DREAM Technical Academy

Summary:

DREAM Technical Academy is a public charter high school serving grades 7-12 in Willmar, Minnesota, with a total enrollment of 95 students. The school is part of the Technical Academies of Minnesota district, which is ranked 410 out of 463 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

DREAM Technical Academy stands out from the nearby schools, such as A.C.G.C. Secondary, Kerkhoven Secondary, and New London-Spicer Senior, in several key ways. The school has a significantly more diverse student population, with 46.32% Hispanic and 2.11% Native American students, compared to the nearby schools, which have much higher percentages of White students (80-92%). However, this diversity does not translate into academic success, as DREAM Technical Academy consistently underperforms the state and nearby school districts on standardized test scores, with 0% proficiency in Math and only 21.43% proficiency in Reading.

DREAM Technical Academy also struggles with low graduation rates, ranging from 50% to 83.3% over the past few years, and high dropout rates, ranging from 4.5% to 15%, compared to the nearby schools, which had graduation rates around 92-95% and dropout rates around 2-4%. Additionally, the school has a very high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 69.86% to 76.84%, which is significantly higher than the nearby schools. The school has also seen a significant increase in its student-teacher ratio, from 12.1 in 2020-2021 to 34.4 in 2022-2023, which is much higher than the nearby schools (14.5-17.6). These challenges suggest the need for a comprehensive review and implementation of strategies to address the academic and other performance issues at DREAM Technical Academy.

Detail:

Public, Charter 7-12

1705 16th Street NE
Willmar, MN 56201-8888

(320) 262-5640

District: Technical Academies Of Minnesota

SchoolDigger Rank:
415^th of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,642

Student/teacher ratio: 34.4

Number of students: 95

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.4%

Hispanic:

46.3%

Two or more races:

4.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 76.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details DREAM Technical Academy is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.6. (See more...)

Compare Details DREAM Technical Academy ranks worse than 86.5% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 14.88. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at DREAM Technical Academy 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 (47.4%), Hispanic (46.3%), two or more races (4.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 76.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at DREAM Technical Academy is 34.4. (See more...)

Compare DREAM Technical Academy employs 2.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at DREAM Technical Academy is $18,642.

Schooldigger Rankings:

DREAM Technical Academy was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks DREAM Technical Academy 415^th of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See DREAM Technical Academy in the ranking list.)

Technical Academies Of Minnesota:

SchoolDigger ranks Technical Academies Of Minnesota 410^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for DREAM Technical Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2015	14.75	447^th	516	13.4%
2016	3.86	480^th	508	5.5%
2017	4.47	494^th	523	5.5%
2018	1.47	512^th	518	1.2%
2019	3.77	517^th	533	3.0%
2023	8.60	496^th	529	6.2%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

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

Rank History for DREAM Technical Academy

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Rank History for all high school students at DREAM Technical Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2015	10.55	430^th	504	14.7%
2016	14.06	401^st	489	18.0%
2017	7.27	429^th	489	12.3%
2018	17.53	395^th	494	20.0%
2019	4.77	472^nd	492	4.1%
2021	8.71	391^st	428	8.6%
2022	13.74	409^th	472	13.3%
2024	14.88	415^th	480	13.5%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school White students at DREAM Technical Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	6.69	384^th	414	7.2%

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:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for DREAM Technical Academy

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2015	86	6	38	0	3	133
2016	64	2	28	1	5	100
2017	52	4	18	1	5	80
2018	47	0	27	1	7	82
2019	39	0	14	0	4	57
2020	38	0	18	0	7	63
2021	46	1	21	0	5	73
2022	34	2	35	0	1	72
2023	45	0	44	2	4	95

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 DREAM Technical Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	133	7.0	19.0	50.4
2016	100	6.0	16.6	55
2017	80	5.0	15.9	50
2018	82	7.0	11.6	62.2
2019	57	6.0	9.4	50.9
2020	63	2.4	25.4	63.5
2021	73	6.0	12.1	69.9
2022	72	3.4	20.7	73.6
2023	95	2.7	34.4	76.8

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 DREAM Technical Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	133	7.0	19.0	50.4
2016	100	6.0	16.6	55
2017	80	5.0	15.9	50
2018	82	7.0	11.6	62.2
2019	57	6.0	9.4	50.9
2020	63	2.4	25.4	63.5
2021	73	6.0	12.1	69.9
2022	72	3.4	20.7	73.6
2023	95	2.7	34.4	76.8

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 DREAM Technical Academy

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$18,642

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on DREAM Technical 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 517^th of 533 Middle schools	Ranks 496^th of 529 Middle schools	3.2%
Ranks 472^nd of 492 High schools	Ranks 409^th of 472 High schools	9.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
8th Grade Math (DREAM Technical Academy)	0	0
8th Grade Math (Technical Academies Of Minnesota)	0	0
8th Grade Math (Minnesota)	55.2	40.3	14.9%
8th Grade Reading (DREAM Technical Academy)	30.8	25	5.8%
8th Grade Reading (Technical Academies Of Minnesota)	27.8	23.8	4%
8th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	57.7	44.8	12.9%
8th Grade Science (DREAM Technical Academy)	0	0
8th Grade Science (Technical Academies Of Minnesota)	0	5.9	5.9%
8th Grade Science (Minnesota)	43	27.6	15.4%
10th Grade Reading (DREAM Technical Academy)	18.2	45.5	27.3%
10th Grade Reading (Technical Academies Of Minnesota)	22.2	40.9	18.7%
10th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	60.4	51.7	8.7%
11th Grade Math (DREAM Technical Academy)	0	6.3	6.3%
11th Grade Math (Technical Academies Of Minnesota)	0	10	10%
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36.6	8.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	57	95	66.7%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	2
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	14	44	214.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	39	45	15.4%
Two or More Races	4	4
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	50.9%	76.8%	26%

Schools Near DREAM Technical 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 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	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
DREAM Technical Academy	Public, Charter	7-12	1705 16th Street NE	Willmar	56201	Kandiyohi County	Technical Academies Of Minnesota	Yes	No	No	Yes	(320) 262-5640	95	3	34.4	76.8%	45 (47.4%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (46.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.2%)	14.9	415^th of 480 public high schools	13.5%					(n/a)			0.0	0.0			33.3	21.4			12.5	$18,642
Willmar Senior High	Public	9-12	2701 30th St NE	Willmar	56201	Kandiyohi County	Willmar Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 231-8300	1,224	79	15.5	62.7%	523 (42.7%)	169 (13.8%)	455 (37.2%)	52 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (2.0%)	36.8	326^th of 480 public high schools	32.1%		36.9	330^th of 476 public high schools	30.7%	4			22.7	22.7			40.8	40.8		28.4	28.4	$13,256
Willmar Area Learning Center	Public	9-12	512 8th St SW	Willmar	56201	Kandiyohi County	Willmar Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 214-6500	109	11	10.0	84.4%	27 (24.8%)	5 (4.6%)	71 (65.1%)	4 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.8%)	5.7	456^th of 480 public high schools	5.0%		12.9	412^th of 476 public high schools	13.4%	44			0.0	0.0			8.7	8.7		14.3	14.3	$14,392
New London-Spicer Senior	Public	9-12	101 4th Ave SW	New London	56273	Kandiyohi County	New London-Spicer School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 354-2252	465	27	17.2	26.5%	427 (91.8%)	2 (0.4%)	31 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	77.1	95^th of 480 public high schools	80.2%		83.3	58^th of 476 public high schools	87.8%	37			47.1	47.1			54.0	54.0		50.4	50.4	$11,902
New London Alternative School	Public	9-12	101 4th Ave SW	New London	56273	Kandiyohi County	New London-Spicer School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 354-2252	18	1	15.7	55.6%	15 (83.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)												$17,551
KMS Learning Center	Public	7-12	302 N 15th St	Kerkhoven	56252	Swift County	Region 6 and 8-SW/Wc Service Coop	No	No	No	No	(320) 264-1412	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Kerkhoven Secondary	Public	7-12	302 N 15th St	Kerkhoven	56252	Swift County	Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg	No	No	No	No	(320) 264-1412	387	22	17.6	42.1%	310 (80.1%)	9 (2.3%)	60 (15.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.0%)	43.8	294^th of 480 public high schools	38.8%		32.9	349^th of 476 public high schools	26.7%	55	44.4	35.3	40.5	40.4	36.9	42.1	42.6	40.3	28.6	22.2	25.2	$13,466
A.C.G.C. Secondary	Public	7-12	27250 Minnesota Highway 4	Grove City	56243	Meeker County	A.C.G.C. Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 244-4700	379	26	14.5	50.9%	320 (84.4%)	1 (0.3%)	35 (9.2%)	5 (1.3%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.0%)	77.6	90^th of 480 public high schools	81.3%		52.6	239^th of 476 public high schools	49.8%	149	40.7	39.4	38.8	39.6	26.7	37.9	58.2	40.3	21.2	53.6	36.1	$13,606

Frequently Asked Questions about DREAM Technical Academy

How many students attend DREAM Technical Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 95 students attended DREAM Technical Academy.

What is the racial makeup of DREAM Technical Academy?

Students at DREAM Technical Academy are 47% White, 46% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

Is DREAM Technical Academy a good school?

DREAM Technical Academy ranks in the bottom 13.5% of Minnesota high schools.

What district is DREAM Technical Academy in?

Technical Academies Of Minnesota

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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.