North Lakes Academy Upper School

Q: Is North Lakes Academy Upper School a good school?

North Lakes Academy Upper School ranks 130 th of 480 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

North Lakes Academy Upper School is a public charter high school serving 159 students in grades 9-12 in Forest Lake, Minnesota. This relatively small school has a diverse student population and has consistently performed well academically, ranking among the top 20-25% of Minnesota high schools.

North Lakes Academy Upper School outperforms the state average in several key metrics, including test scores and graduation rates. In 2023-2024, the school had 53.13% of students proficient or better in MCA-III Reading for 10th grade, compared to the state average of 52.22%. In MCA-III Science for End of Course, the school had 61.02% proficiency, significantly higher than the state's 43.47%. The school has also maintained a strong 4-year graduation rate, ranging from 76.4% to 88.8% over the past 5 years, generally higher than the state average. Additionally, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 14.4 to 19.2 over the past 3 years, suggesting a more personalized learning environment for students.

When compared to nearby schools, North Lakes Academy Upper School generally outperforms the traditional public high schools in the Forest Lake Public School District, such as Forest Lake Area High School and Forest Lake Area Community School, in terms of academic performance, test scores, and graduation rates. However, it lags behind the highly-ranked Pines School Day Program and LILA Upper School in some metrics.

Detail:

Public, Charter 9-12

308 15th St SW
Forest Lake, MN 55025-8888

(651) 982-2688

District: North Lakes Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
130^th of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,926

Student/teacher ratio: 11.9

Number of students: 141

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.0%

Hispanic:

5.7%

African American:

4.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 40.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details North Lakes Academy Upper School ranks better than 72.9% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 71.55. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at North Lakes Academy Upper School 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 (83%), Hispanic (5.7%), African American (4.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 40.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at North Lakes Academy Upper School is 11.9. (See more...)

Compare North Lakes Academy Upper School employs 11.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at North Lakes Academy Upper School is $11,926.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

North Lakes Academy Upper School:

SchoolDigger ranks North Lakes Academy Upper School 130^th of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See North Lakes Academy Upper School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

North Lakes Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks North Lakes Academy 227^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for North Lakes Academy Upper School

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Rank History for all students at North Lakes Academy Upper School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2011	69.26	174^th	545	68.1%
2012	51.76	326^th	539	39.5%
2013	51.98	312^th	534	41.6%
2014	73.51	116^th	483	76.0%
2015	55.73	262^nd	504	48.0%
2016	52.62	274^th	489	44.0%
2017	77.58	93^rd	489	81.0%
2018	81.13	71^st	494	85.6%
2019	84.14	46^th	492	90.7%
2021	59.81	183^rd	428	57.2%
2022	77.40	89^th	472	81.1%
2023	75.64	95^th	476	80.0%
2024	71.55	130^th	480	72.9%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at North Lakes Academy Upper School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2021	50.23	81^st	173	53.2%
2022	75.21	33^rd	214	84.6%
2024	62.96	69^th	221	68.8%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at North Lakes Academy Upper School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	75.10	71^st	389	81.7%

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

Rank History for Female students at North Lakes Academy Upper School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	63.12	159^th	395	59.7%
2019	78.13	68^th	401	83.0%
2021	69.67	88^th	339	74.0%
2022	58.56	177^th	388	54.4%
2023	73.75	87^th	396	78.0%
2024	55.64	193^rd	403	52.1%

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

Rank History for Male students at North Lakes Academy Upper School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	89.13	15^th	398	96.2%
2019	82.20	43^rd	411	89.5%
2021	50.11	183^rd	351	47.9%
2022	76.45	73^rd	403	81.9%
2023	60.77	148^th	398	62.8%
2024	76.45	71^st	405	82.5%

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

Rank History for White students at North Lakes Academy Upper School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	71.13	113^th	414	72.7%
2019	75.58	79^th	412	80.8%
2021	45.58	212^th	364	41.8%
2022	69.45	101^st	401	74.8%
2023	66.31	122^nd	398	69.3%
2024	65.14	132^nd	402	67.2%

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

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Enrollment information for North Lakes Academy Upper School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2009	59	1	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	62
2010	105	2	2	6	1	n/a	n/a	116
2011	134	2	2	3	0	0	0	141
2012	157	2	4	6	4	0	0	173
2013	150	2	9	9	2	1	1	174
2014	179	1	4	4	2	0	1	191
2015	192	1	3	6	2	0	2	206
2016	196	3	4	2	3	0	4	212
2017	197	4	5	1	1	0	7	215
2018	195	4	4	5	1	0	6	215
2019	182	7	5	7	1	0	8	210
2020	182	5	7	8	2	0	6	210
2021	173	7	5	6	3	0	3	197
2022	139	8	4	4	1	0	4	160
2023	133	8	4	8	0	0	6	159
2024	117	6	5	8	0	0	5	141

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 North Lakes Academy Upper School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	62	6.2	10.0	25.8
2010	116	8.3	13.8	26.7
2011	141	10.6	13.1	27
2012	173	13.3	12.9	34.7
2013	174	14.0	12.3	32.2
2014	191	14.9	12.7	29.3
2015	206	14.0	14.7	27.7
2016	212	15.0	14.1	25
2017	215	15.7	13.6	16.7
2018	215	15.0	14.3	15.8
2019	210	16.0	13.0	12.9
2020	210	9.4	22.1	13.8
2021	197	10.2	19.2	12.2
2022	160	10.9	14.6	19.4
2023	159	11.0	14.4	35.8
2024	141	11.8	11.9	40.4

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 North Lakes Academy Upper School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	62	6.2	10.0	25.8
2010	116	8.3	13.8	26.7
2011	141	10.6	13.1	27
2012	173	13.3	12.9	34.7
2013	174	14.0	12.3	32.2
2014	191	14.9	12.7	29.3
2015	206	14.0	14.7	27.7
2016	212	15.0	14.1	25
2017	215	15.7	13.6	16.7
2018	215	15.0	14.3	15.8
2019	210	16.0	13.0	12.9
2020	210	9.4	22.1	13.8
2021	197	10.2	19.2	12.2
2022	160	10.9	14.6	19.4
2023	159	11.0	14.4	35.8
2024	141	11.8	11.9	40.4

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 North Lakes Academy Upper School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$11,926

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on North Lakes Academy Upper 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 46^th of 492 High schools	Ranks 95^th of 476 High schools	10.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade Reading (North Lakes Academy Upper School)	62.3	60.5	1.8%
10th Grade Reading (North Lakes Academy)	62.3	60.5	1.8%
10th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	60.4	51.7	8.7%
11th Grade Math (North Lakes Academy Upper School)	64.7	28.6	36.1%
11th Grade Math (North Lakes Academy)	64.7	28.6	36.1%
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36	9%
End of Course Science (North Lakes Academy Upper School)	78	57.9	20.1%
End of Course Science (North Lakes Academy)	78	57.9	20.1%
End of Course Science (Minnesota)	54.4	41.8	12.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	210	159	24.3%
African American	7	8	14.3%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	5	4	20%
Hispanic	7	8	14.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	182	133	26.9%
Two or More Races	8	6	25%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	12.9%	35.8%	23%

Schools Near North Lakes Academy Upper 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
North Lakes Academy Upper School	Public, Charter	9-12	308 15th St SW	Forest Lake	55025	Washington County	North Lakes Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 982-2688	141	12	11.9	40.4%	117 (83.0%)	6 (4.3%)	8 (5.7%)	5 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.5%)	71.6	130^th of 480 public high schools	72.9%		75.6	95^th of 476 public high schools	80.0%	35				24.3	24.3				53.1	53.1		61.0	61.0	$11,926
Forest Lake Area Community School	Public	6-12	943 SW 9th Avenue	Forest Lake	55025	Washington County	Forest Lake Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 982-3171	198	10	19.2	52.0%	136 (68.7%)	9 (4.5%)	21 (10.6%)	12 (6.1%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (9.1%)	4.4	471^st of 480 public high schools	1.9%		6.2	452^nd of 476 public high schools	5.0%	19		2.3	13.6	0.0	4.2		2.3	18.2	13.0	9.1	9.5	3.5	6.0	$22,701
Community School Credit Recovery	Public	9-12	943 9th Ave SW	Forest Lake	55025	Washington County	Forest Lake Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 982-3175	15	0		40.0%	11 (73.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (26.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Step	Public	10-12	200 SW 4th Street	Forest Lake	55025	Washington County	Forest Lake Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 982-8129	46	3	16.2	45.7%	38 (82.6%)	1 (2.2%)	3 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.7%)								(n/a)														$30,569
Ranger Online	Public	9-12	943 SW 9th Ave	Forest Lake	55025	Washington County	Forest Lake Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 982-8350	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Forest Lake Area High School	Public	9-12	6101 Scandia Tr N	Forest Lake	55025	Washington County	Forest Lake Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 982-8401	1,823	64	28.4	23.1%	1,465 (80.4%)	58 (3.2%)	86 (4.7%)	128 (7.0%)	5 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (4.4%)	59.8	210^th of 480 public high schools	56.3%		72.9	107^th of 476 public high schools	77.5%	103				31.6	31.6				44.2	44.2		50.1	50.1	$11,600
Online Learning Program	Public, Charter	6-12	19850 Fenway Ave N	Forest Lake	55025	Washington County	Lakes International Language Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 464-8989	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
LILA Upper School	Public, Charter	6-12	19850 Fenway Avenue N	Forest Lake	55025	Washington County	Lakes International Language Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 464-8989	572	47	12.2	14.5%	440 (76.9%)	9 (1.6%)	69 (12.1%)	16 (2.8%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	34 (5.9%)	79.7	77^th of 480 public high schools	84.0%		88	39^th of 476 public high schools	91.8%	38	34.3	26.1	38.0	32.1	33.0	38.9	53.4	59.4	69.3	54.0	37.6	52.9	42.8	$11,480
Wildcat Academy High School	Public	9-12	29678 Karmel Ave	Chisago City	55013	Chisago County	Chisago Lakes School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 213-2000	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Pines School Day Program	Public	8-12	7555 4th Ave	Lino Lakes	55014	Anoka County	Centennial Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 792-4011	15	17	.8	73.3%	5 (33.3%)	6 (40.0%)	2 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.7%)								(n/a)														$28,708

Frequently Asked Questions about North Lakes Academy Upper School

What district is North Lakes Academy Upper School in?

North Lakes Academy

How many students attend North Lakes Academy Upper School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 141 students attended North Lakes Academy Upper School.

Is North Lakes Academy Upper School a good school?

North Lakes Academy Upper School ranks 130^th of 480 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of North Lakes Academy Upper School?

Students at North Lakes Academy Upper School are 83% White, 6% Hispanic, 4% African American, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

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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.