Yinghua Academy
Minneapolis School Finder Rating
About
About Us
Yinghua Academy is a nationally recognized public charter school in Northeast Minneapolis & the first full Chinese immersion school in the U.S. Their rigorous academic program blends high expectations with joyful learning, helping students thrive in both English & Mandarin Chinese. From kindergarten through 8th grade, students develop bilingual fluency, cultural competence, & strong character. Yinghua consistently ranks among the top schools in Minnesota & the nation for academic performance & teacher quality. Their graduates regularly place into advanced Chinese & honors courses in high school & go on to succeed in diverse global settings. As a tuition-free public school, Yinghua offers a unique opportunity for families seeking academic excellence & a world-class language education. With a warm, inclusive community & a strong emphasis on global citizenship, Yinghua prepares students to become confident, capable leaders in an interconnected world. Yinghua is open to all Minnesota families; no prior Chinese language experience is required to enroll.
Languages spoken by school staff
English, Arabic, French, Hmong, Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin
Extra programming
Yinghua Academy offers a variety of afterschool programming. Enrichment classes are available throughout the year, including robotics, dance, & art classes, just to name a few. The school also has a Music Conservatory & offers private lessons for instruments such as guitar, piano, violin, traditional Chinese instruments, & more. Private tutoring is also available after school hours.
Extracurriculars Offered:
Cultural Extracurriculars, Debate/Speech Clubs, Environmental/Outdoors Clubs, Music, Sports, Visual Arts Clubs
Uniforms
Students who attend Yinghua Academy are required to wear uniforms.
How to enroll
To enroll, contact Renee Cosgrove at (612) 788-9095 or renee.cosgrove@yinghuaacademy.org.
Students at this school
Teachers at this school
Average student to teacher ratio
Academics
High Performing
Academic programming
Yinghua Academy is the only full-immersion Mandarin Chinese K-8 charter school in Minneapolis. At Yinghua, they aim to provide their students with the unique learning experience of being immersed in Mandarin language & learning about Chinese culture. Most of Yinghua’s teachers are native Mandarin speakers & are masters of their language as they teach students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Yinghua students begin instruction in English Language Arts in second grade, & are similarly taught by native English speakers. Yinghua strives for their students to be engaged & productive global citizens, who are well prepared for high school & beyond. Yinghua graduates are confident self-advocates, responsible leaders, & engaged members of their community.
Academic Programs Offered:
Language Immersion
Special education programming
Yinghua Academy’s special education department is a team of dedicated & knowledgeable professionals who support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Yinghua Academy has four licensed special education teachers, two speech & language pathologists who provide therapy to students in English & Mandarin, & three bilingual paraprofessionals. Yinghua paraprofessionals help students in the classrooms by providing academic or behavioral support. The Sspecial education team works closely with Yinghua staff & families to create & implement an accessible learning environment for Yinghua students.
Curricula
No response from school.
English language learner programming
Yinghua Academy believes it is beneficial for its students to be proficient in multiple languages. When students enroll at Yinghua, the Minnesota Department of Education requires a Minnesota Language Survey form to be completed for each child. Children who have interaction in languages other than English are assessed with an English Language Learner (ELL) screener. Students who qualify for ELL based on this assessment receive regular instruction from a licensed ELL teacher. The ELL Program at Yinghua is designed to help students acquire English academic language proficiency & access grade-level content instruction in all subjects. Each spring, ELL students take the national ELL ACCESS standardized test. If the results show that ELL students meet the English proficiency standards, they exit from the ELL program for the following year. Yinghua Academy believes specific ELL instruction will help ELL students acquire English proficiency & succeed in school.
Proficiency
9 out of 10 students are performing math at grade level
7 out of 10 students read at grade level
Progress
8 out of 10 students are progressing to graduate on grade-level in math
8 out of 10 students are progressing to graduate on grade-level in reading
Climate
Above Average
School values
Yinghua Academy has five core values that are the basis of their philosophy, mission, & goals. These values are: safety, speaking Chinese, learning, happiness, & global citizenship. Safety encompasses Yinghua’s commitment to providing all students with an emotionally & physically safe environment to learn & grow. As a Mandarin immersion charter school, they strive for all students to achieve literacy & oral proficiency in Mandarin Chinese by learning & using as much Chinese as possible. Yinghua’s curriculum has been specifically designed to support this value & ensure the highest quality learning opportunities for all students, inside & outside of the classroom. Global citizenship is a cornerstone of Yinghua, as they value a respectful environment that builds concern about the good of others, grows consciousness of the public good, & nurtures their students to be active in a global society.
Recess
No response from school.
Discipline Policy
Yinghua Academy employs the Responsive Classroom approach to create a secure, stimulating, & joyful learning environment for all grades. This method, approved by the Minnesota Department of Education, brings together social & academic learning using practical strategies. Prioritizing safety, Yinghua ensures that both students & staff experience a secure atmosphere. Teachers collaborate closely with students & parents to address potential barriers to learning. To meet students’ academic, behavioral, & mental health requirements, Yinghua dedicates many resources. Discipline is viewed as a tool for guiding student behavior & fulfilling their needs. A team–including administrators, educators, students, & parents–works together on disciplinary matters, providing resources to address social, emotional, & mental health needs. Information & resources for maintaining a safe, inclusive school environment are also shared.
Teacher retention
Attendance
Discipline
Equity
High Performing
Equity vision
Yinghua Academy celebrates diversity & cultivates an inclusive culture where everyone belongs, & each person’s uniqueness & inherent dignity are upheld. They view differences as strengths & foster a deep appreciation for one another. They commit to developing future global-minded leaders who feel empowered to advocate & to pursue social justice & an anti-racist society. Yinghua Academy provides the necessary resources to build the competencies to achieve each student’s unique learning objectives. Their equity work is an ongoing effort: they reflect on their actions & commit to empowering students, staff, & community partners & supporting them in reaching their full potential.
