Friendship Academy of Arts-Primary

www.friendshipacademy.org

Charter School 116 Students

Elementary School K - 2nd

School Overview

Friendship Academy of the Fine Arts (FAFA) is a tuition-free public charter school located in the Standish neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade, the school distinguishes itself by integrating a rigorous academic curriculum with a specialized focus on the arts. By weaving visual arts, music, dance, and theater into the daily learning experience, the academy aims to foster creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression in a culturally responsive environment.

Beyond its focus on artistic development, Friendship Academy places a strong emphasis on character building and community engagement. The school is known for its intentional efforts to create a supportive, inclusive atmosphere that celebrates the diverse backgrounds of its student body. By providing small class sizes and a curriculum designed to nurture both the "whole child" and academic excellence, the academy strives to prepare its students not only for success in high school but for active, thoughtful participation in their communities.

116

Total Students

8.0

Full-Time Teachers

14.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

33.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Friendship Academy of Arts-Primary
Demographic	Student Count
White	5
Hispanic	2
Black	105
Two or More	4

Black
105 (90.5 %)
White
5 (4.3 %)
Two or More
4 (3.4 %)
Hispanic
2 (1.7 %)

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:	Friendship Academy of the Arts
Phone:	(612)879-6703
Website:	http://www.friendshipacademy.org
Grade Range:	K - 2nd
Total Students:	116
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	8.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	37
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	2

* 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

Kindergarten 32

Grade 1 40

Grade 2 44