Original Research by School Decision on Staars
STAARS is a special education school in Hastings, Minnesota, serving students in grade 12 only. It is part of the Hastings Public School District. The school has a very small enrollment, with all students in a single grade. This setting is different from a comprehensive high school, and the academic metrics commonly used to evaluate schools, such as state proficiency scores and graduation rates, do not apply here. A graduation rate is absent because the school serves only one grade and its function is not the same as a standard diploma-granting high school. Similarly, there are no state testing results to report, which is consistent with a school of this type and grade configuration. A parent looking at STAARS should understand it as a specialized placement, not a general-education school, and should look into the school’s specific program and purpose directly.
The student body is composed of a small number of students, all in grade 12. The racial and ethnic makeup, based on reported data, is predominantly white, with a smaller share identifying as Hispanic. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services under an IEP, or are English learners were not available. Given that the school is classified as a special education school, it is reasonable to infer that it serves students with specific disabilities, but the exact proportion is not stated in the data provided. Information on discipline rates, staffing ratios, and course access was also not available.
The school is located in Hastings, a historic river town that serves as the county seat of Dakota County and functions as a suburb of the Twin Cities. The city has a compact footprint and a historic downtown district along the Mississippi River that acts as a civic and cultural center. The built environment includes residential neighborhoods, industrial operations tied to grain milling and manufacturing, and riverfront parks. The city has approximately 30 miles of paved biking and walking trails. Housing in the area is priced above the national median, with home values and rents reflecting the broader Twin Cities suburban market. The unemployment rate has been stable at a moderate level. Hastings is car-dependent, as it is not served by Metro Transit bus routes, though commuter rail is in a preliminary study phase.
The Hastings Public School District, which STAARS is part of, has a district operating levy referendum on the ballot that represents a potential lasting impact on property taxes and district funding levels. Beyond that, publicly reported information about recent district changes, such as curriculum overhauls or major program launches, was not found.
A family considering STAARS should recognize it as a specialized, small school serving a specific population of students in their final year of secondary education. It does not function as a neighborhood high school, and the typical measures of school performance do not apply. Parents would want to contact the school or the district directly to understand the admissions criteria, the services provided, and the transition supports in place for students who are completing their schooling in this setting.
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