The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Obama Service Learning Elementary
Obama Service Learning Elementary is a closed school in the Saint Paul Public Schools system, located at 707 Holly Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It operated as a regular public elementary school, and its current status means it no longer enrolls students. The most recent state assessment data available, from the 2022–2023 school year, provides a snapshot of academic performance in the years before closure.
In math, proficiency rates across tested grades were very low, with small shares of students reaching the state’s proficient level. In English language arts, rates were also low, though somewhat higher than math. In science, no students tested at the proficient level. Participation rates on the assessments were generally high, meaning the results reflect nearly all enrolled students in those grades. A parent reviewing these numbers would see a school where academic achievement, as measured by state tests, was well below typical expectations. Without enrollment or demographic data, it is not possible to say how the student population compared to other schools or whether specific subgroups faced different outcomes. The school’s grade configuration appears to have included at least grades three through five, based on the tested grades, but the exact grade span is not clearly stated in available records.
Saint Paul, where the school was located, is the state capital and the second-largest city in Minnesota, forming the eastern half of the Twin Cities metro area. It is a diverse city with a mix of government, cultural institutions, and residential neighborhoods. The city’s park system is nationally ranked, and its downtown includes the state capitol complex, museums, and sports venues. Housing in the area, as measured by recent estimates, shows home values and rents that are somewhat below national benchmarks, with a slight year-over-year decline in home values and a rise in rents. The broader economic context includes a national unemployment rate that has held steady and a median household income that has gradually increased in recent years.
The parent district, Saint Paul Public Schools, has made recent changes to its school portfolio, including opening a new E-STEM middle school, converting an elementary into the East African Elementary Magnet, and renaming a middle school. These shifts reflect the district’s ongoing adjustments to program offerings and school identities. Obama Service Learning Elementary was one of the schools that did not remain open through this period.
For anyone considering this school, the primary fact is that it is closed. The available test data from its final years shows very low proficiency in core subjects. Without records on enrollment, demographics, special programs, or other supports, it is not possible to assess what the school’s environment or student body was like. A parent seeking an elementary school in Saint Paul today would need to look at the district’s current open options, noting the recent magnet conversions and new school openings as potential pathways.
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