Discovery Charter Elementary School

Discovery Charter Elementary School is one of the cozy elementary campuss in INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minnesota, run under Discovery Charter School, with 166 students on its rolls from grades K through 8. Compared to the state average of about 344 students per school, that is 52% leaner than typical.

Discovery Charter School is the operating authority for Discovery Charter Elementary School, handling staffing, calendars, and reporting to the state department of education.

Looking at the student body, Discovery Charter Elementary School logs that the most-represented group is White (54%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Other groups include 17% Hispanic, 14% multiracial, 11% Black, 4% Asian. The wider county runs roughly 74% White, putting the school's mix noticeably less White than the area baseline.

On the resource side, The school currently runs with 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 9.0:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.7:1, putting Discovery Charter Elementary School tighter than the state norm the norm. About 40% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Discovery Charter Elementary School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 43.7%; this one delivers 39.4%.

In the surrounding community, the surrounding county (Dakota County) logs that median household earnings sit near $106,318, 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 4%. Across Dakota County's 170 public schools (combined enrollment of about 74,687 students), Discovery Charter Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is STEAM Academy Charter School, roughly 0.0 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Discovery Charter Elementary School. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Discovery Charter Elementary School at 3rd of 7; the average score across the group is 30.8%.

The school occupies a residential site. As a public charter, Discovery Charter Elementary School runs on public funding but with greater curricular and operational autonomy than a typical district school.

Five-year trend. Discovery Charter Elementary School's enrollment has decreased 8% since 2018, when it stood at 180 (now 166). Class-load math has pulled in: from 10.3:1 in 2018 to 9.0:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.