The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Math. The lowest is 54% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Nova Classical Academy Lower School
Nova Classical Academy Lower School is a K–5 charter school in Saint Paul, and the data paints a picture of a school with notably strong academic performance that stands well above typical results among Ramsey County’s districts, set inside a city with deep civic and cultural resources.
The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade, with a charter governance structure that operates as its own single-school district, Nova Classical Academy. The enrollment is moderate for an elementary grade span, and the student body reflects Saint Paul’s diversity: the largest share of students is white, followed by Black and Asian students, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, students of two or more races, and a very small number of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is moderate. Data on students with IEPs or English learner status was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about support structures for those populations.
On state assessments, the school’s performance is a clear strength. In math, proficiency rates across grades 3, 4, and 5 are high, with fifth grade reaching strong levels. In reading (English language arts), rates are also solid, with fifth grade again showing very high proficiency. Science results for fifth grade are moderate. The overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places the school in the top quartile relative to districts in Ramsey County. That comparison set is county-level and includes many districts, so this is a strong signal. Because the school only has one year of available testing data, no trend over time can be described.
The lower school is part of a classical academy, though the data does not provide specific details on curriculum or program offerings beyond the school’s name and type. No information on course access, staffing ratios, or attendance was available in the data. Discipline data was also absent, so a parent interested in school climate would need to seek that from the school directly. Since this is a K–5 school, there is no graduation rate to report, which is expected for the grade band.
Saint Paul is Minnesota’s capital and the eastern anchor of the Twin Cities metro area. The city has a mix of state government employment, cultural institutions like the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Ordway Center, and professional sports venues. The population is notably diverse, with a significant Hmong community. The park system ranks highly nationally, and the Mississippi River shapes the city’s geography. Housing values in the area around the school, based on the ZIP code, are somewhat below the state median but above the national level; rents are moderate. The broader economic context shows typical mortgage rates and unemployment around the national average.
The district, Nova Classical Academy as a whole, is a single-school charter district. A search for recent parent-relevant changes did not turn up any with lasting impact, so there is no reported change to note.
For a family considering this school, the key draw is the academic performance, which is strong against county peers. The school is a charter, meaning admission is open via lottery, and it sits inside Saint Paul, a city with ample cultural and civic amenities. The classical approach may appeal to families seeking a traditional liberal arts emphasis. Gaps in data around special education and English learner services, as well as discipline and staffing, mean those are points a parent should investigate further with the school. Overall, this is a high-performing elementary charter that serves a diverse student body and offers a clear academic pathway through fifth grade, with the expectation that students would then move on to a middle school, whether within the same academy (if it has an upper school) or elsewhere. The available data does not indicate whether Nova Classical Academy continues beyond fifth grade, but the lower school stands on its own as a well-regarded option in Saint Paul.
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