The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Level up Academy Middle School
Level Up Academy Middle School is a small charter school serving sixth through eighth grade in White Bear Lake, a lakeside suburban city about twenty miles north of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. The school operates independently of the local district, reporting to its own authorizer as a single-school district. The city itself retains a small-town character despite its proximity to the Twin Cities, with a walkable downtown core of restaurants and shops, a lakefront central to community identity, and a largely built-out, auto-oriented suburban footprint.
The student body is small, with a composition that is predominantly white, followed by smaller shares of Black, Asian, and Hispanic students, and a very small share of students identifying as two or more races. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that positions the school in a moderate range for economic need among its peers. Enrollment is concentrated fairly evenly across the three middle grades, and the school is a regular public charter, not a magnet or a specialized alternative setting.
State testing results are available for the most recent year. In reading and language arts, proficiency rates varied notably by grade, with a meaningful share of eighth graders meeting the bar, while rates for sixth and seventh graders were lower. In math, proficiency was low across all three grades, with single-digit and low double-digit percentages meeting the standard. Science results for eighth graders showed no students reaching the proficiency threshold. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages performance across tested subjects and grades, sits below the midpoint relative to other districts in Ramsey County. Because the data covers only a single year, there is no trend available to show whether these results represent a stable pattern or an unusual year.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism and discipline data were not available in the source records. The school’s staffing ratios and course access offerings were also not part of the data provided. A parent or guardian may want to ask directly about class sizes, teacher qualifications, and the range of academic supports available, especially given the proficiency profile.
White Bear Lake is an established suburb, not a fast-growing one. Housing values in the area are slightly above the statewide typical level, and rents have been rising in recent years. The local economy includes a mix of corporate headquarters, industrial facilities, and small businesses. The school is housed on a campus separate from the downtown civic core, consistent with the suburban pattern of the area.
For a family considering this school, the central question is how the academic environment matches a student’s needs. The proficiency data suggests that a majority of students are not meeting state benchmarks in math and that reading performance is uneven across grades. A parent may want to investigate what interventions, tutoring, or curriculum adjustments the school offers and how it supports students who are below grade level. The school’s small size could mean more individualized attention, but that would need to be confirmed through direct inquiry. No recent changes to the district’s programming or leadership were identified in publicly available sources, so the school’s current approach is likely the one that has been in place.
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