Original Research by School Decision on Aware
AWARE is a regular public school serving grades six through twelve in Hugo, Minnesota, part of the White Bear Lake School District. The school’s data profile is unusually sparse, and the most important thing for a parent to know is that this is not a typical neighborhood middle or high school. The available state testing results, from several years ago, all show suppressed scores, with only a single student tested in each case. The most recent data found is from the early 2010s, and even that is not usable for evaluating academic performance. No enrollment figures are reported for any grade, and there is no student demographic data, no information on free or reduced-price meal eligibility, no special education or English learner counts, and no civil rights or discipline data. The school has no graduation rate reported because no data was found.
Given the near-total absence of standard metrics, a parent looking at this school should ask the school or district directly what AWARE is and whom it serves. The name “AWARE” and the suppressed testing counts suggest this may be an alternative or specialized program within the district, one that serves a small population of students for whom the regular state assessments may not apply or may be withheld for privacy reasons. The school is listed as a “regular school” in directory data, but its operational reality appears quite different from a traditional comprehensive school. Without a clear mission statement or program description in the data provided, families should expect to do their own research into whether AWARE serves students with specific learning needs, provides credit recovery, or operates as an alternative school within the White Bear Lake district.
Hugo itself is a fast-growing suburban community roughly eighteen miles north of downtown Saint Paul. It has a family-oriented residential character, with a considerable share of households containing children. The city has experienced substantial population growth over the past couple decades, and its housing market is tight, with very low vacancy rates. The built environment is automobile-dependent, typical of Twin Cities exurbs, with U.S. Highway 61 running through town and Interstate 35E just west of the city limits. There is no traditional downtown district; civic facilities are spread across the city’s substantial land area. Most residents commute to the broader metropolitan area for work.
Because AWARE is part of the White Bear Lake School District, families in Hugo who do not attend AWARE would attend other district schools. The district brief returned no specific information about recent boundary or attendance zone changes, so parents should confirm with the district which attendance area serves their home. For a school that reports no academic data, no enrollment, and no program information, the only responsible next step is to contact the school directly to understand its purpose, population, and what a family can expect. A parent may also want to ask whether students at AWARE participate in district athletics, activities, and course offerings, as those are not visible in the data.
See more original research from School Decision →