Charter school leaders balk at telling parents Minneapolis elementary closing at end of year

Skyline Math and Science Academy (SMSA) in Minneapolis will close at the end of the school year due to low test scores and poor financial management. The Minnesota Guild of Public Charter Schools, which oversees SMSA, stated that the school's leaders failed to inform parents about the closure by the May 7 deadline. The guild's executive director, James Zacchini, stressed that withholding this information deprives families of time to seek alternative schooling options. School leaders have resisted announcing the closure, claiming it would disrupt students’ learning and cause emotional distress. SMSA has faced academic challenges since its founding in 2018, with only 2.

4% of students proficient in math and 10% at grade level in reading in 2024. The school reported a deficit of nearly $370,000 for the year, raising concerns about its financial viability. Additionally, nearly half of its students speak English as a second language, yet statewide scores for English learners were significantly higher. Skyline is among four charter schools in Minnesota closing this spring, reflecting a growing trend of charter school failures in the state.