Rochester Beacon Academy

Rochester Beacon Academy is one of the minimally staffed secondary schools in ROCHESTER, Minnesota, run under Rochester Beacon Academy, with 115 students on its rolls from grades 6 through 12. That puts it 69% below the typical public school in Minnesota, which averages around 371 students.

Rochester Beacon Academy is the operating authority for Rochester Beacon Academy, handling staffing, calendars, and reporting to the state department of education.

On demographics, Rochester Beacon Academy lists that White students make up the majority at 68%. Other groups include 14% multiracial, 10% Hispanic, 4% Black, 3% Asian. By comparison, Olmsted County as a whole is about 77% White, so the school skews visibly less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, The school employs 10 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 11.3:1. The state averages around 16.3:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 43% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), On a poverty-adjusted basis, Rochester Beacon Academy sits in the bottom 10% statewide. Predicted proficiency from the FRL regression is roughly 41.7%; actual is 13.2%, a gap of -28.5 points.

Across the wider county, census data for Olmsted County shows median household earnings sit near $95,406, roughly 49% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Rochester Beacon Academy is one of 72 public schools in Olmsted County (combined enrollment of about 24,627 students).

Nearest neighbor: Folwell Elementary School, around 0.3 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Rochester Beacon Academy operates from an inner-city location. Rochester Beacon Academy is a charter school, which puts it inside the public-school system but outside the standard district-managed model.

Five-year trend. Rochester Beacon Academy's enrollment has ticked up 4% since 2018, when it stood at 111 (now 115). The White share of enrollment contracted from 80% to 68% over that span. Class-load math has rose: from 3.8:1 in 2018 to 11.3:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.