The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Horizon Science Academy Twin Cities
Horizon Science Academy Twin Cities is a charter school in Richfield serving kindergarten through sixth grade, with a publicly reported plan to expand through eighth grade. It is a regular public school operating under a charter, which means it is publicly funded but independently run, and families choose to enroll rather than being assigned by a district boundary. The school’s stated mission centers on mathematics, science, and technology within a college-preparatory framework.
The student body is small for a school serving this grade band. The demographic profile is distinctive: the vast majority of students are Black, with a small Hispanic share and a very small White share. More than a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of economic need that is substantial but not the highest in the area. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
State testing results for the most recent year show that proficiency rates in both math and reading are low across the grades tested. In math, proficiency was in the single digits or low teens in most grades, with one grade reaching the mid-thirties. In reading, the pattern was similar, with one grade reaching the low forties and others in the teens or lower. Science results for fifth grade showed no students reaching proficiency, though the participation rate was below typical levels, which can affect the reliability of that figure. Compared to other schools in Hennepin County, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quarter of the county. Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available.
The school is part of the Horizon Science Academy network, which operates multiple charter schools in several states. Publicly reported information indicates the school opened in the mid-2000s and has expanded its grade offerings over time, moving from a K-6 to a K-8 authorization, though the school’s own website still lists K-6 as the grades served, suggesting the expansion may be recent or still in progress. The curriculum emphasizes mathematics, science, and technology with a college-preparatory orientation.
Richfield is a dense inner-ring suburb of Minneapolis with a mix of single-family homes, apartments, and condominiums. Best Buy’s corporate headquarters is the dominant employer, and the city has a substantial park system including Wood Lake Nature Center. The population peaked decades ago and then declined due to airport and highway expansion, but the city is now focused on redevelopment. Housing values in the area are near the statewide median, and rents are moderate. The school is located on Second Avenue South in a residential part of the city, not far from the commercial corridor along 66th Street.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is the central consideration. State test results are well below county averages, and the school’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quarter of Hennepin County districts. The school is small, with a student body that is overwhelmingly Black and a significant share of students from low-income households. The STEM-focused, college-preparatory mission is a clear draw, but the test results suggest that translating that mission into measured academic performance is a work in progress. A parent considering this school would want to visit, talk with teachers and current families, and understand what academic supports and interventions are in place, particularly given the low proficiency rates and the school’s relatively small size. The school’s expansion into middle school grades is a recent development that may change the experience for families looking for a longer-term option within the same school.
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