Universal Academy Charter School

Universal Academy Charter School (UACS) is a public, tuition-free PreK through grade 6 charter school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, committed to the mission “Success For All.” It offers early childhood education programs including voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness, serving students from preschool through grade 6 with highly supportive, nurturing staff. UACS emphasizes individualized instruction, frequent assessment, and small-group work so each student’s understanding of Minnesota State Standards is regularly monitored. Core academic programming includes reading, mathematics, science, and social studies, enhanced by differentiated teaching, Responsive Classroom practices, and RTI (Response to Intervention) for students who need additional support. The school values family engagement and community partnership, with a belief that every child can succeed when given proper support and care.

Universal Academy’s “About Us / News” page lists a Board Meeting scheduled for Saturday, May 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM; also board training at the same time.

UACS is officially recognized as a “High Quality Performing Charter School” by state authorities.

Q1: What grades does Universal Academy serve, and what early-education programs are offered?

A: UACS serves students in PreK through grade 6. It also offers preschool programs,including Voluntary Prekindergarten and School Readiness,to prepare children for kindergarten.

Q2: What are academics and assessment practices like?

A: UACS uses frequent assessments (including a weekly or periodic quiz) and small-group instruction to monitor and address student understanding of Minnesota State Standards. It uses “trackers” to analyze class performance, reteaching where needed, and differentiates instruction for different learning styles.

Q3: What is the student population and demographic information?

A: The school has about 397 students in grades PreK-6. A high percentage (˜82%) of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The student-teacher ratio is about 19:1.

Q4: How does Universal Academy perform on state tests and ratings?

A: On reading proficiency, around 42% of students are at or above proficient level; in math, approximately 26% are proficient. On GreatSchools, UACS is rated 7/10, which is above average for similar schools.

Q5: What is the school's educational philosophy and what supports are in place for struggling students?

A: The philosophy is “Success For All.” The school believes each student can succeed with appropriate support. To that end, UACS uses small-group instruction, weekly assessment (“Friday Quiz”), data trackers, differentiated teaching, and intervention programs (like RTI) to provide extra support.