Global Arts Plus Upper, Saint Paul MN

Original Research by School Decision on Global Arts Plus Upper

Global Arts Plus Upper is a middle school in Saint Paul that serves grades five through eight. It is a regular public school within the Saint Paul Public Schools district. The school’s name signals an arts-focused theme, though publicly available data about the specific programs, course offerings, or how the arts are integrated into instruction was not provided, so a parent would want to ask the school directly what that theme means in practice.

The student body is diverse and reflects the city’s broad demographics. White students make up roughly a third of the enrollment, Black students a little more than a quarter, Hispanic students about a sixth, Asian students a smaller but still sizable share, and multiracial students nearly a tenth. A large majority of students come from low-income households, based on the share qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. This economic profile is typical for a school in a large urban district like Saint Paul, where many families face financial strain.

State test results from the most recent school year paint a clear picture of challenge. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency standards is low across all four grades, with performance falling further as students move up. In reading, the results are also low, though slightly higher than in math. The strongest reading scores come in the middle grades, but overall, the school’s proficiency rates in both subjects are well below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Ramsey County. The school’s overall proficiency index, a combined measure across tested subjects and grades, sits below the middle of that countywide field. Science results, which are tested in grades five and eight, are especially low, and the assessment changed in both name and scoring that year, so direct comparisons cannot be made.

Because the school ends at grade eight, there is no graduation rate, and data on chronic absenteeism was also not available. A parent may want to ask the school about attendance patterns and student engagement, particularly given the test results. No information was provided on discipline, staffing ratios, or course access, so those aspects remain unknown.

The school is located in Saint Paul, the state capital and a city rich in cultural institutions, parks, and government employment. The neighborhood around Palace Avenue is part of the city’s dense urban fabric, with a mix of older homes and apartments. Housing in the area is moderately priced compared with national averages, though rents and home values have been rising slowly. Families considering the school should be aware that the city offers many magnet and specialized school options through the district, and the district has recently opened new middle school magnets focused on environmental STEM and cultural themes, which could provide alternative pathways for local families.

For a parent considering Global Arts Plus Upper, the central takeaway is that this is a school serving a high-poverty, diverse student population where state test results are well below county averages. The arts focus may be a meaningful draw, but without program details, it is hard to evaluate. Any family interested in this school should visit, talk to staff about the curriculum and student support, and compare the school’s offerings with other middle school options available through Saint Paul Public Schools.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 520%

School 20% · District 26% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 625%

School 25% · District 22% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 712%

School 12% · District 22% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 88%

School 8% · District 20% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 524%

School 24% · District 41% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 637%

School 37% · District 36% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 723%

School 23% · District 31% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 831%

School 31% · District 33% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Science

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 18% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 85%

School 5% · District 10% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

This schoolSaint Paul Public Schools, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 4Lower-income14%Higher-income36%22 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income19%Higher-income38%19 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income21%Higher-income62%42 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income12%Higher-income57%45 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income20%Higher-income47%27 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income12%Higher-income43%31 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income18%Higher-income25%7 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income12%Higher-income44%32 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income7%Higher-income30%24 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income2%Higher-income17%15 pp gap