Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Public, Charter K-5

 1455 Victoria Way
       Saint Paul, MN  55102-8888


(651) 209-6320

District: Nova Classical Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
35th of 843 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,508 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  15.8 Help
Number of students:  483

Racial breakdown:

White:
60.5%
African American:
13.3%
Asian:
12.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  22.4% Help


 See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

 Compare Nova Classical Academy Lower School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Nova Classical Academy Lower School ranks better than 95.8% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 90.48. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Nova Classical Academy Lower School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (60.5%), African American (13.3%), Asian (12.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 22.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Nova Classical Academy Lower School is 15.8. (See more...)
Help
Compare Nova Classical Academy Lower School employs 30.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Nova Classical Academy Lower School is $11,508.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Nova Classical Academy Lower School:

SchoolDigger ranks Nova Classical Academy Lower School 35th of 843 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Nova Classical Academy Lower School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
White students:


Nova Classical Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Nova Classical Academy 3rd of 448 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Nova Classical Academy Lower School?

Rank History for Nova Classical Academy Lower School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 86.34 28th 676 95.9%
2005 90.83 3rd 685 99.6%
2006 89.76 9th 756 98.8%
2007 87.77 19th 777 97.6%
2008 88.50 13th 781 98.3%
2010 80.20 69th 803 91.4%
2011 77.91 115th 814 85.9%
2012 75.23 152nd 820 81.5%
2013 83.58 64th 824 92.2%
2014 82.11 81st 826 90.2%
2015 83.28 78th 840 90.7%
2016 87.49 38th 848 95.5%
2017 85.76 52nd 853 93.9%
2018 81.57 106th 847 87.5%
2019 91.13 20th 870 97.7%
2021 86.58 70th 869 91.9%
2022 91.53 20th 858 97.7%
2023 90.48 35th 845 95.9%
See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 97.24 2nd 500 99.6%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 69.02 192nd 728 73.6%
2019 89.86 21st 740 97.2%
2023 66.39 232nd 774 70.0%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 83.94 75th 774 90.3%
2019 88.35 23rd 787 97.1%
2021 86.62 48th 783 93.9%
2022 90.65 17th 799 97.9%
2023 90.13 28th 787 96.4%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.21 196th 779 74.8%
2019 90.23 19th 798 97.6%
2021 82.24 92nd 784 88.3%
2022 88.28 39th 808 95.2%
2023 86.57 54th 799 93.2%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 72.52 39th 131 70.2%
2023 51.72 61st 128 52.3%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for White students at Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 75.90 118th 712 83.4%
2019 88.08 21st 722 97.1%
2021 87.40 35th 710 95.1%
2022 93.09 9th 725 98.8%
2023 91.25 16th 712 97.8%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Nova Classical Academy Lower School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2.9)
42%

8%

0%

0%

50%

  

by a student
Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Open Quote I was there for one year. I had teachers who threw pens, pencils, and even highlighters at students, mocked and humiliated them, and expressed to the point of outright stating they had favorites, and who those favorites were. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, April 17, 2016

Open Quote As a parent of several NOVA students for over 10 years, I caution parents considering sending their children to NOVA. We are leaving NOVA at the conclusion of this academic year. A large problem is that NOVA built a new school facility. Because of increased operating costs NOVA was forced to increase the number of students entering NOVA & to accept lateral transfers in the upper school. High performing classical schools do not accept lateral transfers in upper grades due to the difficulty in getting those students to do well in classes such as Latin. There is a small but growing group of liberal parents among these newer families who seek out NOVA only because of our high test scores. These parents are not interested in classical education but are well versed in catch phrases, wearing buttons and t-shirts instead of logically discussing issues. The high test scores are the direct result of parent involvement & the parents being the primary educators. NOVA was built on direct parental involvement. The board of directors this year just removed direct parent involvement in selecting curriculum materials and placed this power in the hands of a few board members who are social justice warriors. Several families that were at NOVA from the start have now left or preparing to leave at great emotional and financial cost. NOVA has replaced their original reading program for a less rigorous one, removed Singapore Math from the upper school, and removed the instruction of logic from the school of logic (6-8 grade). Logical? No, but necessary as NOVA moves further and further away from classical education. The dumbing down of NOVA has begun and a true classical education is being replaced by social justice. The most vocal parents have enlisted the help of outside community organizations who advocate for gender neutral bathrooms allowing boys and girls to share bathrooms and locker rooms starting in kindergarten through 12th grade. Like most ordinary public schools, the values of parents take a back seat to organized movements advocating social change by targeting our youth. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Open Quote We have been a part of the community at Nova for many years now and have been pleased with the experience. A true model of the Classical teaching method, Nova has not only imparted academic subject matter but also a love of learning and greater sense of the world,its history, and our responsibility to its citizenry. We are grateful for our time here thus far and look forward to experiencing all the greatness that is yet to come, for ourselves and the Nova learning community. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Open Quote This was a GREAT school, with a leaning toward classical education. Many dedicated exceptional teachers. Parent lead, and a community that compromised. In the previous 3 years the compromising has ceased, and a new administration and board have removed parent participation, chosen a less quality curriculum to make it easier on staff , and have embraced an agenda that will seriously damage performance and quality of a recently stellar public school. Very sad to see such a good school go down. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Open Quote I couldn't be happier at Nova! Caring teachers who attend to the learning needs of my special needs child. Love it!! Close Quote


by a teacher
Saturday, December 3, 2011

Open Quote The negative reviews of Nova below are exaggerated and, at times, factually inacurate. Nova educates EACH child according to his/her abiltiies. I hope that as parents read such reviews, they consider that there are multiple sides to each and every story, and that doing one's research is paramount to selecting a good school and working in a partnership between any school and family. Close Quote


by a parent
Saturday, April 23, 2011

Open Quote Our child was failing for almost a year. NOVA kept assuring us everything would be fine. A law known as Child Find states that schools have an obligation to take appropriate assessment steps when a child is suspected of having a disability. NOVA did not take these steps. NOVA finally agreed to evaluate our son, and stated that he did not have a disability. We were also informed that he would be held back the following year. We enrolled him in another school and found out that he has ADHD, Dyslexia and a Speech Language Impairment. Can you imagine propping up your test scores on the backs of disabled children? Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, April 7, 2011

Open Quote NOVA is a one trick pony. They take above average students and produce above average test scores. This is not much of an accomplishment. In contrast, consider a local public school, Somerset Elementary. The percentages of challenging students enrolled at Somerset (English as a Second Language, Special Education, Free and Reduced Lunch) are 200 to 300 percent higher, and Somerset still matches or beats NOVA's MCA scores. Now that's impressive!
If your child is above average, he/she will probably be okay at NOVA. If your child is average or below average; your child will probably struggle, and be ignored until you remove him / her from the school. If you don't remove your child, your child will most likely be held back. You will be told that grade retention is usually a successful intervention. However, this directly contradicts the vast majority of research done over the past century. Finally, the systemic neglect of Special Education students at NOVA is deplorable. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Open Quote Amazing school. A private school education for free! Great teachers, smart curriculum, great organization, character education, and so much more. I'm thankful every day that my child got in to Nova. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Nova Classical Academy Lower School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2004 152 12 11 0 0 n/a n/a 0 175
2005 196 9 13 3 0 n/a n/a 0 221
2006 230 14 19 3 0 n/a n/a 0 266
2007 269 11 25 3 0 n/a n/a 0 308
2008 312 12 28 4 0 n/a n/a 0 356
2009 351 8 32 11 1 n/a n/a 0 403
2010 487 20 54 10 0 n/a n/a 0 571
2011 357 11 26 9 0 0 9 0 412
2012 376 13 14 11 0 0 22 0 436
2013 400 15 19 13 0 0 22 0 469
2014 382 17 30 12 0 1 27 0 469
2015 379 18 36 13 1 0 24 0 471
2016 386 14 29 16 1 0 26 0 472
2017 359 19 35 21 1 0 30 0 465
2018 342 18 46 26 1 0 35 0 468
2019 334 21 51 32 1 0 35 0 474
2020 328 24 52 40 1 0 39 0 484
2021 319 34 60 35 1 0 35 0 484
2022 307 43 61 32 2 0 31 0 476
2023 292 64 62 31 1 1 32 0 483

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Nova Classical Academy Lower School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2004 175 9.8 17.9 13.7
2005 221 12.0 18.4 8.6
2006 266 16.6 16.0 10.9
2007 308 19.1 16.1 13.6
2008 356 23.6 15.1 14.9
2009 403 25.8 15.6 13.9
2010 571 20.8 27.4 12.6
2011 412 21.6 19.0 11.7
2012 436 22.8 19.0 12.2
2013 469 23.5 19.8 12.4
2014 469 26.1 17.9 9.6
2015 471 27.0 17.4 10.2
2016 472 26.0 18.1 10.6
2017 465 28.2 16.4 12.3
2018 468 27.3 17.0 12.4
2019 474 28.0 16.8 11.4
2020 484 27.0 17.8 10.7
2021 484 23.2 20.7 3.7
2022 476 24.0 19.8 8.4
2023 483 30.4 15.8 22.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Nova Classical Academy Lower School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2004 175 9.8 17.9 13.7
2005 221 12.0 18.4 8.6
2006 266 16.6 16.0 10.9
2007 308 19.1 16.1 13.6
2008 356 23.6 15.1 14.9
2009 403 25.8 15.6 13.9
2010 571 20.8 27.4 12.6
2011 412 21.6 19.0 11.7
2012 436 22.8 19.0 12.2
2013 469 23.5 19.8 12.4
2014 469 26.1 17.9 9.6
2015 471 27.0 17.4 10.2
2016 472 26.0 18.1 10.6
2017 465 28.2 16.4 12.3
2018 468 27.3 17.0 12.4
2019 474 28.0 16.8 11.4
2020 484 27.0 17.8 10.7
2021 484 23.2 20.7 3.7
2022 476 24.0 19.8 8.4
2023 483 30.4 15.8 22.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $11,508

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Nova Classical Academy Lower School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 20th of 870 Elementary schoolsRanks 35th of 845 Elementary schools
 1.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Nova Classical Academy Lower School)84.675.3
 9.3%
   3rd Grade Math (Nova Classical Academy)84.675.3
 9.3%
   3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)65.659.1
 6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Nova Classical Academy Lower School)82.163
 19.1%
   3rd Grade Reading (Nova Classical Academy)82.163
 19.1%
   3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)54.647.4
 7.2%
4th Grade Math (Nova Classical Academy Lower School)85.983.5
 2.4%
   4th Grade Math (Nova Classical Academy)85.983.5
 2.4%
   4th Grade Math (Minnesota)63.957.1
 6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Nova Classical Academy Lower School)73.179.8
 6.7%
   4th Grade Reading (Nova Classical Academy)73.179.8
 6.7%
   4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)55.448.4
 7.1%
5th Grade Math (Nova Classical Academy Lower School)78.284.8
 6.6%
   5th Grade Math (Nova Classical Academy)78.284.8
 6.6%
   5th Grade Math (Minnesota)5244.4
 7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Nova Classical Academy Lower School)88.577.2
 11.2%
   5th Grade Reading (Nova Classical Academy)88.577.2
 11.2%
   5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)65.858.7
 7%
5th Grade Science (Nova Classical Academy Lower School)84.673.4
 11.2%
   5th Grade Science (Nova Classical Academy)84.673.4
 11.2%
   5th Grade Science (Minnesota)54.948.4
 6.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students474483
 1.9%
African American2164
 204.8%
American Indian11
Asian5162
 21.6%
Hispanic3231
 3.1%
Pacific Islander01
White334292
 12.6%
Two or More Races3532
 8.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients11.4%22.4%
 11%


Schools Near Nova Classical Academy Lower School









Frequently Asked Questions about Nova Classical Academy Lower School

Students at Nova Classical Academy Lower School are 60% White, 13% African American, 13% Asian, 7% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic.

In the 2022-23 school year, 483 students attended Nova Classical Academy Lower School.

Yes! Nova Classical Academy Lower School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 35th of 843 Minnesota elementary schools.


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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. Attendance Areas provided by ATTOM.

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.





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