Newsletters 2013-14 Focus newsletter, [1] fall | Page 8

I A N NKO V- A T N O EN I N N C E DOU C A T R O N
N O A HE I N P I S HO L DIST IICT
A-H schools are state leaders in Black, Native American and Asian
student performance, according to education advocacy group

N

ine schools in the Anoka-Hennepin School
District have been named as top-performers for Black, Native American and Asian
student performance, according to a report
released by the Minnesota Campaign for
Achievement Now (MinnCAN).
“This is some of the best, most positive news
that I have ever received,” Superintendent Dennis
Carlson said. “It feels good to get some accolades
and it’s especially gratifying for our students and
staff to be recognized.”
The recognized schools include:
■ Anoka Middle School for the Arts (ranked
seventh in middle school Native American
student performance).
■ Blaine High School (ranked ninth in high
school English-Language Learners Student
Performance).
■ Champlin Park High School (ranked fourth
in high school Black student performance).
■ Coon Rapids Middle School (ranked) fourth
in middle school Native American student
performance).
■ Coon Rapids High School (ranked ninth in
high school Black student performance).

MinnCAN, a nonprofit
education reform advocacy
group, released report
cards for all 1,967 public
schools in Minnesota, as
well as a number of private
and charter schools. The
Top 10 lists were broken
into six categories, including Black, Native
American, Asian and
English Language
Learners (ELL)—and then
school type: elementary,
middle and high schools.
Each subgroup’s performance score is an average of
their reading and math
proficiency at the highest
tested grade level in that
school.
MinnCAN Executive Director Daniel Sellers
said the report cards are just one vehicle of information to help educators and parents better
understand how well schools educate students.

■ Northdale Middle School (ranked ninth in
middle school Native American student performance)

“Great schools dot many pockets of the North
Star state, yet we seldom take a step back to recognize the schools that post commendable student
learning and achievement,” Sellers said. “These
Anoka and Hennepin-area schools should be on
everyone’s radar for student learning, and we
hope that the greater community can engage in
conversations on why schools such as these are
leading the pack so that we can better share
proven strategies and best practices across all
public schools.”

■ Roosevelt Middle School (ranked 10th in
middle school Asian student performance).

Reaction among principals at recognized buildings was that of tempered excitement.

■ Hoover Elementary School (ranked fourth in
elementary school Black student performance).
■ Monroe Elementary School (ranked fifth in
elementary school Black student performance).

“We educate students of color better than
almost every district in Minnesota, and that’s
something we’ve known for some time” Carlson
said. “Now, we have someone besides us saying
that.”

“My first reaction is how