The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in Math. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ
Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ is a public charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is a regular school by type, but its charter status makes it a school of choice within the St. Cloud area, and its name signals an emphasis on math and science. The school is small, with an enrollment in the hundreds spread across six grade levels. The student body is overwhelmingly Black, with only a handful of white and multiracial students enrolled. Every student at the school qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a marker of a high-poverty population. Data on English learners and students with disabilities was not reported, so a parent looking into those supports would need to ask the school directly.
The school takes the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in math, reading, and science. In math, proficiency rates across grades three through five fall in a range from roughly a quarter of students meeting standards to just under two-fifths, varying by grade. Reading results are similar, with proficiency rates around a third of students in grades three and five and a lower rate in grade four. Science is tested only in grade five, and the proficiency rate there is noticeably lower than in either math or reading. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages these rates, sits below the midpoint when compared with other public school districts in Stearns County. This means that most districts in the county have higher average proficiency on the state tests. Only a single year of testing data was available, so there is no trend to review.
The school is located in Saint Cloud, a mid-sized city that serves as the county seat of Stearns County. Saint Cloud is a regional hub with a major university, a large hospital system, manufacturing, and logistics employers. It has also been a significant destination for immigrants, particularly from Somalia, and the local school district has a sizable Somali enrollment. The school’s demographics reflect that broader immigration pattern, with a student body that is almost exclusively African American. Housing values in the Saint Cloud area are somewhat below the national median, and rents are moderate. The city itself offers a walkable downtown, civic anchors such as the Great River Regional Library and the Paramount Theatre, and riverfront gardens. It sits along the Interstate 94 corridor about an hour northwest of the Twin Cities, placing it within commuting range for some families.
As a charter school, Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ operates independently of the traditional Saint Cloud school district, though it still answers to an authorizer. No major changes or developments have been reported for this school in recent years. The school’s small size and charter status mean that families choose to enroll here rather than in their assigned neighborhood school. Because the school’s academic proficiency is below the county average, parents considering this option may want to visit and learn about the math and science curriculum, how the school supports students who are behind, and what services are available for English learners and students with disabilities, given that those data were not provided. The school serves only elementary grades, so families will eventually need to plan for a middle school transition.
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