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HGA Junior High

Q: Is HGA Junior High a good school?

HGA Junior High ranks 335 th of 546 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 6-7

335^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 546 Minnesota Middle Schools

Better than 39% of Minnesota middle schools

Summary

HGA Junior High is a grades 6–7 middle school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving 196 students as part of the Higher Ground Academy district. In 2025–2026 it ranked 335th of 546 Minnesota schools — the 39th percentile, with 2 stars — and its district ranked 314th of 458. The school serves a very high-poverty population: 93.88% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch in 2024–2025, the highest rate among nearby schools. Recent rankings are stable to slightly improving, moving from the 35th percentile in 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 to 39th in 2025–2026.

Academically, 40.8% of students were proficient in Reading and 25.7% in Math in 2025–2026. Reading is a relative strength — above the district's 36.7% and only 7.8 points below the state's 48.6% — while Math trails both. For context, Hmong College Prep Academy Middle School posted 19.2% Reading and 12.6% Math, St. Paul City Middle School 10.6% and 5.7%, and The Journey School Middle 0% in both — all with lower or similar poverty rates. Sixth grade is much stronger than seventh: 32.9% vs 19.8% in Math, and 47.5% vs 35.4% in Reading. Math has improved from 17.61% two years ago, while Reading slipped from 46.24%.

The school's clearest evidence of effectiveness is in its subgroup results: English Language Learner students rank in the 91st percentile statewide (5 stars), and low-income students in the 69th percentile (3 stars). Meanwhile, lower-poverty neighbors such as Laura Jeffrey Academy Charter, Avalon Middle School, and Hidden River Middle School post higher test scores. Two caveats matter: reported student-teacher ratios (73.1 and 174.5) are extreme outliers that likely reflect reporting issues, and the 6–7 grade span limits direct comparison with 6–8 schools.

196

Students ?

73.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

93.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

1381 Marshall Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55104-8888

(651) 645-1000

District: Higher Ground Academy

Racial breakdown:

African American:

92.3%

White:

6.6%

Asian:

1.0%

See top rated Minnesota middle schools

Compare HGA Junior High to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 35th percentile in 2024 → 39th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (33% vs 47% meeting standards)

!Math scores 19 pts below the Minnesota average

!Large classes — about 73 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school33%

District avg37%

Minnesota avg47%

335^th of 546

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 4 pts since 2024

From bottom 35% (2024) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

314^th of 458Higher Ground 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	39.9	335 of 546	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.7	336 of 519	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.4	354 of 545	35.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	76.3	26 of 185	85.9%	★★★★☆
2025	72.8	33 of 169	80.5%	★★★★☆
2024	67.8	42 of 179	76.5%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	71.4	16 of 170	90.6%	★★★★★
2025	68.2	16 of 153	89.5%	★★★★★
2024	80.7	13 of 158	91.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	37.1	306 of 467	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.4	335 of 450	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.6	318 of 474	32.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	61.5	143 of 458	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.8	144 of 432	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.7	180 of 473	61.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	37.7	320 of 483	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.8	275 of 452	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.2	350 of 479	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)91st percentile+52 vs school

African American (2026)86th percentile+47 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)69th percentile+30 vs school

Female (2026)34th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2026)34th percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading41%-8 vs state

Math26%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near HGA Junior High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)					MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)					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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 5th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
HGA Junior High	Public, Charter	6-7	1381 Marshall Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Higher Ground Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 645-1000	196	3	73.1	93.9%	13 (6.6%)	181 (92.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39.9	335^th of 546 public middle schools	38.6%		37.7	336^th of 519 public middle schools	35.3%	1		47.5	35.4		40.8					32.9	19.8		25.7
Laura Jeffrey Academy Charter	Public, Charter	5-8	1550 Summit Ave	Saint Paul	55105	Ramsey County	Laura Jeffrey Academy Charter	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 414-6000	117	17	6.9	15.4%	72 (61.5%)	7 (6.0%)	16 (13.7%)	8 (6.8%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (11.1%)	75	97^th of 546 public middle schools	82.2%		73.8	115^th of 519 public middle schools	77.8%	18	58.3	77.1	57.1	60.0	64.8	33.3	25.0	27.5	18.2	35.3	32.1	46.2	35.4	$22,768
Hidden River Middle School	Public	6-8	1700 Summit Ave	Saint Paul	55105	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 293-8860	640	29	21.9	48.1%	262 (40.9%)	182 (28.4%)	57 (8.9%)	45 (7.0%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	90 (14.1%)	50.9	263^rd of 546 public middle schools	51.8%		51.7	241^st of 519 public middle schools	53.6%	22		46.8	44.4	42.2	44.5		11.0	11.0		37.1	38.9	26.3	34.7	$14,187
Delta Academy Middle	Public, Charter	6	1330 Blair Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Delta Academy of Technology & Innov	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(651) 362-8898	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
The Journey School Middle	Public, Charter	7-8	775 Lexington Parkway N	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	The Journey School	Yes	No	No	No	(612) 389-1579	12	1	12.0	83.3%	0 (0.0%)	9 (75.0%)	1 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (16.7%)								(n/a)			0.0		0.0						0.0		0.0
Barack and Michelle Obama Middle	Public	6-8	707 Holly Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(651) 767-8324	0			—															(n/a)		28.3			28.3					11.0			11.0
Hmong College Prep Academy Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	1515 Brewster St	Saint Paul	55108	Ramsey County	Hmong College Prep Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 209-8002	724	41	17.8	81.2%	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	7 (1.0%)	703 (97.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.5%)	12.6	487^th of 546 public middle schools	10.8%		8.9	488^th of 519 public middle schools	6.0%	1		16.6	18.7	22.0	19.2		6.4	6.4		8.1	11.1	17.7	12.6	$11,720
Global Arts Plus Upper	Public, Magnet	5-8	810 Palace Ave	Saint Paul	55102	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 293-8690	437	25	17.5	66.1%	119 (27.2%)	126 (28.8%)	91 (20.8%)	60 (13.7%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	38 (8.7%)	14.3	476^th of 546 public middle schools	12.8%		19.8	433^rd of 519 public middle schools	16.6%	43	31.6	11.4	28.0	23.2	23.4	16.0	6.0	11.3	32.9	7.8	18.0	10.1	16.8	$17,217
Avalon Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	700 Glendale Street	Saint Paul	55114	Ramsey County	Avalon School	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 649-5795	75	7	10.1	29.3%	43 (57.3%)	7 (9.3%)	11 (14.7%)	2 (2.7%)	2 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (13.3%)	64.9	165^th of 546 public middle schools	69.8%		50.3	255^th of 519 public middle schools	50.9%	90		47.1	50.0	50.0	49.3		27.3	27.3		29.4	43.5	37.5	37.5	$9,584
St. Paul Northern Lights Secondary	Public, Charter	7-8	768 Hamline Ave S	Saint Paul	55116	Ramsey County	St. Paul School of Northern Lights	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 285-4672	15	2	8.1	20.0%	11 (73.3%)	1 (6.7%)	1 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (13.3%)								(n/a)			42.1		40.7						26.3		29.6

Frequently Asked Questions about HGA Junior High

What is the racial makeup of HGA Junior High?

Students at HGA Junior High are 92% African American, 7% White, 1% Asian.

How many students attend HGA Junior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 196 students attended HGA Junior High.

Is HGA Junior High a good school?

HGA Junior High ranks 335^th of 546 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is HGA Junior High in?

Higher Ground Academy

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2019–20 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

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.