Minnesota Excellence in Learning Ac

9060 ZANZIBAR LANE
MAPLE GROVE, MN 55311

www.melaschool.org/

Charter School 231 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 6th

School Overview

**Minnesota Excellence in Learning Academy (MELA)**, located in Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a tuition-free public charter school serving students in grades K–8. The school is distinct for its intentional focus on a structured, high-academic environment that emphasizes personalized learning. By maintaining smaller class sizes, MELA aims to provide a more tailored educational experience that allows teachers to address the individual needs, strengths, and goals of every student.

Beyond academics, the school places a strong emphasis on character development and the cultivation of a supportive community. MELA’s philosophy centers on the belief that student success is rooted in strong partnerships between families, educators, and the broader community. The school’s curriculum is designed to be rigorous while fostering a sense of civic responsibility, preparing students not only for high school success but also for active participation in their future communities.

231

Total Students

20.5

Full-Time Teachers

11.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

73.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Minnesota Excellence in Learning Ac
Demographic	Student Count
White	10
Hispanic	20
Black	183
Asian	6
Two or More	11
American Indian	1

Black
183 (79.2%)
Hispanic
20 (8.7%)
Two or More
11 (4.8%)
White
10 (4.3%)
Asian
6 (2.6%)
American Indian
1 (0.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Minnesota Excellence in Learning Ac
Phone:	(763)205-4396
Website:	http://www.melaschool.org/
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 6th
Total Students:	231
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	20.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	136
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	33

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 39

Kindergarten 41

Grade 1 33

Grade 2 31

Grade 3 23

Grade 4 19

Grade 5 22

Grade 6 23