The top reported proficiency rate is 13% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary
Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the heart of Minneapolis. It is a regular public school within the Minneapolis Public School District, a large urban district that has undergone significant restructuring in recent years. The school’s enrollment is small for an urban elementary, and the student body is diverse in background. More than half of the students are Black, roughly one in five are Hispanic, and the remainder are White, multiracial, or from other backgrounds. A very high share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic reality of the surrounding neighborhood.
The school is located in a dense, mixed-use area of north Minneapolis. The city itself is a major urban center with a deep history as a milling and corporate hub, now home to institutions like the University of Minnesota’s main campus, major arts venues, and professional sports teams. The housing stock in the zip code around the school is priced well below the statewide benchmark for Minnesota, and rents are also lower than the state average. This makes the area comparatively affordable within the broader metro, but the national price-to-income ratio indicates that homeownership is still a stretch for many families.
On state assessments, the school’s results are low across tested grades and subjects. In math, proficiency rates are in the single digits for each tested grade. In reading, proficiency is also low: around one in ten third graders met the standard, and about one in five fifth graders did. In science, the rate is similarly low for the fifth graders who took that test. Compared to other schools across Hennepin County, Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary places in the bottom quartile for overall academic proficiency. The data available covers only the most recent school year, so there is no multi-year trend to examine. A parent considering this school would want to ask how the school supports foundational literacy and numeracy, and what interventions are in place for students who are behind grade level.
Minneapolis Public Schools have been navigating a period of realignment. The district recently closed three schools, redrew attendance boundaries, and changed feeder patterns through a Comprehensive District Design. A proposed operating levy was rejected, and the district faced a sizable budget deficit heading into a recent school year. These factors create an environment of ongoing adjustment that families should be aware of when considering school stability and long-term programming. The school’s technology capital levy was renewed locally, which supports infrastructure.
The school’s grade band ends at fifth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report. Information on special education and English learner populations was not available in the data. Similarly, no data on discipline, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism was present.
Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary is a neighborhood school serving a high-poverty community in an urban district undergoing structural change. Its academic performance on state tests is well below state averages and county peers. For a family weighing this option, the central questions concern what academic support systems look like inside the building—how reading and math instruction is delivered, what tutoring or intervention is available, and what kind of school climate and community engagement exist. The low housing costs in the area are a practical factor for families, but the school’s test results point to serious challenges in student achievement that a parent would want to understand directly from the school leadership.
See more original research from School Decision →