Original Research by School Decision on Rochester Stem Academy
Rochester STEM Academy is a small public charter high school serving grades nine through twelve in Rochester, Minnesota. The school has closed. According to the Minnesota Department of Education, it was consolidated into Rochester Math and Science Academy, effective fiscal year 2025, and stopped serving students after the 2023-2024 school year. The two entities share the same street address, and anyone interested in this program should look to Rochester Math and Science Academy for current offerings.
The school served a student body that was entirely Black, with an enrollment that was small for a high school. A substantial share of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records.
No state assessment results were available for this school, so an academic performance profile cannot be drawn from that standard measure. Because the school did not serve students through to graduation in the reporting window covered, no graduation rate was available either. A family looking to understand academic outcomes here would need to seek information directly from the successor school.
The school was a regular public charter, not a magnet or a special-purpose school. The district of which it was a part is listed as not active by the state.
Rochester itself is a mid-sized city that functions as a regional healthcare and commercial hub, anchored by the Mayo Clinic. The clinic employs a large share of the local workforce and draws millions of visitors annually, shaping the downtown economy and street life. Downtown contains a dense network of skyways and subterranean walkways connecting Mayo buildings, hotels, restaurants, and retail. Residential areas outside the core are more auto-oriented. The city has a public transit system, an extensive parks system, and the second busiest commercial airport in Minnesota. The Destination Medical Center initiative is driving significant investment, including new research and administrative buildings, a bus rapid transit line under construction, and redevelopment along the Zumbro River. Housing values and rents in the area are above the national median, reflecting the local economy.
For a parent or resident considering this school, the most relevant fact is that it no longer operates independently. The information gap on test scores and graduation rates is best explained by the school’s closure and transition. The successor institution, Rochester Math and Science Academy, is the place to investigate for any current academic pathway, peer environment, or student support questions.
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