North Lakes Academy

The North Lakes Academy district in Minnesota operates three schools: an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. While the high school, North Lakes Academy Upper School, stands out as the top-performing school in the district, the elementary and middle schools, North Lakes Academy Elementary and North Lakes Academy Middle School, lag behind in terms of academic performance and state rankings.

The North Lakes Academy Upper School is the clear standout, consistently ranking in the top 25% of Minnesota high schools and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. This school boasts strong test scores, with over 50% of students proficient or better in reading and science, and a relatively low dropout rate of 2.9%. In contrast, the elementary and middle schools in the district have lower rankings and test scores, with the elementary school ranked in the bottom half of Minnesota elementary schools and the middle school ranked in the bottom half of Minnesota middle schools.

Across the district, the schools serve a predominantly white student population, with high rates of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 35.85% to 37.58%. The student-teacher ratios also vary, with the upper school having the lowest ratio at 14.4 and the elementary school having the highest ratio at 26.1. These factors, along with the differences in academic performance, suggest that the North Lakes Academy district may need to address specific challenges and implement strategies to support student success at all grade levels.