Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

Q: Is Upper Mississippi Middle Academy a good school?

Upper Mississippi Middle Academy ranks 348 th of 545 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Upper Mississippi Middle Academy is a public charter middle school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 75 students. The school has seen a decline in its racial diversity over the past few years, with the percentage of white students increasing from 66.09% in 2020-2021 to 45.33% in 2022-2023. The school's performance on statewide assessments has also been declining, with its statewide ranking dropping from 161 out of 521 Minnesota middle schools in 2020-2021 to 348 out of 545 in 2023-2024.

Upper Mississippi Middle Academy's proficiency rates on the MCA-III assessments are significantly lower than the state averages across all subject areas and grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's proficiency rate in Math for all grades was 11.36%, compared to the state average of 45.47%. The school's performance on the Reading and Science assessments is also below the state averages, with proficiency rates of 43.48% and 28% respectively in 2023-2024, compared to the state averages of 49.85% and 39.56%. However, the school has shown strong performance in serving its special education students, ranking in the top 10 out of 288 Minnesota middle schools in 2021-2022 for this subgroup.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Heritage E-Stem Magnet School, Upper Mississippi Middle Academy's performance on standardized tests is generally lower. Heritage E-Stem Magnet School, located just 2.55 miles away, has significantly higher proficiency rates in Math, Reading, and Science across all grade levels. Additionally, the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy has increased significantly, from 16.52% in 2020-2021 to 50.67% in 2022-2023, indicating a growing population of students from low-income families, which may present unique challenges for the school.

Detail:

Public, Charter 6-8

19 E Exchange St.
Saint Paul, MN 55101-8888

(651) 528-8091

District: Upper Mississippi Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
348^th of 545 Minnesota Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,328

Student/teacher ratio: 8.8

Number of students: 75

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.3%

Hispanic:

24.0%

Two or more races:

16.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 50.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Upper Mississippi Middle Academy ranks worse than 63.9% of middle schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.86. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (45.3%), Hispanic (24%), two or more races (16%). (See more...)

Compare Details 50.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy is $13,328.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Upper Mississippi Middle Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Upper Mississippi Middle Academy 348^th of 545 Minnesota public middle schools. (See Upper Mississippi Middle Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Male students:

White students:

Upper Mississippi Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Upper Mississippi Academy 291^st of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

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Rank History for all students at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2015	51.48	253^rd	516	51.0%
2016	46.46	284^th	508	44.1%
2017	45.87	308^th	523	41.1%
2018	59.63	216^th	518	58.3%
2019	55.71	240^th	533	55.0%
2021	63.79	161^st	521	69.1%
2022	61.30	184^th	520	64.6%
2023	25.20	410^th	529	22.5%
2024	37.86	348^th	545	36.1%

See the entire list of Minnesota Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	79.49	29^th	253	88.5%
2019	77.12	36^th	282	87.2%
2022	90.60	10^th	288	96.5%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	56.73	163^rd	401	59.4%
2019	43.13	252^nd	415	39.3%
2023	23.14	372^nd	459	19.0%

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

Rank History for Female students at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	42.29	282^nd	436	35.3%
2019	43.91	278^th	439	36.7%
2022	61.13	165^th	467	64.7%

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

Rank History for Male students at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	68.23	125^th	438	71.5%
2019	60.02	179^th	454	60.6%
2022	52.72	214^th	476	55.0%
2023	22.78	370^th	464	20.3%
2024	50.40	230^th	479	52.0%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	69.80	35^th	171	79.5%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	53.48	198^th	428	53.7%
2019	49.00	221^st	428	48.4%
2021	55.85	156^th	422	63.0%
2022	59.93	149^th	438	66.0%
2023	22.42	377^th	436	13.5%
2024	53.41	184^th	440	58.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle 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 parent
Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Wonderful school with caring teachers! They care about teaching the whole child! Great positive culture at this school! I highly recommend!! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2014	88	14	3	20	0	9	134
2015	153	14	2	16	0	16	201
2016	186	19	4	23	1	8	241
2017	155	7	6	29	0	14	211
2018	136	16	4	33	1	19	209
2019	132	9	3	30	1	14	189
2020	109	15	3	22	0	20	169
2021	76	9	1	18	0	11	115
2022	63	9	3	21	0	17	113
2023	34	9	1	18	1	12	75

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 Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	134	6.0	22.2	26.9
2015	201	13.0	15.4	10.9
2016	241	11.0	21.9	12
2017	211	12.6	16.7	14.2
2018	209	15.2	13.7	26.3
2019	189	15.0	12.5	18
2020	169	13.1	12.8	24.9
2021	115	13.0	8.8	16.5
2022	113	12.8	8.8	19.5
2023	75	0.0	n/a	50.7

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 Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	134	6.0	22.2	26.9
2015	201	13.0	15.4	10.9
2016	241	11.0	21.9	12
2017	211	12.6	16.7	14.2
2018	209	15.2	13.7	26.3
2019	189	15.0	12.5	18
2020	169	13.1	12.8	24.9
2021	115	13.0	8.8	16.5
2022	113	12.8	8.8	19.5
2023	75	0.0	n/a	50.7

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 Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$13,328

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Upper Mississippi Middle 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 240^th of 533 Middle schools	Ranks 410^th of 529 Middle schools	32.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade Math (Upper Mississippi Middle Academy)	37.1	10	27.1%
6th Grade Math (Upper Mississippi Academy)	37.1	10	27.1%
6th Grade Math (Minnesota)	50.5	39.7	10.8%
6th Grade Reading (Upper Mississippi Middle Academy)	80	45.5	34.6%
6th Grade Reading (Upper Mississippi Academy)	80	45.5	34.6%
6th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	62.8	53.4	9.4%
7th Grade Math (Upper Mississippi Middle Academy)	33.3	16	17.3%
7th Grade Math (Upper Mississippi Academy)	33.3	16	17.3%
7th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52.1	39.7	12.4%
7th Grade Reading (Upper Mississippi Middle Academy)	62.3	32	30.3%
7th Grade Reading (Upper Mississippi Academy)	62.3	32	30.3%
7th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	57.5	45.2	12.3%
8th Grade Math (Upper Mississippi Middle Academy)	43.8	11.5	32.2%
8th Grade Math (Upper Mississippi Academy)	43.8	11.5	32.2%
8th Grade Math (Minnesota)	55.2	40.3	14.9%
8th Grade Reading (Upper Mississippi Middle Academy)	56.7	37	19.7%
8th Grade Reading (Upper Mississippi Academy)	56.7	37	19.7%
8th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	57.7	44.8	12.9%
8th Grade Science (Upper Mississippi Middle Academy)	47.6	12.5	35.1%
8th Grade Science (Upper Mississippi Academy)	47.6	12.5	35.1%
8th Grade Science (Minnesota)	43	27.6	15.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	189	75	60.3%
African American	9	9
American Indian	1	1
Asian	3	1	66.7%
Hispanic	30	18	40%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	132	34	74.2%
Two or More Races	14	12	14.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	18%	50.7%	32.7%

Schools Near Upper Mississippi Middle 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 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 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
Upper Mississippi Middle Academy	Public, Charter	6-8	19 E Exchange St.	Saint Paul	55101	Ramsey County	Upper Mississippi Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 528-8091	75	0	8.8	50.7%	34 (45.3%)	9 (12.0%)	18 (24.0%)	1 (1.3%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (16.0%)	37.9	348^th of 545 public middle schools	36.1%		25.2	410^th of 529 public middle schools	22.5%	62		9.1	0.0	17.4	11.4		54.6	45.5	37.5	43.5		28.0	28.0	$13,328
St. Paul City Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	215 University Ave W	Saint Paul	55103	Ramsey County	St. Paul City School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 225-9177	137	12	11.4	92.0%	3 (2.2%)	34 (24.8%)	69 (50.4%)	23 (16.8%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.1%)	5.3	528^th of 545 public middle schools	3.1%		6.8	505^th of 529 public middle schools	4.5%	23		2.2	2.1	4.7	2.9		21.3	14.6	4.7	13.8		4.6	4.6	$13,409
Quantum STEAM Academy Middle School	Public, Charter	5-8	497 Humboldt Ave	Saint Paul	55107	Ramsey County	Quantum STEAM Academy Charter	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 615-6888	38	1	28.5	92.1%	0 (0.0%)	38 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23.6	438^th of 545 public middle schools	19.6%					(n/a)	12.5	0.0	13.3		9.3	58.8	46.7	31.3		45.8	25.0		25.0
HOPE Community Academy Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	720 Payne Ave	Saint Paul	55130	Ramsey County	Hope Community Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 796-4500	208	8	27.2	90.9%	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	200 (96.2%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11.5	496^th of 545 public middle schools	9.0%		12.2	477^th of 529 public middle schools	9.8%	19		4.8	22.2	17.0	13.5		15.5	20.3	13.5	16.5		9.4	9.4
Saint Paul Online Middle School	Public, Virtual	6-8	740 York Ave	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(651) 767-8100	173	8	20.4	82.1%	22 (12.7%)	58 (33.5%)	30 (17.3%)	40 (23.1%)	6 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (9.8%)	11.9	494^th of 545 public middle schools	9.4%		16.3	460^th of 529 public middle schools	13.0%	34		10.3	8.8	0.0	6.9		41.4	17.7	8.0	22.7		11.1	11.1
Community of Peace Academy Middle	Public, Charter	5-8	471 Magnolia Ave E	Saint Paul	55130	Ramsey County	Community Of Peace Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 280-4601	283	9	29.9	89.8%	15 (5.3%)	72 (25.4%)	68 (24.0%)	108 (38.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	19 (6.7%)	11.1	499^th of 545 public middle schools	8.4%		11.8	480^th of 529 public middle schools	9.3%	19	6.8	11.6	9.3	4.5	8.1	24.3	27.9	25.0	22.4	24.9	9.6	2.9	6.4	$12,893
Prodeo Academy St. Paul Middle	Public, Charter	5-6	170 Rose Ave W	Saint Paul	55117	Ramsey County	Prodeo Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 350-7655	41	2	20.5	97.6%	0 (0.0%)	5 (12.2%)	3 (7.3%)	32 (78.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.4%)								(n/a)	55.3	47.5			51.7	53.2	30.0			42.5	23.4		23.4
Farnsworth Aerospace Upper	Public, Magnet	5-8	1000 Walsh St	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 293-8880	486	34	14.1	85.0%	31 (6.4%)	97 (20.0%)	54 (11.1%)	270 (55.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.6%)	15.8	477^th of 545 public middle schools	12.5%		14.5	467^th of 529 public middle schools	11.7%	10	22.0	7.0	7.6	14.7	12.2	34.5	24.4	26.5	30.0	28.5	26.5	14.7	19.3	$15,250
St. Paul School of Northern Lights Secondary	Public, Charter	7-8	426 Osceola Ave S	Saint Paul	55102	Ramsey County	St. Paul School of Northern Lights	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 285-4672	27	3	7.7	37.0%	19 (70.4%)	1 (3.7%)	3 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (14.8%)								(n/a)			10.0		6.7			40.0		53.3
Global Arts Plus Upper	Public, Magnet	5-8	810 Palace Ave	Saint Paul	55102	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 293-8690	442	27	16.4	66.3%	144 (32.6%)	129 (29.2%)	69 (15.6%)	67 (15.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (7.2%)	14.6	482^nd of 545 public middle schools	11.6%		21.9	427^th of 529 public middle schools	19.3%	55	41.0	13.3	6.4	10.2	16.1	44.3	21.9	26.9	32.4	30.3	24.7	9.1	15.7	$17,217

Frequently Asked Questions about Upper Mississippi Middle Academy

What district is Upper Mississippi Middle Academy in?

Upper Mississippi Academy

Is Upper Mississippi Middle Academy a good school?

Upper Mississippi Middle Academy ranks 348^th of 545 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Upper Mississippi Middle Academy?

Students at Upper Mississippi Middle Academy are 45% White, 24% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 12% African American, 1% Asian, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Upper Mississippi Middle Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 75 students attended Upper Mississippi Middle 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.