1  Birch Grove Community School 
PO Box 2242
Tofte, MN 55615
218-663-0170
http://www.birchgroveschool.com
Grades: K-5
Year Opened: 2005

A multi-age classroom, elementary school in far northern Minnesota designed to provide a rigorous, well-structured academic program in an area without a community school. Outdoor education and frequent work with community members are hallmarks of students’ experiences at the school.

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2  EdVisions Off-Campus High School  
501 Main St.
PO Box 307
Henderson MN 56044
507-248-3101

800-617-7857
http://www.eochs.k12.mn.us
Grades: 7-12
Year Opened: 2006

A unique, project-based online learning model available statewide, with a focus on students with disabilities, those living in far rural locations, and traditional home-schoolers.

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3  Global Academy 
4065 Central Avenue Northeast

Columbia Heights, MN 55421

763-404-8200

globalacademy.us
Grades: K-7

Year Opened: 2008

An innovative school with a focus on providing diverse students with an internationally competitive education.  The school's academic program is based on the goals of the International Baccalaureate Organization.

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4  Green Isle Community School 
190 McGrann Street

P.O. Box 277
Green Isle, MN 55338
507-326-7144
http://www.greenislecommunityschool.org
Grades: K-6
Year Opened: 2005

A multi-age classroom, elementary school in far northern Minnesota designed to provide a rigorous, well-structured academic program in an area without a community school. Outdoor education and frequent work with community members are hallmarks of students’ experiences at the school.

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5  Harbor City International School  
332 W. Michigan Street, Suite 300
Duluth, MN 55802
218-722-7574
http://www.harborcityschool.org
Grades Served: 9-12
Year Opened: 2002

VOA-MN’s first authorized public charter school, Harbor City opened its doors in Fall 2000 to students interested in rigorous academic preparation for post-secondary education. Aligned with several successful education models not readily available in its region (including the International Baccalaureate Organization and Tempe Preparatory Academy in Arizona), Harbor City International School graduated its first entering senior class in 2005.

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6  Kaleidoscope Charter School
7525 Kalland Avenue
Otsego, MN 55301
763-428-1890
http://www.kaleidoscopecharter.org
Grades: K-8
Year Opened: 2004

An innovative service-learning, project-based K-8 school with the goal of integrating students, families, staff, and the larger community in an environment of dynamic learning and achievement. Kaleidoscope opened in Fall 2004 and provided one of the Twin Cities fastest growing western suburbs with an education option for parents and students weary of the very large district schools.

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7  KIPP Stand Academy

1601 Laurel Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55403

612-287-9700

www.kippminnesota.org

Grades: 5-6 (Expanding one grade per year, will serve grades 5-8 at completion.)

Year Opened: 2009

The first KIPP school to open in Minnesota, KIPP Stand Academy utilizes a rigorous program that seeks to provide students with the academic skills necessary to achieve success at the college level.

8 Metro Deaf School-Minnesota North Star Academy  

*As of July 1, 2009 MetroDeaf School and Minnesota North Star Academy merged into a single PK-12 campus serving students from Minnesota and western Wisconsin

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1471 Brewster Street
St. Paul, MN 55108
651-224-3995

651-222-0984 tty

651-224-3975 videophone
www.metrodeafschool.org
Grades: PK-12
Year Opened: MDS 1993, MNSA 2004 (2009 as a merged school)

One of the very few dual-language schools in the nation focusing on traditional English and American Sign Language (ASL). MN North Star Academy is open to all high school age students, but primarily serves a deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing population in a small, project-based learning environment. Students at the school received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in its first year to examine customer service toward deaf patrons in restaurants and propose methods for improving that service.

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9  Naytahwaush Community Charter School  
242 Church Street
Naytahwaush, MN 56566
218-935-5025
www.naytahwaush.org
Grades: K-8
Year Opened: 2005

A K-8 school focused on providing students of the White Earth Reservation with a rigorous academic curriculum that incorporates and respects traditional tribal culture, language, and history. An Ojibwe language and cultural education component is included in the learning program not available in the traditional district school.

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10  New Visions School  
1800 2nd Street, NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
612-706-5566
www.newvisionsschool.com
Grades: K-8
Year Opened: 1994

One of Minnesota’s first charter schools, New Visions contracted with VOA of MN for authorization in 2004. Serving high populations of low-income, special needs, and gifted students, New Visions is one of the most diverse schools in the Twin Cities, filling multiple needs for families with few options in the north-eastern neighborhoods of Minneapolis.

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11 Spectrum High School  
10129 - 181st Avenue Northwest
Elk River, MN 55330
763-241-8703
http://www.spectrumhighschool.org
Grades: 9-12
Year Opened: 2006

Started by a group of parents whose children attended Kaleidoscope Charter School in neighboring Rogers, MN, Spectrum High School offers a small, personalized learning alternative to the large district high school in Elk River. Mobile computer labs are a key component of the school’s integrated technology plan. In addition, service learning projects and foreign language will be hallmarks of this high school with a maximum first-year enrollment of 100 students (growing to 180 over the next three years).

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 12 Studio Academy  
415 16th Street, SW
Rochester, MN 55902
507-529-1662
http://www.studioacademy.org
Grades: 9-12
Year Opened: 2000

Working closely with the community and providing an arts-integrated curriculum, Studio Academy is a rare learning environment in southern Minnesota. Students are involved in a myriad of projects and some travel a great distance to attend this public charter school.

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 13 TrekNorth High School 
2518 Hannah Avenue, NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
218-444-1888
http://www.treknorth.org
Grades: 9-12
Year Opened: 2003

A high school with a focus on combining Advance Placement academic coursework with experiential learning opportunities in both the woods of north Minnesota and locations around the world. TrekNorth is unique among high schools in Bemidji and allows students an opportunity to learn in both the classroom and the natural environment.

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 14 Worthington Area Language Academy   
PO Box 185
Bigelow, MN 56117
507-683-2004
http://www.walacharter.com
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 64
Year Opened: 2005

One of the emerging communities in Minnesota, and often one of the least served, is that of newly arrived Mexican and Latino families living in rural areas. WALA provides a dual-language immersion program of Spanish and English to students in rural southwest Minnesota not available in any surrounding district schools. While many of its enrolled students are from families who speak English as a second language, other residents are also taking advantage of the opportunity to expose their K-8 children to a culture and a language becoming more prominent in their communities.

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