Spectrum High School

Summary:

Spectrum High School is a public charter high school located in Elk River, Minnesota, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 462 students. The school has a diverse student population, with the racial makeup being predominantly White.

Spectrum High School consistently ranks among the top high schools in Minnesota, with a statewide ranking of 19 out of 480 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's academic performance is particularly strong in reading and science, with 75.41% and 64.96% of students proficient or better in the respective subjects, significantly higher than the state averages. Spectrum High School also has an impressive 4-year graduation rate, ranging from 92.3% to 97.7% over the past 5 years, and a low dropout rate. The school excels in supporting various student subgroups, ranking highly for female students, male students, White students, special education students, and low socioeconomic status students.

While Spectrum High School outperforms the nearby Rogers Senior High and Elk River Senior High in several academic metrics, the Elk River Public School District as a whole is ranked 61st out of 463 districts in Minnesota and rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger. Additionally, Spectrum High School has a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting it serves a more affluent student population compared to nearby schools like Ivan Sand Community High School and C.O.M.P.A.S.S.

Detail:

Public, Charter 9-12

17796 Industrial Circle NW
Elk River, MN 55330-4754

(763) 450-9845

District: Spectrum High School

SchoolDigger Rank:
19^th of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,886

Student/teacher ratio: 24.6

Number of students: 462

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.2%

Hispanic:

4.5%

Two or more races:

3.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 14.5%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Spectrum High School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2018 the calculated Average Standard Score was 83.4. (See more...)

Compare Details Spectrum High School ranks better than 96% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.89. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Spectrum High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (87.2%), Hispanic (4.5%), two or more races (3.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 14.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Spectrum High School is 24.6. (See more...)

Compare Spectrum High School employs 18.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Spectrum High School is $13,886.

Schooldigger 2018 Rankings:

Spectrum High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Spectrum High School 19^th of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Spectrum High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

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Rank History for Spectrum High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2012	27.89	389^th	469	17.1%
2013	63.30	166^th	488	66.0%
2014	72.26	115^th	490	76.5%
2015	83.68	44^th	516	91.5%
2016	78.94	73^rd	508	85.6%
2017	77.82	85^th	523	83.7%
2018	83.40	46^th	518	91.1%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Spectrum High School

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Rank History for all high school students at Spectrum High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2008	79.40	94^th	460	79.6%
2010	63.59	236^th	540	56.3%
2011	65.41	225^th	545	58.7%
2012	84.11	25^th	539	95.4%
2013	78.77	67^th	534	87.5%
2014	69.46	150^th	483	68.9%
2015	85.53	35^th	504	93.1%
2016	88.34	33^rd	489	93.3%
2017	90.00	20^th	489	95.9%
2018	94.11	6^th	494	98.8%
2019	78.80	88^th	492	82.1%
2021	83.93	39^th	428	90.9%
2022	90.54	16^th	472	96.6%
2023	93.43	17^th	476	96.4%
2024	92.89	19^th	480	96.0%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Special Education students at Spectrum High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2019	98.12	2^nd	220	99.1%
2022	59.36	74^th	214	65.4%
2023	93.36	9^th	216	95.8%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Spectrum High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	97.53	4^th	374	98.9%
2023	99.58	1^st	393	99.7%
2024	97.10	5^th	389	98.7%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Spectrum High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	78.37	60^th	395	84.8%
2019	59.96	176^th	401	56.1%
2021	73.42	68^th	339	79.9%
2022	86.61	20^th	388	94.8%
2023	80.26	56^th	396	85.9%
2024	87.00	32^nd	403	92.1%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Spectrum High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	98.29	1^st	398	99.7%
2019	84.46	35^th	411	91.5%
2021	88.06	16^th	351	95.4%
2022	89.32	21^st	403	94.8%
2023	96.53	6^th	398	98.5%
2024	92.95	17^th	405	95.8%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Spectrum High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	90.36	11^th	414	97.3%
2019	67.33	131^st	412	68.2%
2021	76.75	57^th	364	84.3%
2022	86.32	24^th	401	94.0%
2023	89.84	22^nd	398	94.5%
2024	87.99	23^rd	402	94.3%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Spectrum High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2007	65	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	66
2008	114	2	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	118
2009	183	2	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	187
2010	209	2	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	216
2011	237	1	1	0	0	1	0	240
2012	383	1	2	3	0	0	0	389
2013	474	4	5	9	1	0	10	503
2014	499	5	7	6	0	0	11	528
2015	467	5	7	5	0	0	14	498
2016	500	5	6	5	3	0	18	537
2017	495	7	9	9	2	0	18	540
2018	516	6	15	14	1	0	20	572
2019	357	6	9	12	0	0	12	396
2020	361	7	15	17	0	0	16	416
2021	372	6	16	24	0	0	20	438
2022	371	9	13	25	1	0	22	441
2023	403	8	11	21	1	0	18	462

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Spectrum High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	66	5.9	11.2	19.7
2008	118	11.4	10.4	10.2
2009	187	13.1	14.3	11.8
2010	216	16.0	13.4	17.1
2011	240	16.4	14.5	19.2
2012	389	24.2	16.0	21.9
2013	503	33.1	15.1	19.5
2014	528	36.0	14.6	17.8
2015	498	32.0	15.5	17.3
2016	537	35.0	15.3	16.9
2017	540	34.2	15.7	13.9
2018	572	33.1	17.2	11
2019	396	22.7	17.3	9.3
2020	416	13.2	31.3	11.5
2021	438	17.5	24.9	7.3
2022	441	17.1	25.7	5.9
2023	462	18.7	24.6	14.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Spectrum High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	66	5.9	11.2	19.7
2008	118	11.4	10.4	10.2
2009	187	13.1	14.3	11.8
2010	216	16.0	13.4	17.1
2011	240	16.4	14.5	19.2
2012	389	24.2	16.0	21.9
2013	503	33.1	15.1	19.5
2014	528	36.0	14.6	17.8
2015	498	32.0	15.5	17.3
2016	537	35.0	15.3	16.9
2017	540	34.2	15.7	13.9
2018	572	33.1	17.2	11
2019	396	22.7	17.3	9.3
2020	416	13.2	31.3	11.5
2021	438	17.5	24.9	7.3
2022	441	17.1	25.7	5.9
2023	462	18.7	24.6	14.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Spectrum High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$13,886

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Spectrum High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 88^th of 492 High schools	Ranks 17^th of 476 High schools	14.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade Reading (Spectrum High School)	66.3	70.8	4.5%
10th Grade Reading (Spectrum High School)	66.3	70.8	4.5%
10th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	60.4	51.7	8.7%
11th Grade Math (Spectrum High School)	49.3	51	1.6%
11th Grade Math (Spectrum High School)	49.3	51	1.6%
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36	9%
End of Course Science (Spectrum High School)	67.7	69.4	1.7%
End of Course Science (Spectrum High School)	67.7	69.4	1.7%
End of Course Science (Minnesota)	54.4	41.8	12.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	396	462	16.7%
African American	6	8	33.3%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	9	11	22.2%
Hispanic	12	21	75%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	357	403	12.9%
Two or More Races	12	18	50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	9.3%	14.5%	5.2%

Schools Near Spectrum High School

School	Students/Teachers	Ranking (2024)	Ranking (2023)	MCA-III Math (2024)	MCA-III Reading (2024)	MCA-III Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Spectrum High School	Public, Charter	9-12	17796 Industrial Circle NW	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Spectrum High School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(763) 450-9845	462	19	24.6	14.5%	403 (87.2%)	8 (1.7%)	21 (4.5%)	11 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.9%)	92.9	19^th of 480 public high schools	96.0%	93.4	17^th of 476 public high schools	96.4%	2	47.3	47.3	75.4	75.4	65.0	65.0	$13,886
Spectrum Online High School	Public, Virtual, Charter	9-12	17796 Industrial Circle NW	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Spectrum High School	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(763) 241-8703	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()							(n/a)
Elk River Senior High	Public	9-12	900 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3434	1,637	52	31.5	22.4%	1,344 (82.1%)	79 (4.8%)	75 (4.6%)	43 (2.6%)	7 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	89 (5.4%)	76.5	99^th of 480 public high schools	79.4%	69.9	127^th of 476 public high schools	73.3%	28	47.2	47.2	51.0	51.0	54.8	54.8	$11,811
Ivan Sand Community High School	Public	9-12	1232 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3530	107	8	13.0	54.2%	80 (74.8%)	9 (8.4%)	7 (6.5%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	9 (8.4%)	25.3	372^nd of 480 public high schools	22.5%				(n/a)	0.0	0.0	45.5	45.5			$25,381
Ivan Sand Community School- Is	Public	9-12	1232 School Street	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3530	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()							(n/a)							$3,516
Ivan Sand After School Credit Recov	Public	9-12	1232 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3530	1	0			0 (0.0%)	1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)							(n/a)							$21,021
Ivan Sand Community School Summer	Public	10-12	1232 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3530	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()							(n/a)							$2,295
Fairview Program	Public	6-12	1232 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3400	6	0			4 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)							(n/a)							$4,012
C.O.M.P.A.S.S.	Public	12	11500 193rd Ave NW	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3400	30	3	9.4	56.7%	26 (86.7%)	2 (6.7%)	1 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.3%)							(n/a)							$21,349
Online728 High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	11500 193rd Ave NW	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(763) 241-3400	75	15	5.1	28.0%	65 (86.7%)	1 (1.3%)	3 (4.0%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.7%)							(n/a)							$9,015

Frequently Asked Questions about Spectrum High School

Is Spectrum High School a good school?

Yes! Spectrum High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 19^th of 480 Minnesota high schools.

How many students attend Spectrum High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 462 students attended Spectrum High School.

What district is Spectrum High School in?

Spectrum High School

What is the racial makeup of Spectrum High School?

Students at Spectrum High School are 87% White, 5% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% African American.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)		MCA-III Reading (2024)		MCA-III Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science End of Course	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Spectrum High School	Public, Charter	9-12	17796 Industrial Circle NW	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Spectrum High School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(763) 450-9845	462	19	24.6	14.5%	403 (87.2%)	8 (1.7%)	21 (4.5%)	11 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.9%)	92.9	19^th of 480 public high schools	96.0%		93.4	17^th of 476 public high schools	96.4%	2	47.3	47.3	75.4	75.4	65.0	65.0	$13,886
Spectrum Online High School	Public, Virtual, Charter	9-12	17796 Industrial Circle NW	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Spectrum High School	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(763) 241-8703	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Elk River Senior High	Public	9-12	900 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3434	1,637	52	31.5	22.4%	1,344 (82.1%)	79 (4.8%)	75 (4.6%)	43 (2.6%)	7 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	89 (5.4%)	76.5	99^th of 480 public high schools	79.4%		69.9	127^th of 476 public high schools	73.3%	28	47.2	47.2	51.0	51.0	54.8	54.8	$11,811
Ivan Sand Community High School	Public	9-12	1232 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3530	107	8	13.0	54.2%	80 (74.8%)	9 (8.4%)	7 (6.5%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	9 (8.4%)	25.3	372^nd of 480 public high schools	22.5%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0	45.5	45.5			$25,381
Ivan Sand Community School- Is	Public	9-12	1232 School Street	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3530	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)							$3,516
Ivan Sand After School Credit Recov	Public	9-12	1232 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3530	1	0			0 (0.0%)	1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							$21,021
Ivan Sand Community School Summer	Public	10-12	1232 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3530	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)							$2,295
Fairview Program	Public	6-12	1232 School St	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3400	6	0			4 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							$4,012
C.O.M.P.A.S.S.	Public	12	11500 193rd Ave NW	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 241-3400	30	3	9.4	56.7%	26 (86.7%)	2 (6.7%)	1 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.3%)								(n/a)							$21,349
Online728 High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	11500 193rd Ave NW	Elk River	55330	Sherburne County	Elk River Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(763) 241-3400	75	15	5.1	28.0%	65 (86.7%)	1 (1.3%)	3 (4.0%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.7%)								(n/a)							$9,015