Rochester Beacon Academy

Summary:

Rochester Beacon Academy is a public charter high school serving grades 6-12 in Rochester, Minnesota, with a relatively small student population of 85 as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school's student body is predominantly White, making up 78.82% of the population.

Despite its location in Rochester, Rochester Beacon Academy has consistently underperformed compared to the state and nearby schools like John Marshall Senior High and Mayo Senior High. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates in Math, Reading, and Science were significantly lower than the state averages, with only 2.7% of students proficient in Math, 28.57% in Reading, and 15.79% in Science across all grades. The school's statewide ranking has also dropped significantly, from 274th out of 428 Minnesota high schools in 2020-2021 to 421st out of 480 in 2023-2024, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Rochester Beacon Academy has also faced challenges with inconsistent graduation rates, ranging from a low of 26.6% in 2021-2022 to a high of 90.9% in 2020-2021, as well as high dropout rates, reaching as high as 20% in the 2019-2020 school year. The school serves a student population with a high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, reaching 50.59% in the 2022-2023 school year, which may be contributing to the school's academic struggles. Further investigation into the school's practices, resources, and support systems may be necessary to identify and address the root causes of its underperformance.

Detail:

Public, Charter 6-12

974 Skyline Dr SW
Rochester, MN 55902-8888

(507) 258-5351

District: Rochester Beacon Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
421^st of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,456

Student/teacher ratio: 8.7

Number of students: 95

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.4%

Two or more races:

14.7%

Hispanic:

9.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 51.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Rochester Beacon Academy ranks worse than 87.3% of middle schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 16.25. (See more...)

Compare Details Rochester Beacon Academy ranks worse than 87.7% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.4. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Rochester Beacon 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 (68.4%), two or more races (14.7%), Hispanic (9.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 51.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Rochester Beacon Academy is 8.7. (See more...)

Compare Rochester Beacon Academy employs 10.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Rochester Beacon Academy is $20,456.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Rochester Beacon Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Rochester Beacon Academy 476^th of 545 Minnesota public middle schools. (See Rochester Beacon Academy in the ranking list.)

SchoolDigger ranks Rochester Beacon Academy 421^st of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Rochester Beacon Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

White students:

Rochester Beacon Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Rochester Beacon Academy 417^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Rochester Beacon Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Rochester Beacon Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2017	23.37	426^th	523	18.5%
2018	4.02	491^st	518	5.2%
2019	6.25	501^st	533	6.0%
2021	16.44	445^th	521	14.6%
2022	29.27	379^th	520	27.1%
2023	4.77	516^th	529	2.5%
2024	16.25	476^th	545	12.7%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Rochester Beacon Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	30.48	197^th	253	22.1%
2019	29.95	215^th	282	23.8%
2021	78.66	20^th	260	92.3%
2022	70.68	49^th	288	83.0%
2023	20.48	263^rd	298	11.7%

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

Rank History for middle school Male students at Rochester Beacon Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	3.34	426^th	438	2.7%
2019	8.46	422^nd	454	7.0%
2022	39.61	297^th	476	37.6%

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

Rank History for middle school White students at Rochester Beacon Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	0.36	427^th	428	0.2%
2019	2.08	420^th	428	1.9%
2021	11.70	398^th	422	5.7%
2022	24.06	360^th	438	17.8%
2023	1.64	434^th	436	0.5%

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

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

Rank History for Rochester Beacon Academy

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Rank History for all high school students at Rochester Beacon Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	43.46	274^th	428	36.0%
2024	13.40	421^st	480	12.3%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Special Education students at Rochester Beacon Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	40.49	142^nd	221	35.7%

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

Rank History for high school White students at Rochester Beacon Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	1.93	395^th	402	1.7%

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 Rochester Beacon Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2016	51	4	3	0	1	9	68
2017	86	3	4	1	1	10	105
2018	89	2	2	3	3	12	111
2019	118	2	1	3	3	21	148
2020	94	3	4	10	1	12	124
2021	83	5	4	9	1	10	112
2022	71	3	5	9	0	8	96
2023	67	0	4	6	1	7	85
2024	65	3	4	9	0	14	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 Rochester Beacon Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	68	8.0	8.5	27.9
2017	105	16.7	6.2	28.6
2018	111	29.1	3.8	28.8
2019	148	19.1	7.7	21.6
2020	124	6.9	17.8	23.4
2021	112	9.7	11.5	36.6
2022	96	6.8	14.0	40.6
2023	85	9.6	8.8	50.6
2024	95	10.9	8.7	51.6

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 Rochester Beacon Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	68	8.0	8.5	27.9
2017	105	16.7	6.2	28.6
2018	111	29.1	3.8	28.8
2019	148	19.1	7.7	21.6
2020	124	6.9	17.8	23.4
2021	112	9.7	11.5	36.6
2022	96	6.8	14.0	40.6
2023	85	9.6	8.8	50.6
2024	95	10.9	8.7	51.6

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 Rochester Beacon Academy

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$20,456

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Rochester Beacon 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 501^st of 533 Middle schools	Ranks 516^th of 529 Middle schools	3.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade Reading (Rochester Beacon Academy)	6.7	30	23.3%
7th Grade Reading (Rochester Beacon Academy)	6.7	30	23.3%
7th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	57.5	45.5	12%
8th Grade Math (Rochester Beacon Academy)	9.5	0	9.5%
8th Grade Math (Rochester Beacon Academy)	9.5	0	9.5%
8th Grade Math (Minnesota)	55.2	40.3	14.9%
8th Grade Reading (Rochester Beacon Academy)	33.3	15.4	18%
8th Grade Reading (Rochester Beacon Academy)	33.3	15.4	18%
8th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	57.7	44.8	12.9%
8th Grade Science (Rochester Beacon Academy)	19.1	0	19.1%
8th Grade Science (Rochester Beacon Academy)	19.1	0	19.1%
8th Grade Science (Minnesota)	43	27.6	15.4%
10th Grade Reading (Rochester Beacon Academy)	43.8	38.5	5.3%
10th Grade Reading (Rochester Beacon Academy)	43.8	38.5	5.3%
10th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	60.4	51.7	8.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	148	85	42.6%
African American	2	0	100%
American Indian	3	1	66.7%
Asian	1	4	300%
Hispanic	3	6	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	118	67	43.2%
Two or More Races	21	7	66.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	21.6%	50.6%	29%

Schools Near Rochester Beacon 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 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	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
Rochester Beacon Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	974 Skyline Dr SW	Rochester	55902	Olmsted County	Rochester Beacon Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(507) 258-5351	95	11	8.7	51.6%	65 (68.4%)	3 (3.2%)	9 (9.5%)	4 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (14.7%)	13.4	421^st of 480 public high schools	12.3%					(n/a)	9.1	0.0	2.7	16.7	30.4	28.6	20.0		15.8	$20,456
Project Search Mayo Clinic	Public	12	615 7th Street SW	Rochester	55902	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 512-0608	9	1	9.0	33.3%	7 (77.8%)	1 (11.1%)	1 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										$4,107
Rochester Stem Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	415 16th St SW	Rochester	55902	Olmsted County	Rochester Stem Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(507) 281-2381	116	7	17.4	82.8%	0 (0.0%)	116 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21.5	387^th of 480 public high schools	19.4%		13	411^th of 476 public high schools	13.7%	24		0.0	0.0		22.2	22.2		28.6	28.6	$15,956
RSTEM Online	Public, Charter	9-12	415 16th St SW	Rochester	55902	Olmsted County	Rochester Stem Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(612) 408-7241	0	3	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Rochester Academy-Idp Living(RAIL)	Public	11-12	1200 Broadway Ave S	Rochester	55904	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-5650	73	13	5.7	68.5%	44 (60.3%)	14 (19.2%)	8 (11.0%)	5 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.7%)								(n/a)										$22,359
John Marshall Senior High	Public	8-12	1510 14th St NW	Rochester	55901	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-5400	1,521	74	20.6	42.5%	738 (48.5%)	317 (20.8%)	133 (8.7%)	208 (13.7%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	118 (7.8%)	48.4	268^th of 480 public high schools	44.2%					(n/a)		22.1	22.1		53.9	53.9		30.7	30.7	$12,155
Care & Treatment at ESC	Public	5-12	334 16th St SE	Rochester	55904	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-4541	5	1	5.0		3 (60.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										$15,298
Mayo Senior High	Public	8-12	1420 11th Ave SE	Rochester	55904	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-5500	1,820	80	22.7	29.0%	1,088 (59.8%)	169 (9.3%)	288 (15.8%)	132 (7.3%)	7 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	135 (7.4%)	78.2	86^th of 480 public high schools	82.1%					(n/a)		41.9	41.9		61.8	61.8		47.7	47.7	$12,352
Southeast Regional Crisis Center	Public	5-12	2121 Campus Dr SE	Rochester	55904	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-4322	5	0	4.0		1 (20.0%)	1 (20.0%)	3 (60.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Credit Recovery	Public	9-12	37 Wood Lake Dr SE	Rochester	55904	Olmsted County	Rochester Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 328-3999	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)										$9,582

Frequently Asked Questions about Rochester Beacon Academy

What district is Rochester Beacon Academy in?

Rochester Beacon Academy

How many students attend Rochester Beacon Academy?

In the 2023-24 school year, 95 students attended Rochester Beacon Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Rochester Beacon Academy?

Students at Rochester Beacon Academy are 68% White, 15% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 3% African American.

Is Rochester Beacon Academy a good school?

Rochester Beacon Academy ranks in the bottom 12.3% of Minnesota high schools.

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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.