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Nova Classical Academy Upper School

Public, Charter Grades 6-12

2^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 450 Minnesota High Schools

Better than 100% of Minnesota high schools

Summary

Nova Classical Academy Upper School is a high-performing public charter school serving grades 6-12 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. With a student population of 535, the school has consistently ranked among the top high schools in the state, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranking 8th out of 446 districts in Minnesota.

The school's academic excellence is evident in its outstanding test scores, which consistently outpace the state averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 78.38% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in math, compared to the state average of 34.96%. Similarly, 83.78% of 10th-grade students were proficient or better in reading, compared to the state average of 51.26%. Nova Classical Academy Upper School also boasts an impressive four-year graduation rate, ranging from 83.3% to 97.0% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, the school's dropout rates are exceptionally low, ranging from 0.0% to 4.5% during the same period.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Alternative Learning Center Gateway to College and High School For Recording Arts, Nova Classical Academy Upper School stands out as a high-performing institution, with significantly higher test scores and graduation rates. The school's success can likely be attributed to a combination of factors, including a rigorous curriculum, effective teaching practices, strong leadership, and a supportive school community.

556

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,334

Per pupil spending ?

20.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1455 Victoria Way
Saint Paul, MN 55102-8888

(651) 209-6320

District: Nova Classical Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:

54.3%

Asian:

14.4%

African American:

12.8%

See top rated Minnesota high schools

Compare Nova Classical Academy Upper School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 100th percentile in 2015 → 100th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (76% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Minnesota high schools

✓93% graduate in 4 years — above the Minnesota average (85%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school76%

District avg74%

Minnesota avg47%

Middle school

10^th of 519

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Top 2%▲ up 6 pts since 2015

From top 8% (2015) to top 2% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

2^nd of 450

Minnesota public high schools ?

Top 1%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 446Nova Classical Academy among Minnesota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	96.9	10 of 519	98.1%	★★★★★
2024	97.2	9 of 545	98.3%	★★★★★
2023	96.5	8 of 529	98.5%	★★★★★
2022	97.9	6 of 520	98.8%	★★★★★
2021	97.2	5 of 521	99.0%	★★★★★
2019	96.8	2 of 533	99.6%	★★★★★
2018	97.0	2 of 518	99.6%	★★★★★
2017	96.2	2 of 523	99.6%	★★★★★
2016	96.9	2 of 508	99.6%	★★★★★
2015	83.9	42 of 516	91.9%	★★★★★
2014	85.8	33 of 490	93.3%	★★★★★
2013	81.2	61 of 488	87.5%	★★★★☆
2012	89.6	7 of 469	98.5%	★★★★★
2011	94.4	2 of 478	99.6%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	79.8	26 of 106	75.5%	★★★★☆
2024	81.8	21 of 111	81.1%	★★★★☆
2023	76.1	29 of 116	75.0%	★★★★☆
2022	81.0	24 of 110	78.2%	★★★★☆
2018	93.4	3 of 108	97.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	93.0	14 of 450	96.9%	★★★★★
2024	95.9	7 of 474	98.5%	★★★★★
2023	95.6	7 of 455	98.5%	★★★★★
2022	97.0	5 of 467	98.9%	★★★★★
2021	92.8	9 of 443	98.0%	★★★★★
2019	94.0	4 of 439	99.1%	★★★★★
2018	96.7	1 of 436	99.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	96.9	4 of 432	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	94.3	10 of 473	97.9%	★★★★★
2023	92.6	9 of 459	98.0%	★★★★★
2019	98.1	3 of 415	99.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	97.4	4 of 452	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	95.4	11 of 479	97.7%	★★★★★
2023	94.7	11 of 464	97.6%	★★★★★
2022	97.5	5 of 476	98.9%	★★★★★
2021	98.1	2 of 437	99.5%	★★★★★
2019	96.8	2 of 454	99.6%	★★★★★
2018	96.1	3 of 438	99.3%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	63.2	36 of 116	69.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	97.9	4 of 415	99.0%	★★★★★
2024	98.2	2 of 440	99.5%	★★★★★
2023	97.8	1 of 436	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	97.9	2 of 438	99.5%	★★★★★
2021	98.1	1 of 422	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	96.0	3 of 428	99.3%	★★★★★
2018	97.4	2 of 428	99.5%	★★★★★

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	99.0	2 of 450	99.6%	★★★★★
2024	97.9	2 of 480	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	99.4	1 of 476	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	98.4	1 of 472	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	99.5	1 of 428	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	97.3	3 of 492	99.4%	★★★★★
2018	96.5	3 of 494	99.4%	★★★★★
2017	97.7	2 of 489	99.6%	★★★★★
2016	94.8	5 of 489	99.0%	★★★★★
2015	98.1	2 of 504	99.6%	★★★★★
2014	93.6	9 of 483	98.1%	★★★★★
2013	93.6	3 of 534	99.4%	★★★★★
2012	90.3	3 of 539	99.4%	★★★★★
2011	80.7	54 of 545	90.1%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	90.5	8 of 78	89.7%	★★★★★
2023	93.5	9 of 71	87.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	97.3	3 of 358	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	96.2	5 of 403	98.8%	★★★★★
2023	99.2	1 of 396	99.7%	★★★★★
2022	98.0	1 of 388	99.7%	★★★★★
2021	98.6	2 of 339	99.4%	★★★★★
2019	93.3	8 of 401	98.0%	★★★★★
2018	92.5	7 of 395	98.2%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	97.8	6 of 333	98.2%	★★★★★
2024	95.2	7 of 389	98.2%	★★★★★
2023	98.8	2 of 393	99.5%	★★★★★
2019	86.1	25 of 370	93.2%	★★★★★
2018	95.6	5 of 374	98.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	99.0	3 of 377	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	96.5	6 of 405	98.5%	★★★★★
2023	98.8	2 of 398	99.5%	★★★★★
2022	96.7	5 of 403	98.8%	★★★★★
2021	99.7	1 of 351	99.7%	★★★★★
2019	98.7	1 of 411	99.8%	★★★★★
2018	97.2	4 of 398	99.0%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	99.4	3 of 376	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	98.6	4 of 402	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	99.5	1 of 398	99.7%	★★★★★
2022	99.5	1 of 401	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	99.4	1 of 364	99.7%	★★★★★
2019	98.2	2 of 412	99.5%	★★★★★
2018	97.2	3 of 414	99.3%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

Male (2025)99th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)99th percentile~ school

White (2025)99th percentile~ school

Female (2025)97th percentile~ school

Asian (2025)75th percentile-23 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)69th percentile-29 vs school

High school

Male (2025)99th percentile~ school

White (2025)99th percentile~ school

Female (2025)99th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)98th percentile~ school

Asian (2024)90th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2024-2025) ?

Reading80%+30 vs state

Math72%+27 vs state

3.0

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★1

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, August 5, 2021

We spent 10 years there. Best school for the right child. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, September 2, 2016

We've been at Nova several years. The test scores are great because: 1.) Getting good test scores drives decisions about curriculum and teaching, and 2.) Kids who aren't good test takers tend Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, April 19, 2016

After seven years we removing our children from NOVA. The school's new administration and school board have abandoned the school's original charter as a classical school. Before sending your children to NOVA please ask for a tour and ask the administration and faculty questions. Lots of questions. Ask why in this year alone (2016) why 111 students or 12.4% of the students decided to leave NOVA as compared to 21 or 2.5% students who left NOVA in 2013. As of Feb 17th, 2016, there are another 18 requests for transcripts indicating parents preparing to move their children for next year. Ask why the parents of 28 students entering NOVA's middle school this year (after sending their children to NOVA for seven years (K-6)) decided to leave NOVA. Ask why 40% of NOVA's students entering NOVA's high school this year left for another high school. Ask why there are 165 fewer applications this year when the number of applicants has always increased year-after-year from the inception of the school. Ask if the school has or will adopt the Saint Paul School District's gender inclusion program allowing boys to share bathrooms with girls. Ask if teachers will read the book My Princess Boy, Jacob's New Dress or any other book about boys wanting to be girls to children in Kindergarten through fifth grade.
Ask if the school will notify parents if teachers will be presenting gender confusing books to students and if the lower school principal will again send an email providing less than one business day before presenting the materials. Ask if they will again not provide opt-out instructions to parents and if they will include language in their notification indicating NOVA is required by law when the law does not require children in K-5 to be presented with gender confusing materials. Close Quote

Schools Near Nova Classical Academy Upper School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCA-III Math (2025)					MCA-III Reading (2025)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	Total
Nova Classical Academy Upper School	Public, Charter	6-12	1455 Victoria Way	Saint Paul	55102	Ramsey County	Nova Classical Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 209-6320	556	37	15.2	20.9%	302 (54.3%)	71 (12.8%)	51 (9.2%)	80 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (9.4%)	99	2^nd of 450 public high schools	99.6%		97.9	2^nd of 480 public high schools	99.6%		70.9	77.4	61.5	78.4	72.1	82.6	77.4	74.4	83.8	79.5	$11,334
Focus Beyond	Public	9-12	340 Colborne St	Saint Paul	55102	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 293-5997	212	24	8.7	78.3%	46 (21.7%)	71 (33.5%)	36 (17.0%)	46 (21.7%)	4 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.2%)								(n/a)											$31,474
Highland Park Senior High	Public	9-12	1015 Snelling Ave S	Saint Paul	55116	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 293-8940	1,392	57	24.5	41.0%	519 (37.3%)	302 (21.7%)	305 (21.9%)	147 (10.6%)	9 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	109 (7.8%)	68.1	148^th of 450 public high schools	67.1%		76.7	98^th of 480 public high schools	79.6%	50				43.0	43.0				51.3	51.3	$15,099
Journeys Secondary School	Public	8-12	90 Western Ave	Saint Paul	55102	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 744-1900	73	14	5.2	80.8%	11 (15.1%)	42 (57.5%)	9 (12.3%)	2 (2.7%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (11.0%)								(n/a)											$43,351
Central Senior High	Public	9-12	275 Lexington Pkwy N	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 744-4900	1,682	64	26.2	39.8%	784 (46.6%)	405 (24.1%)	125 (7.4%)	178 (10.6%)	11 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	179 (10.6%)	66.2	160^th of 450 public high schools	64.4%		69.8	139^th of 480 public high schools	71.0%	21				29.4	29.4				59.0	59.0	$14,683
Aspen House Education Program	Public	5-12	2031 Victoria Rd S	Mendota Heights	55118	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 447-4090	6	0			3 (50.0%)	2 (33.3%)	1 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Two Rivers High School	Public	9-12	1897 Delaware Ave	Mendota Heights	55118	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	No	No	No	(651) 403-7101	1,710	86	19.8	47.6%	735 (43.0%)	223 (13.0%)	568 (33.2%)	46 (2.7%)	19 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	118 (6.9%)	72.7	121^st of 450 public high schools	73.1%		69.4	143^rd of 480 public high schools	70.2%	22				37.8	37.8				57.1	57.1	$13,753
W St. Paul Area Learning Cntr.	Public	9-12	1897 Delaware Ave	Mendota Heights	55118	Dakota County	West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan	No	No	No	No	(651) 403-7101	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)											$4,398
High School For Recording Arts	Public, Charter	9-12	1166 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	High School For Recording Arts	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 287-0890	181	11	16.3	91.7%	6 (3.3%)	132 (72.9%)	18 (9.9%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (12.7%)	16.3	389^th of 450 public high schools	13.6%		4.8	468^th of 480 public high schools	2.5%	79				8.3	8.3				29.4	29.4	$21,455
Open World Learning Secondary	Public, Magnet	6-12	640 Humboldt Avenue	Saint Paul	55107	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(651) 293-8670	504	24	20.6	30.0%	297 (58.9%)	38 (7.5%)	60 (11.9%)	40 (7.9%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (12.9%)	77.7	92^nd of 450 public high schools	79.6%		86.7	40^th of 480 public high schools	91.7%	52	38.8	55.4	53.1	35.9	45.8	63.4	62.9	70.8	65.7	65.6	$5,237

Frequently Asked Questions about Nova Classical Academy Upper School

Is Nova Classical Academy Upper School a good school?

Yes! Nova Classical Academy Upper School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 2^nd of 450 Minnesota high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Nova Classical Academy Upper School?

Students at Nova Classical Academy Upper School are 54% White, 14% Asian, 13% African American, 9% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic.

How many students attend Nova Classical Academy Upper School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 556 students attended Nova Classical Academy Upper School.

What district is Nova Classical Academy Upper School in?

Nova Classical Academy

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.