Spero Academy

Summary:

Spero Academy is a public charter elementary school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, serving 153 students from kindergarten to 6th grade. While the school has a diverse student population, its academic performance lags behind the state average and nearby schools like Yinghua Academy.

Spero Academy's student body is more racially diverse than the surrounding area, with a higher percentage of White and African American students compared to Hispanic and Asian students. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-III), is significantly lower than the state averages in both math and reading. Spero Academy's rankings for specific student groups, such as male students and White students, are also relatively low compared to other Minnesota elementary schools.

Additionally, Spero Academy has seen an increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 32.59% in 2020-2021 to 43.79% in 2022-2023, suggesting that the school may be serving a higher proportion of students from low-income families. This socioeconomic factor could be a contributing factor to the school's academic challenges. To improve student outcomes, Spero Academy may need to focus on enhancing its instructional practices, curriculum, and support for struggling students, especially for specific subgroups that are underperforming.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-6

2701 California St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418-2606

(612) 465-8600

District: Spero Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
709^th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $57,541

Student/teacher ratio: 5.8

Number of students: 153

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.7%

African American:

24.8%

Hispanic:

11.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 43.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Spero Academy ranks worse than 80.5% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.95. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (47.7%), African American (24.8%), Hispanic (11.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 43.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Spero Academy is 5.8. (See more...)

Compare Spero Academy employs 26 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Spero Academy is $57,541.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Spero Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Spero Academy 709^th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Spero Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Male students:

White students:

Spero Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Spero Academy 413^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Spero Academy

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Rank History for all students at Spero Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	19.62	714^th	847	15.7%
2019	19.62	731^st	870	16.0%
2021	19.61	709^th	869	18.4%
2022	19.92	700^th	858	18.4%
2023	14.92	722^nd	845	14.6%
2024	22.95	709^th	881	19.5%

See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Spero Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	55.77	204^th	463	55.9%
2019	57.86	206^th	515	60.0%
2021	53.70	181^st	417	56.6%
2022	49.21	251^st	500	49.8%
2023	39.03	336^th	524	35.9%
2024	45.56	315^th	572	44.9%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Spero Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	25.27	616^th	774	20.4%
2024	27.52	623^rd	793	21.4%

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

Rank History for Male students at Spero Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2019	18.43	680^th	798	14.8%
2021	23.30	630^th	784	19.6%
2022	22.77	657^th	808	18.7%
2023	16.73	676^th	799	15.4%
2024	23.62	664^th	826	19.6%

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

Rank History for White students at Spero Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2022	1.20	724^th	725	0.1%
2023	4.09	705^th	712	1.0%
2024	8.16	713^th	730	2.3%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary 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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Spero Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2005	41	16	2	3	1	n/a	n/a	63
2006	47	18	1	5	3	n/a	n/a	74
2007	48	18	3	6	0	n/a	n/a	75
2008	55	14	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	72
2009	54	14	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	71
2010	50	13	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	65
2011	52	14	1	2	0	0	3	72
2012	45	20	0	6	0	0	6	77
2013	47	21	1	6	0	0	11	86
2014	41	22	1	5	0	0	8	77
2015	44	18	1	5	1	0	11	80
2016	42	16	3	8	1	0	13	83
2017	48	17	4	10	1	0	13	93
2018	60	17	4	9	0	0	18	108
2019	71	20	9	10	0	0	17	127
2020	68	27	6	11	1	0	29	142
2021	65	23	9	11	1	0	26	135
2022	71	28	12	12	3	0	17	143
2023	73	38	12	17	2	0	11	153

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 Spero Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	63	7.5	8.4	25.4
2006	74	7.4	10.0	18.9
2007	75	10.8	6.9	18.7
2008	72	11.7	6.2	16.7
2009	71	11.0	6.5	14.1
2010	65	9.8	6.6	35.4
2011	72	11.2	6.4	38.9
2012	77	11.6	6.6	45.5
2013	86	13.9	6.1	41.9
2014	77	13.9	5.5	39
2015	80	14.0	5.7	42.5
2016	83	15.0	5.5	50.6
2017	93	17.0	5.4	46.2
2018	108	18.5	5.8	48.1
2019	127	20.5	6.1	40.2
2020	142	23.5	6.0	41.5
2021	135	25.5	5.2	32.6
2022	143	26.0	5.5	31.5
2023	153	26.0	5.8	43.8

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 Spero Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	63	7.5	8.4	25.4
2006	74	7.4	10.0	18.9
2007	75	10.8	6.9	18.7
2008	72	11.7	6.2	16.7
2009	71	11.0	6.5	14.1
2010	65	9.8	6.6	35.4
2011	72	11.2	6.4	38.9
2012	77	11.6	6.6	45.5
2013	86	13.9	6.1	41.9
2014	77	13.9	5.5	39
2015	80	14.0	5.7	42.5
2016	83	15.0	5.5	50.6
2017	93	17.0	5.4	46.2
2018	108	18.5	5.8	48.1
2019	127	20.5	6.1	40.2
2020	142	23.5	6.0	41.5
2021	135	25.5	5.2	32.6
2022	143	26.0	5.5	31.5
2023	153	26.0	5.8	43.8

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 Spero Academy

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$57,541

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Spero Academy

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 731^st of 870 Elementary schools	Ranks 722^nd of 845 Elementary schools	1.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Spero Academy)	31.6	15	16.6%
3rd Grade Math (Spero Academy)	31.6	10	21.6%
3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)	65.6	59.1	6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Spero Academy)	21.1	10	11.1%
3rd Grade Reading (Spero Academy)	21.1	10	11.1%
3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)	54.6	47.4	7.2%
4th Grade Math (Spero Academy)	43.8	39.1	4.6%
4th Grade Math (Spero Academy)	43.8	39.1	4.6%
4th Grade Math (Minnesota)	63.9	57.1	6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Spero Academy)	25	33.3	8.3%
4th Grade Reading (Spero Academy)	25	33.3	8.3%
4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	55.4	48.4	7.1%
5th Grade Math (Spero Academy)	31.3	31.6	0.3%
5th Grade Math (Spero Academy)	31.3	31.6	0.3%
5th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52	44.4	7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Spero Academy)	56.3	21.1	35.2%
5th Grade Reading (Spero Academy)	56.3	21.1	35.2%
5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	65.8	58.7	7%
5th Grade Science (Spero Academy)	43.8	15.8	28%
5th Grade Science (Spero Academy)	43.8	15.8	28%
5th Grade Science (Minnesota)	54.9	48.4	6.5%
6th Grade Math (Spero Academy)	35.3	13.3	22%
6th Grade Math (Spero Academy)	35.3	13.3	22%
6th Grade Math (Minnesota)	50.5	39.7	10.8%
6th Grade Reading (Spero Academy)	47.1	26.7	20.4%
6th Grade Reading (Spero Academy)	47.1	26.7	20.4%
6th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	62.8	53.4	9.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	127	153	20.5%
African American	20	38	90%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	9	12	33.3%
Hispanic	10	17	70%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	71	73	2.8%
Two or More Races	17	11	35.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	40.2%	43.8%	3.6%

Schools Near Spero Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

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 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 5th Grade	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Spero Academy	Public, Charter	K-6	2701 California St. NE	Minneapolis	55418	Hennepin County	Spero Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(612) 465-8600	153	26	5.8	43.8%	73 (47.7%)	38 (24.8%)	17 (11.1%)	12 (7.8%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (7.2%)	22.9	709^th of 881 public elementary schools	19.5%		14.9	722^nd of 845 public elementary schools	14.6%	13	26.3	20.0	23.8	35.3			26.0	21.1	14.3	61.9	5.9			26.9	33.3		33.3	$57,541
Banaadir Elementary	Public, Charter	K-4	1800 2nd St NE	Minneapolis	55418	Hennepin County	Minnesota Transitions Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(612) 724-4680	128	21	6.1	98.4%	0 (0.0%)	126 (98.4%)	2 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4.3	851^st of 881 public elementary schools	3.4%		3.3	820^th of 845 public elementary schools	3.0%	31	12.9	13.8					13.3	16.1	13.8					15.0				$15,810
Cityview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3350 4th Street North	Minneapolis	55412	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(612) 688-2270	200	20	10.1	88.5%	22 (11.0%)	109 (54.5%)	25 (12.5%)	10 (5.0%)	6 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (14.0%)	2.6	872^nd of 881 public elementary schools	1.0%		3	828^th of 845 public elementary schools	2.0%	44	10.0	4.8	3.5				6.3	7.1	9.5	14.3				10.4	7.4		7.4	$20,322
New City School	Public, Charter	K-8	1500 6th St NE	Minneapolis	55413	Hennepin County	New City School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(612) 623-3309	371	27	13.8	48.0%	210 (56.6%)	99 (26.7%)	30 (8.1%)	6 (1.6%)	11 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.0%)	54	443^rd of 881 public elementary schools	49.7%		49	494^th of 845 public elementary schools	41.5%	51	51.5	55.0	36.2	19.1	15.9	12.2	30.8	50.0	62.5	61.7	54.8	36.4	41.5	51.2	42.6	14.6	29.6	$9,904
Las Estrellas Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1201 University Ave NE	Minneapolis	55413	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(612) 668-1130	336	27	12.2	75.0%	59 (17.6%)	31 (9.2%)	233 (69.3%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.0%)	5.8	832^nd of 881 public elementary schools	5.6%		4.8	803^rd of 845 public elementary schools	5.0%	29	25.0	9.6	5.8				13.5	26.9	9.4	11.5				15.9	5.8		5.8	$22,850
Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	807 27th Ave N	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(612) 668-2930	201	21	9.6	95.5%	10 (5.0%)	118 (58.7%)	34 (16.9%)	12 (6.0%)	6 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (10.4%)	2.2	877^th of 881 public elementary schools	0.5%		3.2	823^rd of 845 public elementary schools	2.6%	54	4.4	2.8	0.0				2.5	8.5	8.3	13.9				10.1	9.1		9.1	$20,041
Sojourner Truth Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	3820 Emerson Ave N	Minneapolis	55412	Hennepin County	Sojourner Truth Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(612) 588-3599	293	27	10.9	89.8%	1 (0.3%)	215 (73.4%)	56 (19.1%)	5 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.1%)	4.3	850^th of 881 public elementary schools	3.5%		3.3	819^th of 845 public elementary schools	3.1%	31	21.9	5.0	0.0	6.1	3.1	0.0	6.1	22.6	0.0	6.3	9.7	6.3	3.5	8.6	6.1	3.3	4.8	$17,859
Hmong International Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1501 30th Ave N	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	No	No	(612) 668-2250	234	23	10.1	93.2%	15 (6.4%)	82 (35.0%)	16 (6.8%)	83 (35.5%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (14.5%)	1.8	879^th of 881 public elementary schools	0.2%		2.7	832^nd of 845 public elementary schools	1.5%	47	2.6	9.1	0.0				3.8	2.6	2.9	12.1				5.7	6.1		6.1
Yinghua Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	1616 Buchanan St NE	Minneapolis	55413	Hennepin County	Yinghua Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(612) 788-9095	822	51	15.9	19.1%	370 (45.0%)	27 (3.3%)	49 (6.0%)	219 (26.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	156 (19.0%)	91.2	31^st of 881 public elementary schools	96.5%		91.7	24^th of 845 public elementary schools	97.2%	7	82.4	89.4	80.0	78.4	77.9	81.9	81.8	59.3	63.5	75.3	89.2	77.9	78.3	72.9	73.4	66.3	69.8	$10,389
Webster Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	425 5th Street NE	Minneapolis	55413	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(612) 668-1210	267	20	13.2	68.5%	79 (29.6%)	110 (41.2%)	23 (8.6%)	13 (4.9%)	10 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (12.0%)	9.6	794^th of 881 public elementary schools	9.9%		11.8	744^th of 845 public elementary schools	12.0%	50	15.4	20.0	18.2				18.0	18.4	22.0	30.3				23.1	21.9		21.9	$14,890

Frequently Asked Questions about Spero Academy

Is Spero Academy a good school?

Spero Academy ranks in the bottom 19.5% of Minnesota elementary schools.

How many students attend Spero Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 153 students attended Spero Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Spero Academy?

Students at Spero Academy are 48% White, 25% African American, 11% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 7% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

What district is Spero Academy in?

Spero Academy

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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.