Quantum STEAM Academy Charter

The Quantum STEAM Academy Charter district in Minnesota operates two schools: Quantum STEAM Academy Elementary (serving grades K-4) and Quantum STEAM Academy Middle School (serving grades 5-8). Both schools have a 100% African American student population, which is significantly different from the state average. The schools perform well below the Minnesota averages on standardized tests, with proficiency rates in math, reading, and science that lag the state by a wide margin.

For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the elementary school had a 39.47% proficiency rate in math compared to the state average of 45.47%, while the middle school had only 9.3% proficiency. The reading proficiency rates tell a similar story, with the elementary school at 31.82% and the middle school at 45.83%, compared to the state average of 49.85%. Both schools are ranked in the bottom half of their respective categories in Minnesota, with the elementary school ranking 679 out of 881 and the middle school ranking 438 out of 545.

The schools in the Quantum STEAM Academy Charter district also have extremely high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, with the elementary school at 99.15% and the middle school at 92.11%. This suggests a high level of economic disadvantage among the student populations. The small enrollment, with 117 students at the elementary school and 38 at the middle school, may also present unique challenges or opportunities that warrant further investigation.