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Twin Cities International Schools

Public, Charter Grades K-5

736^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Twin Cities International Schools is a K–5 charter elementary school at 277 12th Ave N in north Minneapolis, serving 595 students as its own single-school district. It is the largest elementary in its immediate neighborhood cluster — about 20% bigger than the next largest peer, Best Academy (508 students), and nearly three times the size of Bethune Elementary (213) or Hall Academy Elementary (234).

By state rankings, the school placed 736th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools in 2025–26 — the 15th percentile, or 1 star — and has stayed between the 12th and 24th percentile across seven reported years. In 2025–26, 31.1% of students met standards in math, 25.5% in reading, and 11.2% in science, against state averages of 44.9%, 48.6%, and 25.5%. Nearly every student is economically disadvantaged: free/reduced-price lunch has run 98.5%–99.5% for three straight years, the highest rate in the comparison group. Nearby schools put that in context: SET Academy Elementary, 0.43 miles away, outperforms TCIS in math (52.8%) and reading (34.3%), while Hall Academy Elementary (9.3% math) and Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary (3.6% math) trail far behind — TCIS sits closer to the top of this local group than the bottom.

The most encouraging pattern is in subgroup results: the school's African American students ranked in the 52nd percentile (3 stars) and its English Language Learners in the 54th percentile (3 stars) in 2025–26, both at or above the state median even though the school overall is 1 star. Special education is the clear weak point, dropping to the 11th percentile in 2025–26 and 5th percentile in 2024–25. Other priorities include 5th-grade math, where proficiency falls to 12.1% after 42.1% in 3rd grade and 38.9% in 4th; science, the weakest and most volatile subject; and reading, which shows the largest gap to the state.

595

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,272

Per pupil spending ?

74.8%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2024-25)

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

50%

Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (MMR)

277 12th Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55401-8888

(612) 821-6470

District: Twin Cities International Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

99.8%

Hispanic:

0.2%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 24th percentile in 2019 → 15th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (26% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2019

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school26%

District avg25%

Minnesota avg43%

736^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 8 pts since 2019

From bottom 24% (2019) to bottom 15% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

389^th of 458Twin Cities International Schools 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	17.2	736 of 869	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.8	702 of 872	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.9	757 of 881	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.4	732 of 845	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	708 of 858	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.3	764 of 869	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.7	665 of 870	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	48.7	152 of 315	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.2	125 of 298	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.5	162 of 310	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.1	143 of 279	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.4	104 of 282	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.2	120 of 227	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	74.8	51 of 283	82.0%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	47.7	141 of 305	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.0	95 of 303	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.2	157 of 303	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.4	167 of 276	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	63.8	53 of 256	79.3%	★★★★☆
2021	39.8	102 of 175	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	73.7	28 of 239	88.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	16.2	681 of 790	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.3	660 of 799	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.2	700 of 809	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.9	703 of 787	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.3	701 of 799	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	6.3	733 of 783	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	35.2	580 of 787	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	35.7	541 of 764	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.6	479 of 764	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.5	595 of 793	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.7	609 of 774	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	46.6	363 of 663	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.7	521 of 683	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	58.6	304 of 740	58.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	18.5	686 of 807	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.0	659 of 812	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.7	703 of 826	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.5	679 of 799	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.6	637 of 808	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.3	674 of 784	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.1	640 of 798	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	18.7	518 of 579	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.9	534 of 562	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	38.8	337 of 524	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)54th percentile+38 vs school

African American (2026)52nd percentile+36 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)29th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)15th percentile~ school

Female (2026)14th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)11th percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math31%-14 vs state

Reading26%-23 vs state

Science11%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Twin Cities International Schools

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)							MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)							Vaccination (2025-26)		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 3rd Grade	MCA-IV Reading 4th Grade	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 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Twin Cities International Schools	Public, Charter	K-5	277 12th Ave N	Minneapolis	55401	Hennepin County	Twin Cities International Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(612) 821-6470	595	39	15.1	—	0 (0.0%)	594 (99.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17.2	736^th of 869 public elementary schools	15.3%		21.8	702^nd of 872 public elementary schools	19.5%	34	23.4	28.0	25.2				25.5	11.2		11.2	42.1	38.9	12.1				31.1	50%	0%	$7,272
SET Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	620 Olson Memorial Hwy	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Metro Schools Charter	Yes	No	No	No	(612) 722-2555	463	17	27.2	96.5%	0 (0.0%)	452 (97.6%)	9 (1.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41.9	546^th of 869 public elementary schools	37.2%		55.9	416^th of 872 public elementary schools	52.3%	130	45.1	34.8	24.6				34.3	0.0		0.0	57.4	50.8	51.5				52.8	33.7%	0%
Online SET Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter	K-5	620 Olson Memorial Hwy	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Metro Schools Charter	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(612) 722-2555	114	0		89.5%	0 (0.0%)	114 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Hall Academy Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1601 Aldrich Ave N	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(612) 668-2650	234	26	8.9	94.0%	10 (4.3%)	124 (53.0%)	41 (17.5%)	24 (10.3%)	7 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (12.0%)	5.7	830^th of 869 public elementary schools	4.5%		7	820^th of 872 public elementary schools	6.0%	10	6.9	12.5	20.0				12.8	12.0		12.0	6.9	9.4	12.0				9.3	72.3%	2.1%	$22,236
Bethune Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	919 Emerson Ave N	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(612) 668-2550	213	28	7.7	88.3%	15 (7.0%)	156 (73.2%)	23 (10.8%)	7 (3.3%)	5 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.3%)	2.9	861^st of 869 public elementary schools	0.9%		2.7	863^rd of 872 public elementary schools	1.0%	2	8.8	11.4	8.2				9.3	2.1		2.1	14.7	5.9	0.0				6.0	66%	3.8%	$19,747
Wakanda Virtual Academy Lower	Public, Virtual, Charter	K-8	1300 Olson Memorial Hwy	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Harvest Best Academy	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(612) 876-4105	282	9	31.3	87.6%	0 (0.0%)	278 (98.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	11.4	784^th of 869 public elementary schools	9.8%		22.1	698^th of 872 public elementary schools	20.0%	86	16.0	24.0	21.2	38.8	31.3	43.8	30.6	6.3	0.0	3.2	12.5	16.7	3.1	12.8	9.7	6.3	10.0	6.5%	0%
Best Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	1300 Olson Memorial Hwy	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Harvest Best Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(612) 381-9743	508	33	15.3	92.5%	0 (0.0%)	474 (93.3%)	12 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.1%)	6.9	820^th of 869 public elementary schools	5.6%		9.3	797^th of 872 public elementary schools	8.6%	23	14.3	21.4	20.5	30.0	13.8	32.4	22.0	7.5	0.0	3.9	10.2	9.5	7.5	7.5	10.0	11.1	9.3	41.9%	0%	$18,702
Mastery School	Public, Charter	K-5	1301 7th Ave N	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Harvest Best Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(612) 876-4105	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
MPS Online K-5	Public, Virtual	K-5	1250 W Broadway Ave	Minneapolis	55411	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(612) 668-1450	67	13	5.1	86.6%	8 (11.9%)	30 (44.8%)	8 (11.9%)	5 (7.5%)	8 (11.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (11.9%)								(n/a)							21.4										0.0
Las Estrellas Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1201 University Ave NE	Minneapolis	55413	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(612) 668-1130	401	42	9.5	78.6%	60 (15.0%)	22 (5.5%)	305 (76.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.7%)	8.7	806^th of 869 public elementary schools	7.2%		5.3	835^th of 872 public elementary schools	4.2%	29	16.3	14.3	26.7				18.9	13.6		13.6	20.0	14.6	13.3				16.1			$22,850

Frequently Asked Questions about Twin Cities International Schools

Is Twin Cities International Schools a good school?

Twin Cities International Schools ranks in the bottom 15.3% of Minnesota elementary schools.

What district is Twin Cities International Schools in?

Twin Cities International Schools

What is the racial makeup of Twin Cities International Schools?

Students at Twin Cities International Schools are 100% African American.

How many students attend Twin Cities International Schools?

In the 2024-25 school year, 595 students attended Twin Cities International Schools.

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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.