The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ncs Online Program
NCS Online Program is a public charter school serving grades six through twelve, operated by New Century School, a small charter district based in Saint Paul. The school's address is on Energy Lane in Saint Paul, but because it is a fully online program, a family's physical location matters less than their internet connection. The district states that the program serves students from anywhere in Minnesota through a fully online format. For a parent whose child needs a nontraditional, fully remote learning environment for middle or high school, this is one of the options available under New Century School's umbrella alongside a newer in-person alternative program called New Century Academy, which opened in fall 2023.
Enrollment data for this school shows a report of zero enrolled students across all grade levels, and every racial and ethnic category is reported as zero. This likely means the enrollment count was not reported in the standard way, or the program's students may be counted under the district's main enrollment. A parent should clarify with the school how many students are actively participating and how the program is staffed before making a decision. Because the enrollment data is effectively missing, there is also no information available on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, on special education identification rates, or on English learner status. The school's charter status is confirmed, and it is classified as a regular public school by the state.
State testing results are reported for math and reading at grades six, seven, and eight. Proficient rates for both math and reading across those grades stand at zero percent, based on the 2024-25 school year. The eighth-grade science score was suppressed due to a very small testing population. The overall proficiency index places the school in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Ramsey County. These are very low test scores, and a parent will want to discuss with the school how academic progress is measured, what curriculum is used, and what supports are in place to ensure students are achieving. The school may serve a population that was not on grade level when they entered, or the online format may be a better fit for some students than others in terms of outcome metrics.
A graduation rate is not available, which is a gap. Since the school serves grades six through twelve, a graduation rate should exist, but it was not part of the data provided. A parent should ask the school for its most recent graduation and postsecondary outcomes directly.
Saint Paul is Minnesota's capital and second-largest city, a dense urban environment with a mix of state government, cultural institutions, and residential neighborhoods. The Mississippi River runs through it, and the city has a strong park system. The housing market in the zip code area shows home values that are roughly in line with national benchmarks, and rents have been rising. This is a major metro area with the usual urban amenities and challenges, but for a fully online program, the school's city location is less relevant than the quality of the program itself, since students log in from wherever they live.
The parent district, New Century School, appears to be a small charter district that has recently expanded its portfolio. In addition to the online program, it opened New Century Academy in fall 2023 for students who have not succeeded in traditional settings, offering smaller classes and individualized plans. The online program itself is described as serving grades K through twelve, though the school profile here shows only grade six through twelve. A family with a student in earlier grades would need to verify availability.
The bottom line: NCS Online Program is a fully remote charter option with very low reported state assessment results. Enrollment information is essentially absent from the data, and key metrics like graduation rate are missing. For a family that has already decided an online format is necessary, this school bears deep investigation into actual student outcomes, daily instruction, teacher interaction, and how the program ensures students are making progress. The school's place in Ramsey County's testing landscape is weak, but testing data alone may not capture the academic starting points of the students who enroll. Without richer information on staffing, curriculum, and student outcomes, a parent considering this program has significant unknowns to resolve directly with the school.
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