Enrollment
157
Minnesota · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Forest Lake, MN
North Lakes Academy Middle School
Federal NCES profile for North Lakes Academy Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 270017703045Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Lakes Academy Middle School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of Minnesota schools.
- #6 of 14
- public schools in Forest Lake · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.1:1
- small classes for Minnesota
- 27.4%
- free-lunch eligible
North Lakes Academy Middle School has class sizes smaller than 70% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Lakes Academy Middle School ranks #6 of 14 public schools in Forest Lake, MN.
School address
District: North Lakes Academy · Minnesota
NCES ID 270017703045 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
13.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.1:1
vs 15.8:1 Minnesota avg
-23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
27.4%
vs 42.8% Minnesota avg
-36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Lakes Academy Middle School compares with Minnesota and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Lakes Academy Middle School
North Lakes Academy Middle School is a mid-sized charter middle school in Forest Lake, Minnesota, enrolling 157 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Minnesota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 27.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 157 students, its enrollment sits close to the Minnesota median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,334 scored Minnesota schools.
Against 189 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #117.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding North Lakes Academy spends $11,953 per pupil, 22% below the Minnesota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
North Lakes Academy also operates North Lakes Academy Upper School (245 students) and North Lakes Academy Elementary (220 students) alongside North Lakes Academy Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How North Lakes Academy Middle School compares
North Lakes Academy Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.1:1 | ▼ 23% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.4% | ▼ 36% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 157 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
157
Bigger than 15% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
27.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 30% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
28.7%
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
$11,953
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,270
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for North Lakes Academy, which includes North Lakes Academy Middle School.
$11,953
Per student
-22%
vs Minnesota
Avg $15,270
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 2.5%
State 84.5%
Federal 13.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How North Lakes Academy Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Lakes Academy Upper School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Lakes Academy Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Lakes Academy Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 245
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 220
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Minnesota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~157 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Lakes Academy Middle School's federal record.
- Compare North Lakes Academy Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- North Lakes Academy's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about North Lakes Academy Middle School
How many students attend North Lakes Academy Middle School?
North Lakes Academy Middle School has 157 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Forest Lake, MN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Lakes Academy Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at North Lakes Academy Middle School is 12.1:1, which is 23% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 23% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Lakes Academy Middle School?
27.4% of students at North Lakes Academy Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Lakes Academy Middle School?
North Lakes Academy Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does North Lakes Academy Middle School rank among public schools in Forest Lake?
By Resource Investment Index, North Lakes Academy Middle School ranks #6 of 14 public schools in Forest Lake, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Forest Lake on the city page.
Is North Lakes Academy Middle School a good school?
North Lakes Academy Middle School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of Minnesota schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in North Lakes Academy?
Besides North Lakes Academy Middle School, North Lakes Academy also operates North Lakes Academy Upper School (245 students) and North Lakes Academy Elementary (220 students). See the North Lakes Academy district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.