The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in Math. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hall Academy Elementary
Hall Academy Elementary is a regular public school in Minneapolis serving children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Minneapolis Public School District, the large urban district that covers Minnesota’s most populous city. The school sits in a dense residential and commercial area of the city’s north side, within a district that has recently undergone significant restructuring and budget pressure.
The student body is small for a school serving this grade band. A substantial majority of students come from low-income households, as reflected in the share qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The student population is racially and ethnically diverse, with the largest group being Black students, followed by students identifying as two or more races, White students, and smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian students.
On Minnesota’s state assessments, Hall Academy’s proficiency rates are low across all tested subjects. In math, the share of students meeting state standards was modest in each tested grade, and in reading and language arts, the rates were similarly modest, with one grade showing a particularly small share. In science, which is tested in fifth grade, the proportion of students who reached the proficient level was very small. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism and special education were not available in the reviewed information.
When placed alongside other districts in Hennepin County, Hall Academy’s overall proficiency level—a combined measure across all tested subjects and grades—falls in the bottom quarter. This is a meaningful signal for families considering the school: the academic performance, as measured by state tests, is well below the mid-range for the county. A parent may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are behind grade level, what interventions are in place, and how the school addresses the learning needs of a high-poverty student population.
The Minneapolis district context adds important layers. The district has faced declining enrollment over recent years, leading to school closures and a major budget deficit for the current school year. Voters in 2020 rejected an operating levy increase, and the district has since relied on a renewed technology levy for infrastructure. The Comprehensive District Design, approved in 2020, restructured attendance boundaries, magnet programs, and feeder patterns, meaning that Hall Academy’s relationship to other schools in the city may have shifted. Families should confirm current attendance zones and program offerings directly with the district.
Minneapolis itself is a major urban center with a strong downtown, a large university campus, extensive park and lake systems, and a public transit network including light rail. Housing values in the zip code around the school are moderate relative to the state and national benchmarks, with rental costs rising recently. The broader city has seen some population decline since 2020, but remains the economic and cultural core of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
For a family weighing Hall Academy, the primary takeaway is that this is a small, high-poverty elementary school within a large urban district under fiscal strain, and its state test results are notably low relative to other schools across Hennepin County. The school does not have publicly reported information on program offerings, advanced coursework (which is typical for an elementary grade span), or specific student support structures in the data reviewed. A closer look at the school’s website or a direct conversation with staff would be valuable for understanding the academic environment beyond test scores.
See more original research from School Decision →