The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Universal Academy Middle/high
Universal Academy Middle/High is a charter school in Minneapolis serving grades seven through ten. It is part of the Universal Academy Charter School district, a single-school charter authorizing entity. The school is small, with a total enrollment that is very low for a school serving this grade band. The student body is predominantly Black, with a small share of Hispanic students and a very small share of students identifying as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials.
The school is located in Minneapolis, a major urban center that is the state's most populous city and the seat of Hennepin County. Minneapolis has a dense, gridded urban core, a historic riverfront mill district, and residential neighborhoods clustered around numerous lakes. It is a financial, corporate, educational, and cultural hub, home to the University of Minnesota's main campus, major arts institutions, and four professional sports teams. The city's park system is extensive and linked by the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. Public transit is provided by Metro Transit, which operates buses and light rail. The school itself is situated on 28th Avenue South in a residential area of the city.
State testing results are available for the most recent school year. In math, proficiency rates for seventh and eighth graders were below the midpoint of the range seen across the state. In English language arts, proficiency rates for seventh and eighth graders were higher than in math but still below the statewide average. Science results for eighth graders were very low. A parent may want to look into this further with the school. Because the school serves grades seven through ten, it does not yet have a four-year graduation rate to report. Only one year of testing data was available, so no trend can be assessed.
The school's overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested subjects and grades, places it above the midpoint among districts in Hennepin County. This comparison is based on the school's own results, not a district-level average, and the county contains a wide range of performance levels.
The school is a charter school, which means it operates independently of the local school district and is governed by its own board. It is classified as a regular school, not an alternative or special-purpose school. No information was available on course offerings, Advanced Placement or dual-credit programs, career and technical education pathways, or extracurricular activities. A parent interested in those areas would need to contact the school directly.
The school's enrollment is very small, with students spread across grades seven through ten. The grade nine class is particularly small. This scale means students are likely to receive a lot of individual attention, but it also means the range of course offerings and social peer groups may be narrower than at a larger school. The school serves only through tenth grade, so students must transition to another school for eleventh and twelfth grades.
Housing in the school's zip code is valued near the national median, with rents also around the national median. The broader economic context shows a national 30-year fixed mortgage rate that has been fluctuating in a moderate range, and a national unemployment rate that has been stable.
No information was available on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or the school's Title I status. The district brief turned up no evidence of recent curriculum changes, referendums, or other parent-relevant developments. A family considering this school would want to ask about the high school transition plan, the range of academic programs, and student support services directly.
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