Academic Arts High School

Summary:

Academic Arts High School is a public charter high school located in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 104. Despite its diverse student body, the school consistently underperforms academically, ranking in the bottom quartile of Minnesota high schools and receiving a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The school's key challenges include low academic performance, with proficiency rates on state assessments significantly below the state averages, as well as poor graduation rates ranging from 32.1% to 51.8% over the past five years, and high dropout rates reaching up to 21.8%. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a large proportion of students from low-income families. When compared to nearby schools, such as Open World Learning Secondary, South St. Paul High School, Humboldt High School, and Two Rivers High School, Academic Arts High School significantly underperforms in academic outcomes.

The school's small size, high percentage of low-income students, and location in a relatively low-performing Saint Paul Public Schools district may contribute to the challenges it faces in improving academic outcomes. Additionally, the school's focus on the "academic arts" may not be adequately preparing students for traditional academic success, as evidenced by the school's poor performance on standardized tests. Addressing these issues will require a comprehensive approach, including targeted interventions, resource allocation, and a focus on improving the overall educational experience for the school's diverse student population.

Detail:

Public, Charter 9-12

60 E Marie Ave Ste #220
West Saint Paul, MN 55118-8888

(651) 457-7427

District: Academic Arts High School

SchoolDigger Rank:
432^nd of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,116

Student/teacher ratio: 8.8

Number of students: 104

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.1%

Hispanic:

26.0%

African American:

16.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 24%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Academic Arts High School ranks worse than 90% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 11.23. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Academic Arts High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

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

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Academic Arts High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (47.1%), Hispanic (26%), African American (16.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 24% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Academic Arts High School is 8.8. (See more...)

Compare Academic Arts High School employs 11.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Academic Arts High School is $20,116.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Academic Arts High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Academic Arts High School 432^nd of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Academic Arts High School in the ranking list.)

Academic Arts High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Academic Arts High School 426^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Academic Arts High School

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Rank History for all students at Academic Arts High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2005	0.75	448^th	452	0.9%
2006	12.85	384^th	450	14.7%
2008	21.68	372^nd	460	19.1%
2010	23.19	398^th	540	26.3%
2011	4.02	525^th	545	3.7%
2012	5.57	493^rd	539	8.5%
2013	12.73	428^th	534	19.9%
2014	26.04	377^th	483	21.9%
2015	5.71	462^nd	504	8.3%
2016	9.00	418^th	489	14.5%
2017	22.65	383^rd	489	21.7%
2018	15.12	403^rd	494	18.4%
2019	19.23	400^th	492	18.7%
2022	16.95	397^th	472	15.9%
2023	32.15	356^th	476	25.2%
2024	11.23	432^nd	480	10.0%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at Academic Arts High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	33.17	302^nd	401	24.7%

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

Rank History for White students at Academic Arts High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	19.68	353^rd	412	14.3%

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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a citizen
Friday, May 1, 2020

A wonderful group of professional educators working to provide quality education for ALL students. Staff and students are accepting of all members of the community and strive to provide innovative educational opportunities. Close Quote

by a citizen
Thursday, April 30, 2020

Academic Arts High School offers a great school culture for students who have not flourished in other academic settings. In addition to an accepting and safe community, AAHS has incredible mental health support available to students. Their small student body has access to both a school social worker and a school psychologist. This level of accessibility to these services is nearly impossible to find. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Academic Arts High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2005	56	8	0	13	1	n/a	n/a	78
2006	50	7	0	17	1	n/a	n/a	75
2007	41	6	0	9	3	n/a	n/a	59
2008	65	1	1	15	1	n/a	n/a	83
2009	44	6	5	16	3	n/a	n/a	74
2010	36	3	8	20	2	n/a	n/a	69
2011	36	5	1	15	1	0	0	58
2012	48	4	0	12	2	0	0	66
2013	50	5	0	8	1	0	1	65
2014	56	8	0	10	1	0	1	76
2015	50	9	0	18	0	0	2	79
2016	64	7	3	19	0	0	1	94
2017	63	10	1	20	5	1	3	103
2018	52	9	0	26	6	0	5	98
2019	43	7	0	31	6	0	3	90
2020	50	5	2	29	1	1	2	90
2021	39	12	2	32	1	0	3	89
2022	41	14	2	30	3	0	4	94
2023	49	17	3	27	2	0	6	104

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 Academic Arts High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	78	5.5	14.2	29.5
2006	75	7.8	9.6	28
2007	59	4.0	14.8	23.7
2008	83	5.0	16.6	24.1
2009	74	3.6	20.6	28.4
2010	69	4.1	16.5	8.7
2011	58	4.9	11.6	10.3
2012	66	4.0	16.4	0
2013	65	4.9	13.0	35.4
2014	76	3.9	19.4	52.6
2015	79	6.0	13.1	55.7
2016	94	7.0	13.4	50
2017	103	8.3	12.3	39.8
2018	98	7.8	12.4	32.7
2019	90	7.4	12.1	37.8
2020	90	7.6	11.8	36.7
2021	89	8.3	10.6	21.3
2022	94	9.7	9.6	43.6
2023	104	11.7	8.8	24

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 Academic Arts High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	78	5.5	14.2	29.5
2006	75	7.8	9.6	28
2007	59	4.0	14.8	23.7
2008	83	5.0	16.6	24.1
2009	74	3.6	20.6	28.4
2010	69	4.1	16.5	8.7
2011	58	4.9	11.6	10.3
2012	66	4.0	16.4	0
2013	65	4.9	13.0	35.4
2014	76	3.9	19.4	52.6
2015	79	6.0	13.1	55.7
2016	94	7.0	13.4	50
2017	103	8.3	12.3	39.8
2018	98	7.8	12.4	32.7
2019	90	7.4	12.1	37.8
2020	90	7.6	11.8	36.7
2021	89	8.3	10.6	21.3
2022	94	9.7	9.6	43.6
2023	104	11.7	8.8	24

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 Academic Arts High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$20,116

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Academic Arts 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 400^th of 492 High schools	Ranks 356^th of 476 High schools	6.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade Reading (Academic Arts High School)	45	50	5%
10th Grade Reading (Academic Arts High School)	45	50	5%
10th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	60.4	51.7	8.7%
11th Grade Math (Academic Arts High School)	0	0
11th Grade Math (Academic Arts High School)	0	0
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36	9%
End of Course Science (Academic Arts High School)	22.7	0	22.7%
End of Course Science (Academic Arts High School)	22.7	0	22.7%
End of Course Science (Minnesota)	54.4	45.6	8.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	90	104	15.6%
African American	7	17	142.9%
American Indian	6	2	66.7%
Asian	0	3
Hispanic	31	27	12.9%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	43	49	14%
Two or More Races	3	6	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	37.8%	24%	13.7%

Schools Near Academic Arts High School

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 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science End of Course	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Academic Arts High School	Public, Charter	9-12	60 E Marie Ave Ste #220	West Saint Paul	55118	Dakota County	Academic Arts High School	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 457-7427	104	12	8.8	24.0%	49 (47.1%)	17 (16.3%)	27 (26.0%)	3 (2.9%)	2 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.8%)	11.2	432^nd of 480 public high schools	10.0%		32.2	356^th of 476 public high schools	25.2%	76				7.7	7.7				15.4	15.4				$20,116
Branch Out Transitional Services	Public	12	150 Marie Ave E	West Saint Paul	55118	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	No	No	No	(651) 403-7019	17	2	6.8	58.8%	9 (52.9%)	1 (5.9%)	6 (35.3%)	1 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)														$27,474
917 DCALS North	Public	9-12	150 Marie Ave E	West Saint Paul	55118	Dakota County	Intermediate School District 917	No	No	No	No	(651) 423-8259	74	6	12.3	63.5%	20 (27.0%)	10 (13.5%)	36 (48.6%)	3 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.8%)	7.1	445^th of 480 public high schools	7.3%		4.8	464^th of 476 public high schools	2.5%	19				0.0	0.0							10.0	10.0
917 DCALS North Extended Day (EDOP)	Public	9-12	150 Marie Ave E	West Saint Paul	55118	Dakota County	Intermediate School District 917	No	No	No	No	(651) 332-5571	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Two Rivers High School	Public	9-12	1897 Delaware Ave	Mendota Heights	55118	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	No	No	No	(651) 403-7101	1,479	77	19.2	46.8%	680 (46.0%)	186 (12.6%)	460 (31.1%)	41 (2.8%)	12 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	99 (6.7%)	69.4	143^rd of 480 public high schools	70.2%		78.8	85^th of 476 public high schools	82.1%	58				38.8	38.8				47.2	47.2		54.1	54.1	$13,753
W St. Paul Area Learning Cntr.	Public	9-12	1897 Delaware Ave	Mendota Heights	55118	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	No	No	No	(651) 403-7101	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)														$4,398
S St. Paul Community Learning Cntr.	Public	7-12	710 - 19th Avenue North	South Saint Paul	55075	Dakota County	South St. Paul Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 450-9966	85	5	16.6	78.8%	36 (42.4%)	5 (5.9%)	33 (38.8%)	1 (1.2%)	1 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (10.6%)	8.7	440^th of 480 public high schools	8.3%					(n/a)				0.0	0.0							14.3	14.3	$15,322
SSP Virtual	Public, Virtual	10-12	710 - 19th Avenue North	South Saint Paul	55075	Dakota County	South St. Paul Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(651) 450-9966	12	0		75.0%	6 (50.0%)	2 (16.7%)	4 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
South St. Paul High School	Public	9-12	700 N 2nd St	South Saint Paul	55075	Dakota County	South St. Paul Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 457-9408	923	38	24.5	54.9%	454 (49.2%)	78 (8.5%)	284 (30.8%)	22 (2.4%)	7 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (8.5%)	45.3	286^th of 480 public high schools	40.4%		41.3	303^rd of 476 public high schools	36.3%	17				13.9	13.9				46.9	46.9		41.4	41.4	$11,884
Humboldt High School	Public	6-12	30 Baker St E	Saint Paul	55107	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 293-8600	1,031	56	18.4	90.1%	43 (4.2%)	269 (26.1%)	199 (19.3%)	458 (44.4%)	7 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (5.3%)	9.3	438^th of 480 public high schools	8.8%		9	430^th of 476 public high schools	9.7%	8	7.2	4.0	8.1	5.3	6.1	11.9	14.6	15.1	26.4	17.5	2.5	6.3	4.6	$17,564

Frequently Asked Questions about Academic Arts High School

What is the racial makeup of Academic Arts High School?

Students at Academic Arts High School are 47% White, 26% Hispanic, 16% African American, 6% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% American Indian.

Is Academic Arts High School a good school?

Academic Arts High School ranks in the bottom 10.0% of Minnesota high schools.

How many students attend Academic Arts High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 104 students attended Academic Arts High School.

What district is Academic Arts High School in?

Academic Arts High School

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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.