1  Birch Grove Community School  Tofte, MN
PO Box 2242
Tofte, MN 55615
218-663-0170
birchgrove@boreal.org
http://www.birchgroveschool.com
Directors: Lisa Hoff and Diane Blanchette
Grades: K-6
Enrollment: 36
Year Opened: 2005
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2007-08

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  Henderson, MN
501 Main St.
PO Box 307
Henderson MN 56044
507-248-3101
KevenKroehler@edvisionshighschool.com
http://www.eochs.k12.mn.us
Director: Keven Kroehler
Grades: 7-12
Enrollment: 40
Year Opened: 2005
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2007-08

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  ELOM International Academy  Brooklyn Center, MN
Scheduled to Open in September 2007
Grades: K-8

A school placing particular emphasis on West African culture as an avenue to learning in all subjects. ELOM hopes to be a center for activity and enrichment for both its students and its community.

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4  Green Isle Community School  Green Isle, MN
190 McGrann Street
Green Isle, MN 55338
507-326-7144
kirsten.kinzler@greenislecommunityschool.org
http://www.greenislecommunityschool.org
Director: Kirsten Kinzler
Grades: K-6
Enrollment: 65
Year Opened: 2005
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2007-0

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  Duluth, MN
332 W. Michigan Street, Suite 300
Duluth, MN 55802
218-722-7574
chazleton@harborcityschool.org
http://www.harborcityschool.org
Director: Chris Hazleton
Grades Served: 9-12
Enrollment: 210
Year Opened: 2001
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2007-08

VOA-MN’s first sponsored 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.

2004-05 School Year

School	AYP Status		Minority Enrollment	Free/Reduced Lunch	Special Education
	Reading	Math
Harbor City International School	Yes	Yes	5%	31%	19%
Central Secondary	Yes	Yes	17%	30%	13%
Denfeld HS	Yes	Yes	11%	39%	16%
East Senior HS	Yes	Yes	6%	11%	7%

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6  Kaleidoscope Charter School  Rogers, MN
21755 129th Avenue, North
Rogers, MN 55374
763-428-1890
mgarciastrait@kaleidoscopecharter.org
http://www.kaleidoscopecharter.org
Director: Michelle Garcia-Strait
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 220
Year Opened: 2004
Contract Length: 3 years
Current contract expires at end of school year 2006-07

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.

2004-05 School Year

School	AYP Status		Minority Enrollment	Free/Reduced Lunch	Special Education
	Reading	Math
Kaleidoscope Charter School	Yes	Yes	5%	31%	19%
Rogers Elementary	Yes	Yes	17%	30%	13%

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7  Minnesota North Star Academy  St. Paul, MN
1669 Arcade Street
St. Paul, MN 55106-1041
651-771-2000
jbusenbark@mnnorthstaracademy.org
http://www.mnnorthstaracademy.org
Director: Jack Busenbark
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 25
Year Opened: 2004
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2006-07

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.

2004-05 School Year

School	AYP Status		Minority Enrollment	Free/Reduced Lunch	Special Education
	Reading	Math
Minnesota North Star Academy	Yes	n/a	14%	43%	100%
Harding HS	Yes	Yes	76%	76%	15%

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8  Naytahwaush Community Charter School  Naytahwaush, MN
P.O. Box 9
Naytahwaush, MN 56566
218-935-2980
tanders@tvutel.com
http://ntwcommunitycharterschool.org
Directors: Terri Anderson and Gayle Gish
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 85
Year Opened: 2005
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2007-08

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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9  New Visions School  Minneapolis, MN
1800 2nd Street, NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
612-789-1236
jgeraghty@actg.org
http://www.newvisionsschool.com
Director: Jennifer Geraghty
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 200
Year Opened: 1994
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2006-07

One of Minnesota’s first charter schools, New Visions contracted with VOA of MN for sponsorship 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.

2004-05 School Year

School	AYP Status		Minority Enrollment	Free/Reduced Lunch	Special Education
	Reading	Math
New Visions School	No	No	70%	85%	30%
Pillsbury Elementary School	Yes	Yes	67%	72%	9%
Waite Park Elementary School	No	No	44%	56%	10%
Putnam Elementary School	Yes	Yes	78%	91%	9%

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10  Spectrum High School  Elk River, MN
PO Box 401
Elk River, MN 55330
763-241-8703
vspark@spectrumhighschool.org
http://www.spectrumhighschool.org
Director: Vanessta Spark
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 60
Year Opened: approved to open in 2006
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2008-09

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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11  Studio Academy   Rochester, MN
415 16th Street, SW
Rochester, MN 55902
507-529-1662
eric.holsen@earthlink.net
http://www.studioacademy.org
Director: Eric Holsen
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 115
Year Opened: 2000
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2007-08

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.

2004-05 School Year

School	AYP Status		Minority Enrollment	Free/Reduced Lunch	Special Education
	Reading	Math
Studio Academy	Yes	Yes	5%	10%	16%
Century High School	No	No	17%	17%	8%
John Marshall High School	No	No	27%	30%	9%
Mayo High School	No	Yes	19%	21%	10%

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12  TrekNorth High School   Bemidji, MN
2518 Hannah Avenue, NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
218-444-1888
dmckeon@treknorth.org
http://www.treknorth.org
Director: Dan McKeon
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 155
Year Opened: 2003
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2008-09

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.

2004-05 School Year

School	AYP Status		Minority Enrollment	Free/Reduced Lunch	Special Education
	Reading	Math
TrekNorth High School	Yes	Yes	21%	39%	14%
Bemidji High School	Yes	Yes	13%	32%	14%

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13  Worthington Area Language Academy   Bigelow, MN
PO Box 185
Bigelow, MN 56117
507-683-2004
rhaley@walacharter.com
http://www.walacharter.com
Director: Randy Haley
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 90
Year Opened: 2005
Contract Length: 3 years
Contract expires at end of school year 2007-08

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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