Yinghua Academy

Grades:
K-8
Link to enroll
School hours:
Mon-Fri 8:00AM-3:30PM
Before school care:
No
After school care:
Yes
District:
Charter

School performance rating

94%

About

Languages spoken by school staff

English, Mandarin

Extra programming

Yinghua Academy offers a wide variety of afterschool programming. Enrichment classes are available throughout the year, such as 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, & many 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

Students, by population (838 total)
  • American Indian or Alaskan Native
    1%
  • Asian
    26%
  • Black or African American
    3%
  • Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
    0%
  • Hispanic
    6%
  • Two or more races
    21%
  • White
    42%
  • English Language Learner
    8%
  • From a Low Income Background
    18%
  • Special Education
    9%

Teachers at this school

Teachers, by population (53 total)
  • American Indian or Alaskan Native
    0%
  • Asian
    65%
  • Black or African American
    6%
  • Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
    0%
  • Hispanic
    0%
  • Two or more races
    2%
  • White
    27%

Average student to teacher ratio

16:1

Academics

100%

Academic performance rating

100%

Academic programming

Yinghua Academy is the only full immersion Mandarin Chinese K-8 charter school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 eighth 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 4 licensed special education teachers, 2 speech & language pathologists who provide therapy to students in English & Mandarin, & 3 bilingual paraprofessionals. Yinghua paraprofessionals help students in the classrooms by providing academic or behavioral support. The Special Education team works closely with Yinghua staff & families to create & implement an accessible learning environment for Yinghua students.

English language learner programming

Yinghua Academy believes it is beneficial for their 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 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

% of students on grade level
2021 2022 2023 2024 Math Reading 100% 0%

8 out of 10 students are performing math at grade level

2024 math proficiency - 82%

7 out of 10 students read at grade level

2024 reading proficiency - 73%

Progress

% of students on track
2022 2023 2024 Math Reading 100% 0%

9 out of 10 students are progressing to graduate on grade-level in math

2024 math progress - 85%

8 out of 10 students are progressing to graduate on grade-level in reading

2024 reading progress - 81%

Climate

83%

Climate performance rating

83%

School values

Yinghua Academy has 5 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.

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.

Bullying Prevention Policy

Yinghua Academy is dedicated to creating a secure & inclusive environment that supports student well-being, & builds positive relationships & engaging learning. To proactively address bullying, the academy takes thorough measures, such as investigating incidents & offering support, including counseling, to victims. Upholding the values of the Dragon Code–safety, effort, cooperation, respect, & self-management–both students & staff cultivate mutual regard. Bullying prevention is integrated into health & counseling lessons, tailored to students’ age & grade-level. Educators build strong bonds with students, fostering a sense of belonging & community, which in turn ensures support & care among students. The curriculum continually adapts, educating students about recognizing & reporting bullying, harassment, & negative environments. In addition, Yinghua systematically instructs students on respectful conduct, mental health services, responsible technology usage, & empowering bystanders to intervene. These strategies collectively foster a nurturing environment that prioritizes well-being & effectively addresses bullying.

Teacher retention

% of teachers who stayed at the school
85% 76% 71% 81% 2021 2022 2023 2024 100% 0%

Attendance

% of students who regularly attend school (at least 90% of time)
99% 95% 88% 2021 2022 2023 100% 0%

Discipline

Number of expulsions or suspensions per every hundred students
Per 100 Students 0 2020 2021 2022 2023 2 0 0 0

Equity

88%

Equity performance rating

88%

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.

Proficiency

% students on grade level, by student group
0% 100% City average 69% Asian City average 53% Black or African American City average 28% English Language Learner City average 64% From a Low Income Background City average 55% Hispanic City average 80% Two or more races City average 38% Special Education City average 86% White City average 78% All students
0% 100% City average 69% Asian City average 53% Black or African American City average 28% English Language Learner City average 64% From a Low Income Background City average 55% Hispanic City average 80% Two or more races City average 38% Special Education City average 86% White City average 78% All students

Progress

% of students progressing to graduate on grade level, by student group
0% 100% City average 77% From a Low Income Background City average 87% White City average 83% All students City average 69% Special Education City average 79% English Language Learner City average 78% Hispanic City average 76% Two or more races City average 84% Asian
0% 100% City average 77% From a Low Income Background City average 87% White City average 83% All students City average 69% Special Education City average 79% English Language Learner City average 78% Hispanic City average 76% Two or more races City average 84% Asian

Teacher retention

Teachers who stayed at the school last year by race/ethnicity
0% 100% City average 76% Asian City average 100% Black or African American City average 91% White
0% 100% City average 76% Asian City average 100% Black or African American City average 91% White

Teachers of color

73%

Students of color

57%

Attendance

% of students who regularly attend school (at least 90% of the time)
0% 100% City average 93% Asian City average 67% Black or African American City average 96% English Language Learner City average 84% From a Low Income Background City average 86% Hispanic City average 89% Two or more races City average 85% Special Education City average 88% White City average 88% All students
0% 100% City average 93% Asian City average 67% Black or African American City average 96% English Language Learner City average 84% From a Low Income Background City average 86% Hispanic City average 89% Two or more races City average 85% Special Education City average 88% White City average 88% All students

Discipline

Number of expulsions or suspensions for every hundred students
0% 100% City average 0 All students
0% 100% City average 0 All students