| 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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