Average
#976 of 1,986 schools in MN
Top 49% in state
Spero Academy
Elementary School · Spero Academy
2701 CALIFORNIA ST. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Enrollment
145
Student-Teacher
6:1
Score
6.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
145
Student-Teacher
6:1
Score
6.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Minneapolis
#67 of 125
public schools
Minnesota elementary schools
#606 of 962
In district
#2 of 2
Spero Academy
School environment
9.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Spero Academy
Spero Academy is a charter elementary school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Serving students from kindergarten through sixth grade, the school has an enrollment of 145 students and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 6:1 with 24 full-time equivalent teachers. As a public charter school, Spero Academy operates independently to offer unique educational opportunities tailored to its community.
Academically, Spero Academy is ranked at the 56th percentile among Minnesota schools, reflecting room for improvement in areas like ELA and math where only 31% of students are proficient or above in reading and 30% in mathematics. Despite these challenges, the school focuses on student development and growth. Spero Academy is situated within a large city setting, offering its students a vibrant urban environment with diverse learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 145 students, Spero Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
While current test scores at Spero Academy are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, Spero Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Spero Academy — Students at Spero Academy score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
42.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from MN state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.5/10.
How Spero Academy Compares
See how Spero Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 37% (2019) to 27% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 37% (2019) to 32% (2022).
Location
2701 CALIFORNIA ST. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Spero Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Prodeo Columbia Heights Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 1.9 miles away, in nearby Columbia Heights), which scores notably higher. Another option is Banaadir Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Prodeo Columbia Heights Primary (rated 7.9/10, 1.9 miles away, in nearby Columbia Heights), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Minneapolis, see our Minneapolis schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Banaadir Elementary Minneapolis | 0.7 mi | 7.9 |
| MENLO PARK ACADEMY Minneapolis | 0.8 mi | 6.6 |
| Menlo Park Academy Extended Minneapolis | 0.8 mi | — |
| ST JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC SCHOOL Minneapolis | 0.9 mi | 6.0 |
| Cityview Elementary Minneapolis | 0.8 mi | 6.9 |
| New City School Minneapolis | 1.0 mi | 6.0 |
| HEARTWOOD MONTESSORI SCHOOL NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS Minneapolis | 1.1 mi | — |
| Exploration High School Minneapolis | 1.1 mi | — |
| Las Estrellas Elementary Minneapolis | 1.3 mi | 7.1 |
| Edison High Minneapolis | 1.0 mi | 7.7 |
| NELLIE STONE JOHNSON ELEMENTARY Minneapolis | 1.3 mi | 4.7 |
| MPS METRO HA Minneapolis | 1.7 mi | 7.1 |
| Webster Elementary Minneapolis | 1.7 mi | 5.2 |
| SOJOURNER TRUTH ACADEMY Minneapolis | 1.3 mi | 7.0 |
| Prodeo Columbia Heights Primary Columbia Heights | 1.9 mi | 7.9 |
| Prodeo Columbia Heights Elementary Columbia Heights | 1.9 mi | 8.2 |
| Prodeo Columbia Heights Middle Columbia Heights | 1.9 mi | 8.4 |
| UNITY CAMPUS Minneapolis | 1.6 mi | 5.8 |
| Hall Academy Elementary Minneapolis | 1.8 mi | 5.8 |
| MN International Middle Chr School Minneapolis | 2.0 mi | 3.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 55418 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$95,630
Median Home Value
$332,500
Median Rent
$1,349/mo
Population
31,295
College Educated
51.4%
Homeownership
65.6%
Avg Commute
22.7 min
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Median Age
37.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Spero Academy has a median household income of $95,630. It is a well-educated community where 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $332,500, with a median rent of $1,349/month. The local poverty rate of 8.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| GOODRIDGE ELEMENTARY Goodridge, MN | 6.4 |
| LOVEWORKS ACADEMY FOR ARTS Minneapolis, MN | 6.4 |
| ST MARYS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Caledonia, MN | 6.4 |
| ST PETER CATHOLIC North Saint Paul, MN | 6.4 |
| WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY Ely, MN | 6.4 |
| WORTHINGTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Worthington, MN | 6.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Spero Academy
What grades does Spero Academy serve?
Spero Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Spero Academy?
Spero Academy has an enrollment of approximately 145 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Spero Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Spero Academy is 6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Spero Academy rank in MN?
Spero Academy is ranked #976 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is Spero Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Spero Academy has a composite rating of 6.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Spero Academy?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Spero Academy has 29.5% math proficiency and 31.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Spero Academy a charter school?
Yes, Spero Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Spero Academy a Title I school?
No, Spero Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Spero Academy?
42.8% of students at Spero Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (6,330/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Minneapolis). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 145
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 42.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Hennepin County
- Phone
- (612) 465-8600
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Spero Academy- District Enrollment
- 229
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $64,546
- District Rank
- #2 of 2
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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