Hmong International Academy

Overview

Hmong International Academy is a Community School built in 1999. Hmong International Academy does have air conditioning in the building and does have its own kitchen. The building does have a Safe and Welcoming Entrance, as defined by Capital Planning, Construction, and Maintenance. The building is 123,293 square feet in size and has a design enrollment of approximately 797 students.

Between school years 2014 and 2023, Minneapolis Public Schools has invested $2,533,777 in capital expenditures for the building. In 2017, a facilities condition assessment classified the building as being in fair condition. The Operations Division will be conducting another facilities condition assessment in calendar year 2025.

Hmong International Academy had an enrollment of 260 students as of 01 October, 2024, with approximately 82.0% of those students qualifying for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch benefits. Note that families are still submitting Applications for Educational Benefits, so this proportion may change over the course of the school year. Total enrollment is approximately 33% of the building’s designed enrollment, making the current building use underutilized [‘underutilized’ is defined as enrollment totaling less than 70% of the design enrollment].

Building Use

At direction of the Board of Education, in October 2024 district staff performed a physical space study of all District schools. This included a walkthrough of the buildings that included many different stakeholders – Board directors, principals, teachers, central office staff, custodians, and others. The tables, figures, and plots below are a summary of data collected during the walkthrough of Hmong International Academy.

Classroom Spaces

See Table 1 below for how classrooms and labs are being used in the building.

Plan Use	Actual Use	N Rooms
Classroom	Classroom	29
Classroom	Conference Room	1
Classroom	Counseling	1
Classroom	Family Room	1
Classroom	Intervention Room	1
Classroom	Lab - Other	1
Classroom	Lab - Science	1
Classroom	Not in Use	1
Classroom	Office - General	2
Classroom	Office - Private	10
Classroom	SEL Space / Calming Room	1
Classroom	Special Ed Resource Room	1
Classroom	Storage	3
Conference Room	Classroom	1
Lab - Art	Lab - Art	2
Lab - Computer	Counseling	1
Lab - Computer	Lab - Computer	1
Lab - Computer	Storage	1
Lab - Science	Afterschool Programming	1
Lab - Science	Lab - Science	1
Other	Lab - Other	1

Table 1. Classroom and instructional spaces

Building Layout

The below figure[s] are building floorplans as annotated by building staff.

Figure 1. Floorplan for Hmong International Academy, floorplan pages 1 through 2

Guided Discussion

A guided discussion consisting of three questions was held with those who participated in the walkthrough. The major themes are included below, as are more detailed summaries of walkthrough participants’ answers.

Question 1: In what ways does the physical environment in this building best support learning?

Hmong International Academy benefits from having newer, pod-based classrooms that allow for departmentalized teaching, which minimizes transition time and helps keep classes close together. Common spaces within the pods facilitate group meetings, while bathrooms in classrooms, including those for the Developmental and Cognitive Disabilities program, are beneficial for younger students. The school has separate exits to parking lots for different student groups, a circle drive for parent pickup, and accessible entrances for students with mobility challenges. The gym and cafeteria provide plenty of room for the whole school to gather, and the school’s location on a public park fosters a sense of community. The school has a small, fenced-in playground for younger children, green space around the building, and ample staff parking. The library is a standout feature with its beautiful windows and new carpet, while a new sensory room and support spaces in each pod ensure students can access additional support close to their classrooms.

Question 2: In what way does the physical environment in this building interfere with how we would like learning to happen today and in the future?

Hmong International Academy is located near busy streets, which leads to safety concerns due to traffic around the building. Additionally, the numerous doors on the first floor create a security challenge, making it difficult to monitor access effectively. The science labs, while present, are not well-suited for the current age group of students, as they no longer align with the needs of the building’s student population.

Question 3: What should the district know or appreciate about the physical environment of this building?

The building faces challenges with its heating and cooling systems, as some rooms can be very hot while others are very cold, creating an uncomfortable environment. There are also ceiling leaks that need attention. Access to the small playground is a safety concern, as there is no badge access to re-enter the building, and propping doors open creates security risks. Finally, the security of the parking lots is a concern, particularly when the school is not in session.

Overall Discussion Themes

Great pod-based arrangement of grades and classrooms
Separate, accessible entrances for the beginning and end of day
Beautiful library surrounded by windows and a view of a public park
Traffic and neighborhood safety concerns
HVAC is inconsistent throughout the building

Survey Results

Fourteen questions were asked of walkthrough participants at the end of the walkthrough. There were 9 respondents to the survey at Hmong International Academy. The questions the participants were asked are included in Table 2 below, and the response breakdowns are included in Plot 1 below.

Question	Question Short	Question Text
1	welcoming main entry	The main entry is welcoming and able to be used by all students and visitors.
2	physical space design supports program	Generally, the design of the learning spaces in the building supports the way we teach and learn (e.g. classrooms are large enough to fit student desks, small group work space, etc.; there is storage for necessary curriculum, tools, manipulatives; all students can hear when the teacher is talking).
3	enough classrooms	The building has enough classrooms to support the number of students enrolled in the program.
4	entire student body can meet together	The school has a space large enough for the entire student body to be together.
5	adequate academic intervention space	The school has sufficient pull-out space to support instructional needs.
6	adequate regulation space	The school has sufficient pull-out space to respond to student behaviors.
7	adequate SPED space	There are sufficient spaces to meet the needs of the school’s Special Education programming.
8	mental health space	There are sufficient spaces to meet the mental health needs of students.
9	adequate lunch room	The cafeteria can accommodate the entire student body in three lunch services.
10	gyms large enough	The gyms are large enough to meet the needs of the program.
11	enough admin space	There is enough administrative space to meet the needs of the program.
12	functional outdoor space	The outdoor environment provides space for both learning and play.
13	adequate restrooms	The restrooms in the building meet the needs of the student body in terms of location, quantity, and inclusion.
14	building feels bright and welcoming	The building feels bright, welcoming, and efficient.

Table 2. Survey questions

Plot 1. Survey results for Hmong International Academy

Select a School

Early Childhood

Elementary

Middle Schools

High Schools

Alternative Schools

Popular Pages