The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 11% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Success Academy Bloomington Elem
Success Academy Bloomington Elem is a charter elementary school in Bloomington, Minnesota, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It operates as part of the Success Academy district, a charter network, and is classified as a regular public school by the state. The school is small, with an enrollment that matches that size for an elementary building. Because it serves only early and intermediate grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the state’s accountability system does not produce a single proficiency index for elementary schools in the way it does for high schools. However, the available state test results from the most recent year give a clear picture of academic attainment.
Across tested grades, proficiency in math and reading is below what families might expect to see in many other schools in Hennepin County. A combined proficiency measure places the school below the midpoint among the county’s districts. In math, proficiency rates are low for each grade tested, and in reading, the pattern is similar, though one grade shows a somewhat higher rate. Science results for fifth grade also show low proficiency. Because only one year of assessment data is available, it is not possible to say whether these results represent a trend of improvement or decline. A family considering this school would benefit from asking the school directly about its academic program, instructional approaches, and any recent efforts to raise student achievement.
The student body is nearly entirely Black, with a very small number of Asian students and no other racial or ethnic groups represented in the reported data. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty population. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school about the supports available for those groups. The school did not provide information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, or course access—all areas where a family might wish to follow up.
Bloomington is a large suburb of Minneapolis that grew rapidly after World War II and now has more jobs per resident than the central city itself. It is car-oriented, connected by multiple freeways and light rail, and anchored by the Mall of America, the largest enclosed shopping center in the country. The city has a dispersed civic layout rather than a traditional downtown, and about a third of its land is parkland, including large natural areas. Housing values in the area are moderate for the state and close to the national median. The community has seen a slight population decline in recent years, but major commercial and municipal investments continue, including voter-approved funding for a new health and community center. The lack of a centralized downtown means that school locations are spread across the city, and this school sits in a residential area.
The district itself, Success Academy, had no publicly reported recent changes—no boundary adjustments, program launches, or leadership transitions were found in a review of available information. That may simply mean the district has been stable on those fronts, but a family might still check the school’s website and talk to staff about any current initiatives.
For a family, this school offers a small, close-knit setting with a student population that is predominantly Black and low-income. The academic results suggest that a parent should investigate how the school addresses core instruction and what interventions or enrichment are in place. The surrounding community of Bloomington provides strong employment, park access, and transit links to Minneapolis, though it is not a walkable city. The school fits a family seeking a charter option in a suburban environment, but the performance data warrants a careful conversation with the school before enrolling.
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