Original Research by School Decision on Leap High School
LEAP High School is an alternative high school in Saint Paul Public Schools, serving grades nine through twelve in St. Paul’s east side. It is a non-charter, public district school. Its small enrollment reflects a program designed for students who have found a conventional high school setting difficult. The student body is majority Hispanic, with a substantial Asian population and a smaller Black enrollment; the school’s data lists no White students and no students identifying with two or more races. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Because LEAP is an alternative school, conventional academic performance metrics come with important context. The school has a single year of state testing data from the 2024-25 school year, showing a proficiency rate in reading that was very low and a proficiency rate in mathematics that was also low. The school does not have a reported graduation rate, chronic absenteeism rate, or special populations data for English learners or students with disabilities. An alternative school typically serves students who have previously been disengaged or have fallen behind, and these numbers reflect that mission more than the school’s overall effectiveness. A parent considering LEAP should visit and discuss the school’s own placement and progress metrics with staff, as the state’s proficiency snapshot does not capture the individualized pathways such schools often provide. The school’s size, with slightly more students in the lower grades and fewer in the upper grades, is consistent with a program that works to recover credits and keep students on track to finish.
The school is part of Saint Paul Public Schools, which has recently added new magnet options in the district. A new E-STEM Middle School opened in Woodbury, and the district converted Jackson Elementary into the East African Elementary Magnet, a PreK-7 option. Ramsey Middle School was also renamed Hidden River Middle School. These changes do not directly affect LEAP High School, but they show the district’s pattern of creating specialized programs.
Saint Paul itself is Minnesota’s capital and second-largest city, forming the eastern half of the Twin Cities metro area. It is a dense, diverse city with a strong government employment base, substantial cultural institutions like the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Ordway Center, and a park system that ranks among the best nationally. Housing in the zip code around the school is priced modestly compared to state averages, with rents rising noticeably in the last year. The city’s population has been fairly stable with a slight recent decline. The area is served by Metro Transit bus and light rail links to Minneapolis.
There is little public detail about what specific programs, course offerings, or support structures LEAP provides. The district brief and school data do not include information on career and technical education pathways, dual-credit options, counseling ratios, or disciplinary climate. A parent looking into LEAP should ask the school directly about its credit recovery model, any partnerships with local colleges or employers, and the wraparound supports available to students. The absence of this data is not unusual for a small alternative school, but it means a family will need to gather that information in person. For a student who needs a smaller, more flexible environment with a high level of adult support, LEAP may be a fit. For a family seeking a conventional academic program with clear broad metrics and a traditional pathway, a comprehensive high school in the district would offer a more standard profile.
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