Duluth Public Schools Academy

The Duluth Public Schools Academy district in Minnesota is home to two elementary schools: North Star Academy and Raleigh Primary/Elementary Academy. While both schools face challenges in academic achievement compared to state averages, North Star Academy stands out as the stronger performer, with a more diverse student population and higher proficiency rates in key assessments.

North Star Academy is the larger of the two schools, with 716 students enrolled, and has a more diverse student population. The school outperforms Raleigh Primary/Elementary Academy in overall MCA-III Math and Reading proficiency rates, particularly in the lower grade levels. However, both schools have experienced declining statewide rankings over the past three years, suggesting they may be facing challenges in keeping up with the performance of other elementary schools in Minnesota.

Despite the significant percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at both schools, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage, North Star Academy outperforms Raleigh Primary/Elementary Academy in academic assessments. This finding challenges the common assumption that racial diversity in schools is negatively correlated with academic performance, as North Star Academy has a more diverse student population.