Summary:
Twin Lakes STEM Academy is a public charter elementary school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, serving 147 students in grades K-6. The school has a predominantly African American student population, with 85.71% of students identifying as African American, and a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 94.56% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Despite its focus on STEM education and a relatively low student-teacher ratio, Twin Lakes STEM Academy has consistently underperformed the state average on standardized assessments in math, reading, and science. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 10.19% of students were proficient or better in math, compared to the state average of 45.47%. The school's performance is particularly low in math, with proficiency rates ranging from 0% in 6th grade to 20% in 5th grade, well below the state averages. Reading proficiency is slightly higher, ranging from 8.57% in 3rd grade to 40% in 6th grade, but still significantly below the state averages.
Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as New Millennium Academy Charter, Fair Oaks Elementary, and Garden City Elementary, generally outperform Twin Lakes STEM Academy on academic measures, despite serving similar demographics. This suggests that the school's challenges may be due to factors beyond just socioeconomic status and racial composition, such as school leadership, curriculum, and instructional practices. Despite its low student-teacher ratio and focus on STEM education, Twin Lakes STEM Academy has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of Minnesota elementary schools over the past several years, with no significant improvement in its statewide ranking or academic performance.
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