Academic Arts High School

Academic Arts High School is the sole public charter high school serving grades 9-12 in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, with a total enrollment of 104 students. Despite its diverse student population, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of Minnesota high schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's academic performance, as measured by state assessments, is significantly below the state averages, with only 7.69% of 11th-grade students and 15.38% of 10th-grade students proficient or better in math and reading, respectively, compared to the state averages of 34.99% and 52.22%.

Additionally, Academic Arts High School has a concerning four-year graduation rate of 37.5%, which is significantly lower than the state average, and a high dropout rate of 21.8%. The school's diverse student population, with 47.12% White, 16.35% African American, 25.96% Hispanic, 2.88% Asian, 1.92% Native American, and 5.77% two or more races, suggests that the school may be struggling to effectively support and meet the needs of its diverse learners. The school's relatively high percentage of students (24.04%) who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch also indicates that it serves a population with significant socioeconomic challenges, which could be impacting academic performance and other outcomes.

While the school's low student-teacher ratio of 8.8 may suggest smaller class sizes, it does not appear to be translating into strong academic outcomes, raising questions about the school's resource allocation and overall approach to improving student achievement. Overall, the data paints a concerning picture of Academic Arts High School, and further investigation would be needed to understand the root causes of its persistent challenges and identify strategies for improvement.