- Enrollment
- 525
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Saint Paul, MN
Higher Ground Secondary Academy
Federal NCES profile for Higher Ground Secondary Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 270014004749Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Higher Ground Secondary Academy earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Minnesota schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #81 of 86
- schools in Saint Paul · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.1:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 93.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Higher Ground Secondary Academy has class sizes larger than 83% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Higher Ground Secondary Academy ranks #81 of 86 schools in Saint Paul, MN.
School address
District: Higher Ground Academy · Minnesota
NCES ID 270014004749 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-78 students YoY
Higher Ground Secondary Academy shrank from 479 students in 2022-23 to 401 in 2023-24 (-16.3%).
Teacher FTE added 22.9 → 24.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-78 students YoY 270014004749 · Saint Paul, MN Other · SMALL · CHARTER
442 enr · 20.1:1 · 93.3% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Higher Ground Academy (525 students)
Higher Ground Secondary Academy shrank from 479 students in 2022-23 to 401 in 2023-24 (-16.3%). Teacher FTE added 22.9 → 24.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
How Higher Ground Secondary Academy compares
Higher Ground Secondary Academy is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.1:1 | ▲ 27% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 93.3% | ▲ 118% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 442 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
442
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
93.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 118% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 83% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
23.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,282
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 442 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
64
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 95.0%
White 3.6%
Asian 1.1%
Hispanic or Latino 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 95.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 9.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 9.6, Higher Ground Secondary Academy is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Higher Ground Academy reports $14,282 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Higher Ground Secondary Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Ground Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Higher Ground Secondary Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~442 students)
Frequently asked questions about Higher Ground Secondary Academy
How many students attend Higher Ground Secondary Academy?
Higher Ground Secondary Academy has 442 students enrolled. It is a public school in Saint Paul, MN. CCD year-over-year: 479 (2022-23) → 401 (2023-24), down 78.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Higher Ground Secondary Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Higher Ground Secondary Academy is 20.1:1, which is 27% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 28% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Higher Ground Secondary Academy?
93.3% of students at Higher Ground Secondary Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Higher Ground Secondary Academy?
The largest demographic group at Higher Ground Secondary Academy is African American at 95.0% of enrollment, in Saint Paul, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Higher Ground Secondary Academy?
Higher Ground Secondary Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Higher Ground Secondary Academy rank among schools in Saint Paul?
By Resource Investment Index, Higher Ground Secondary Academy ranks #81 of 86 schools in Saint Paul, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Saint Paul on the city page.
What other schools are in Higher Ground Academy?
Besides Higher Ground Secondary Academy, Higher Ground Academy also operates Higher Ground Academy (525 students). See the Higher Ground Academy district page for the complete list.