s website was not detailed in the data, so a parent would need to consult the school directly to learn about enrichment and extracurricular options.
Minneapolis, where the school is located, is a major urban center with a strong corporate and cultural economy, extensive park and lake systems, and both a downtown core and a large university campus. Housing values in the school’s zip code area are moderate relative to the state median, a typical pattern for a city with both expensive and more affordable neighborhoods. The school itself sits in a residential part of north Minneapolis, a section of the city that has historically faced challenges with poverty and disinvestment but also has active community organizations.
In short, KIPP North Star Primary is a small charter elementary serving a student population that is almost entirely Black and from low-income families. Its state test results show very low proficiency rates, which places it academically in a low tier among Hennepin County schools, though the available data covers only two grade levels and one year. The charter network that runs it recently shrank from four schools to two, which may affect families’ sense of stability or choice within the network. This school is likely to fit families who are seeking a small, mission-driven charter focused on serving a high-poverty community, but who also want to engage deeply with the school about academic outcomes and support structures before enrolling.
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