Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn, Bemidji MN

Original Research by School Decision on Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn

Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn is a small charter school in Bemidji, Minnesota, serving kindergarten through eighth grade. Bemidji is a regional hub for north-central Minnesota, set on the southwest shore of Lake Bemidji and nicknamed “The First City on the Mississippi.” The city functions as a commercial, medical, educational, and government center, and it serves as a central city for three nearby Ojibwe reservations. Bemidji State University adds a college-town presence, and the wood products industry remains part of the local economy. The school itself is located on Bemidji Avenue North, on the city’s north side.

The school’s enrollment is small. The student body includes a large share of students who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, with white students also making up a substantial portion. A significant majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic context of the families the school serves. Because Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn is a charter school, it operates with its own governance structure and is not part of the larger Bemidji Area Schools district. The school’s name, which includes “Waasakone,” reflects a connection to the Ojibwe language and culture, a detail that aligns with the community’s demographic profile.

State testing results from the most recent school year show that proficiency rates in math and reading across tested grades were low. In several grade levels, the share of students meeting state standards was very low, and in some grades no students reached proficiency. Science results were similarly low, though data for one grade was suppressed due to very small numbers. Overall, when compared against other school districts in Beltrami County, this school’s proficiency index sits below the midpoint. Only one year of testing data is available in the record we reviewed, so no trend can be established. A parent looking at these results should consider them carefully and may want to speak with the school directly about instructional approaches, interventions, and how the school uses assessment data to support student growth.

Because the school serves only kindergarten through eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data, special education identification rates, and English learner counts were not available in the data we examined. No information on course access, staffing ratios, or discipline was provided. The school’s program offerings were not listed. A parent considering this school will likely want to ask about the supports available for students with disabilities and for English learners, as well as what extracurricular or enrichment opportunities exist for a small K-8 charter.

Housing values in the broader Bemidji area are moderate relative to state benchmarks, and rents have been rising. The local economy includes major employers such as Bemidji State University, Sanford Health, the county government, and the Indian Health Service, alongside wood-products manufacturers. Bemidji’s downtown offers a walkable lakeshore core with civic and cultural anchors, while most school facilities are spread across the city.

Aurora Waasakone Community of Learn is a small, culturally connected charter school in a regional hub city. Its testing outcomes are a clear concern, and the limited data available means a family would need to gather more information directly from the school to understand the full picture of academic support and student experience.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 330%

School 30% · District 30%

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 416%

School 16% · District 16%

▼ 35 pts below state median

Grade 50%

School 0% · District 0%

▼ 35 pts below state median

Grade 629%

School 29% · District 29%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 79%

School 9% · District 9%

▼ 15 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 80%

School 0% · district not reported

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 325%

School 25% · District 25%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 416%

School 16% · District 16%

▼ 25 pts below state median

Grade 521%

School 21% · District 21%

▼ 33 pts below state median

Grade 650%

School 50% · District 50%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 736%

School 36% · District 36%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 80%

School 0% · district not reported

▼ 36 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Science

Grade 55%

School 5% · District 5%

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

This schoolAurora Waasakone Community of Learn, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.