Original Research by School Decision on Mastery School
Mastery School is a public charter elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a regular school within the Best Academy district. The school is located on 7th Avenue North in the Near North neighborhood of the city.
Minneapolis is a major urban center and Minnesota's most populous city. Historically a lumber and flour milling capital, it is now a financial, corporate, educational, and cultural hub, home to Target Corporation, General Mills, the University of Minnesota's main campus, major arts institutions, and four professional sports teams. The city has a dense, gridded urban core with a historic riverfront mill district and residential neighborhoods clustered around numerous lakes. Its park system is extensive, connected by the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. The population has shown slight decline since the 2020 census, though the broader Twin Cities metro area continues to grow. Housing values in the area are moderate relative to state and national benchmarks: typical home values are above the state midpoint but well below the national figure. Rental costs have been rising, reflecting demand in the city.
The Best Academy district has seen several recent changes that may affect families considering Mastery School. A fully online K-8 program called Wakanda Virtual Academy has been added within the district, offering a virtual education option alongside the in-person campuses. The district's K-8 campus at Penn Avenue is no longer active, meaning families who previously used that location now access the main Olson Memorial Highway campus. Additionally, Central Lakes Adventure School is being consolidated into Harvest Best Academy for the coming fiscal year, expanding the district's governance over another school.
For Mastery School specifically, the available data is very thin, and much of what a parent typically considers when evaluating an elementary school is missing from the profile. State testing results were not available, so there is no way to assess the school's academic performance in reading, math, or science through standard measures. Because the school serves only early elementary grades, it has no graduation rate. The enrollment data shows no students currently reported, which may be a data reporting issue or could reflect a transitional period for the school; a parent would want to confirm directly with the school or district whether the school is actively enrolling students and what its current population looks like. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the share of students with disabilities, and the English learner population are all unreported. The racial and ethnic breakdown of the student body, while reported, shows all counts at zero, which aligns with the empty enrollment figure.
Because of these gaps, there is no basis for comparing Mastery School to other elementary schools or to districts across Hennepin County on proficiency, attendance, or student outcomes. The comparison data that exists for the county is simply inapplicable because the school’s own metrics are absent. A parent considering this school would need to reach out directly to the school or the Best Academy district office to get basic operational information: whether the school is open and enrolling, what programs it offers, who its students are, and what measures of student progress the school tracks internally. Without that information, it is not possible to give a meaningful read on the academic pathway, peer environment, or student support at Mastery School.
See more original research from School Decision →