The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in Math. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Kenwood Elementary
Kenwood Elementary is a regular public school in Minneapolis serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Minneapolis Public School District, one of the state’s largest and most urban districts. The school sits in a residential area of the city, in a neighborhood that reflects the broader Minneapolis mix of older homes, proximity to downtown, and access to the city’s extensive park and lake system. The city itself is a major cultural, corporate, and educational hub—home to the University of Minnesota, Target Corporation, the Walker Art Center, and the Guthrie Theater. Families choosing this school are also choosing the urban environment of a dense, walkable city with public transit, a strong park network, and both the opportunities and challenges that come with a large public school district.
The student body is diverse in background. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that aligns with the district’s overall economic diversity. Racially, the largest single group is white students, followed by Black students, then students who identify as two or more races, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian students. The enrollment is modest for an elementary school serving six grades, with class sizes that are broadly typical for an urban district. Data on the share of students with disabilities or those learning English was not reported in the available information, so parents who want to understand special education or language support services would need to ask the school directly.
On state assessments, Kenwood’s results are mixed and vary by grade and subject. In math, fourth graders showed a higher proficiency rate than third or fifth graders, while in reading, the same general pattern held, with fourth graders again the strongest. Fifth graders, the only grade tested in science, posted a low proficiency rate—less than a fifth of students met the standard. That fifth-grade science result is a soft spot and a parent may want to look into it further with the school, especially given science’s role in later academic pathways. When looking across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s composite proficiency is above the midpoint compared to districts in Hennepin County. That is a useful benchmark, but it draws on a single year of data (no multi-year trend was available), so it represents a snapshot rather than a trajectory.
Housing in the area reflects Minneapolis’s desirability. Home values are well above state and national medians, and rents are correspondingly high. The cost of buying versus renting, along with typical mortgage rates and income needed, suggests a market that is expensive for many families. For those already living in the neighborhood, the school is a neighborhood elementary option; for families considering moving into the area, the housing costs are a major factor.
The broader district context matters for any Minneapolis public school. Minneapolis Public Schools has been navigating declining enrollment, budget deficits, and restructuring. The district closed three schools at the end of the 2022-23 school year and implemented a Comprehensive District Design that changed attendance boundaries, school pathways, and magnet placements. A technology levy was renewed by voters in 2022, providing ongoing funding for devices and infrastructure, but an operating levy increase was rejected in 2020, adding to fiscal pressure. These district-level dynamics mean that families at Kenwood may see changes over time in feeder patterns, program availability, and resource levels. The district has discussed potential further school closures and program cuts in response to projected deficits, so stability is not guaranteed.
Kenwood itself operates without a magnet or charter designation and is a regular neighborhood school. The lack of program data in the available information means it is unclear whether the school offers specialized academies, extended learning, or enrichment beyond the standard curriculum. A parent interested in those details would need to visit the school’s website or contact the school directly. Overall, Kenwood offers a mid-sized elementary experience within a large, financially strained urban district, with academic results that are above the county district average in a composite sense but uneven across grades and subjects. The setting is distinctly urban, with the cultural and civic assets of Minneapolis close at hand, and housing costs that reflect the area’s high demand.
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