Original Research by School Decision on Pines School - Rjc
Pines School – RJC is an alternative school within the Centennial Public School District, serving grades seven through twelve in Lino Lakes. It is a small setting, which is characteristic of an alternative program. The student body is diverse: white students make up the largest share, with Black, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaska Native students each representing a meaningful portion of the enrollment. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the percentage of students with individualized education programs and English learners was not provided.
The school’s academic performance profile is nearly opaque. The state did not report proficiency results for math, English language arts, or science at the tested grade level; the data was suppressed. The number of students tested in each subject was small, and the state typically suppresses results when the group is too small to report reliably. A parent should expect that standardized test scores will not be available to compare this school against others. The small student counts in each grade also mean that any year-to-year changes in performance would be difficult to interpret.
Because Pines School serves grades seven through twelve, a graduation rate would typically be a key measure. No graduation rate was reported in the available data. For an alternative school serving older students, this is a meaningful gap; a family considering the school would want to ask the administration directly about the school’s graduation and postsecondary outcomes. The same caution applies to other outcomes data, such as chronic absenteeism or college readiness measures; none were available in the information provided.
The school is part of the Centennial Public School District, which recently passed a significant operating levy referendum, securing ongoing funding for class sizes, student support services, and academic programs. The district also approved district-wide full-day kindergarten at no cost, beginning in a recent school year. A five-year strategic plan is in place, focused on academic excellence, social-emotional learning, and fiscal stewardship. These district-level moves signal a stable financial and programmatic environment, though how they directly affect the alternative school setting may vary.
Lino Lakes is an outer suburb of the Twin Cities, primarily residential with lakes and wetlands giving it an open feel. It is car-dependent, with no walkable downtown and schools distributed on separate campuses. The city is growing steadily. Housing values in the area are above the national median, and the cost of renting is moderate relative to local incomes. The Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve is the dominant natural anchor. The community is affluent overall, though the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch at Pines School suggests that the school serves a population with a different economic profile than the town average.
For a parent, Pines School is a small alternative program where test scores are not available, graduation data was not reported, and enrollment is very small. The school is likely serving students who need a different structure than a traditional comprehensive high school. The lack of reported outcome data means a parent should plan to visit, speak with staff, and ask directly about academic progress, graduation rates, and post-graduation plans for students who attend here.
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