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High School For Recording Arts

Public, Charter Grades 9-12

455^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 473 Minnesota High Schools

Better than 4% of Minnesota high schools

Summary

High School For Recording Arts is a public high school in Saint Paul, MN, serving grades 9–12 with 181 students and operating as its own district. It ranks 445 of 458 statewide (3rd percentile, 0 stars), and in 2025–2026 it ranked 455 of 473 (4th percentile). Its best recent year was 2024–2025, when it reached 389 of 450 (14th percentile, 1 star). Nearby, Great River School ranks 106 of 458 (77th percentile, 4 stars) and Central Senior High ranked 60 of 473 in 2025–2026 (87th percentile, 4 stars), while Career Pathways is also low-ranked at 437 of 458 (5th percentile, 0 stars).

Graduation and dropout are severe gaps. In 2024–2025, the graduation rate was 34.2%, compared with 84.9% statewide, and the dropout rate was 8.5%, compared with 4.2% statewide. Among nearby schools, Gordon Parks High School was similarly low on graduation at 32.3% (though its dropout rate was 3.9%), Career Pathways graduated 51.7%, Minnesota Connections Academy 7-12 76.5%, Central Senior High 89.9%, Great River School 92.3%, and New Century School Secondary 100.0%. Test proficiency is also very low: in 2025–2026 the school reported 0% proficient in math (vs. 44.9% statewide) and 9.1% in reading (vs. 48.6% statewide); science was suppressed by the state and is unknown. In 2024–2025, math was 8.33% and reading 29.41%, the school’s relative bright spot, but 2025–2026 regressed.

Context matters: 91.71% of students qualified for free/reduced lunch in 2024–2025, up from 86.45% the prior year, and the student–teacher ratio improved to 16.3 from the 23+ range. Even so, nearby New Century School Secondary has a higher free/reduced-lunch rate (95.77%) and reports a 100% graduation rate, though its test scores are also low; Central Senior High and Great River School serve lower-poverty populations and have much stronger outcomes. Subgroup rankings are near the bottom statewide for female, male, low-income, and special education students, with no subgroup appearing as a relative strength. Overall, this is a small, high-poverty, standalone-district high school with bottom-tier rankings, very low graduation and test proficiency, and elevated dropout; the improved staffing ratio is a potential positive, but 2025–2026 results do not yet show it producing better outcomes.

181

Students ?

16.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,455

Per pupil spending ?

91.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1166 University Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55104-8888

(651) 287-0890

District: High School For Recording Arts

Racial breakdown:

African American:

72.9%

Two or more races:

12.7%

Hispanic:

9.9%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 4th percentile in 2015 → 4th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (2% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (4th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Minnesota average (34% vs 85%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school2%

District avg2%

Minnesota avg43%

455^th of 473

Minnesota public high schools ?

Bottom 4%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 8% (2016) to bottom 4% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

445^th of 458High School For Recording Arts 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	6.0	455 of 473	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.3	389 of 450	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	4.8	468 of 480	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.9	463 of 476	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.2	442 of 472	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	5.5	467 of 492	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.8	481 of 494	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	4.5	463 of 489	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	5.3	449 of 489	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	4.0	483 of 504	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	4.5	459 of 483	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	6.4	471 of 534	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	5.3	495 of 539	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	3.5	531 of 545	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	6.6	479 of 540	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	16.2	383 of 460	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	8.4	423 of 463	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	5.3	445 of 450	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	3.5	433 of 452	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	17.3	368 of 433	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	9.4	106 of 109	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.8	91 of 98	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.8	100 of 102	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.9	99 of 103	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	9.2	103 of 106	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	3.3	398 of 403	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.5	387 of 396	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.6	377 of 388	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.5	393 of 401	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.6	390 of 395	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	14.5	305 of 333	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.5	384 of 389	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.9	379 of 393	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.1	298 of 312	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.7	346 of 370	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.5	364 of 374	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	11.0	354 of 377	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.5	397 of 405	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.0	388 of 403	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	5.7	383 of 411	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.3	389 of 398	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2018	8.0	193 of 195	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)8th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2025)6th percentile-7 vs school

African American (2024)3rd percentile~ school

Female (2024)1st percentile~ school

Special Education (2018)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading9%-39 vs state

Math0%-45 vs state

★

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Schools Near High School For Recording Arts

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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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 10th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science End of Course	MCA-IV Science All Grades	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	Total
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%)	6	455^th of 473 public high schools	3.8%		16.3	389^th of 450 public high schools	13.6%	66				9.1	9.1							0.0	0.0	$21,455
HSRA Online	Public, Charter	9-12	1166 University Ave W	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	High School For Recording Arts	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(651) 287-0890	0																		(n/a)
Gordon Parks High School	Public	7-12	1212 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 744-1212	217	14	15.0	77.4%	9 (4.1%)	110 (50.7%)	32 (14.7%)	49 (22.6%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.9%)								(n/a)														$22,796
Alternative Learning Center Evening High School	Public	9-12	1212 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 744-1210	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)														$17,816
Alternative Learning Center Online School	Public	9-12	1212 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 744-1330	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
A. G. A. P. E. Teen Parent	Public	5-12	1037 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 744-7970	26	6	4.6	88.5%	1 (3.8%)	13 (50.0%)	7 (26.9%)	2 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (11.5%)								(n/a)														$26,767
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%)	82.6	60^th of 473 public high schools	87.3%		66.2	160^th of 450 public high schools	64.4%	100				55.4	55.4		43.2	43.2				46.2	46.2	$14,683
Career Pathways	Public, Charter	6-12	1355 Pierce Butler Rt	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Career Pathways	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 400-1781	121	11	11.2	87.6%	7 (5.8%)	79 (65.3%)	15 (12.4%)	6 (5.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (10.7%)	7.7	441^st of 473 public high schools	6.8%					(n/a)				16.7	14.3		7.1	4.8				0.0	3.7	$15,364
Minnesota Connections Academy 7-12	Public, Virtual, Charter	7-12	1350 Energy Lane Suite 230	Saint Paul	55108	Ramsey County	Minnesota Transitions Charter School	Yes	No	Yes	No	(800) 382-6010	3,536	86	41.1	63.3%	2,425 (68.6%)	347 (9.8%)	318 (9.0%)	66 (1.9%)	89 (2.5%)	8 (0.2%)	283 (8.0%)	19	397^th of 473 public high schools	16.1%		26.5	353^rd of 450 public high schools	21.6%	44		24.8	38.4	27.8	30.4	8.2	15.9	13.0		6.7	10.4	7.0	8.0	$9,782
Great River School	Public, Charter	7-12	1326 Energy Park Dr	Saint Paul	55108	Ramsey County	Great River School	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 305-2780	411	35	11.7	19.2%	313 (76.2%)	25 (6.1%)	32 (7.8%)	13 (3.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (6.3%)	80.2	75^th of 473 public high schools	84.1%		84.2	61^st of 450 public high schools	86.4%	14		60.6	62.9	63.6	62.2	22.1	26.1	23.1		35.2	38.6	44.8	39.2	$19,563

Frequently Asked Questions about High School For Recording Arts

What district is High School For Recording Arts in?

High School For Recording Arts

What is the racial makeup of High School For Recording Arts?

Students at High School For Recording Arts are 73% African American, 13% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 3% White.

How many students attend High School For Recording Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 181 students attended High School For Recording Arts.

Is High School For Recording Arts a good school?

High School For Recording Arts ranks in the bottom 3.8% of Minnesota high schools.

Rate High School For Recording Arts!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

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

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 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.