“Who you BECOME is as important as what you ACHIEVE.” Our mission calls us to foster the development of the whole student body by supporting their emotional and behavioral intelligence (the “EQ”) and their academic intelligence (the “IQ”) to unlock their full potential as a student while at North Lakes Academy. We do this in support of our mission to support students’ diverse needs and crafting a vision for their future as active leaders in a global society. This innovative approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) has been refined over more than a decade to fit our unique student body and is founded on the principles first created by Top 20 Training. K-6 “Becoming…” Program The “Becoming…” curriculum at the K-6 Campus centers on a monthly character trait designed to shape both personal growth and community culture. Each month emphasizes honoring the absent, navigating conflict with respect, and recognizing “star qualities” that bring out the best in ourselves and others. The framework also reinforces clear expectations through shared language, positive framing, and an intentional approach to addressing negativity. By focusing on “The Line” between acceptable and unacceptable behavior, “Becoming…” helps establish accountability while nurturing a strong culture of learning where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to grow. 7-12 “Becoming…” Program The “Becoming…” curriculum at the 7-12 Campus is responsive to the needs of middle school and high school students at different phases of their development. Visualize a student’s success as a bicycle, where the back wheel - a student’s IQ - propels the student forward and the front wheel - a student’s EQ - manages the steering. In life, where we end up is determined by our ability to master our EQ in tandem with our IQ and finding that balance is how we encourage our students to put forward the best versions of themselves every day. Grades 7 & 8: Who Am I? Students in these grades focus on strengthening their EQ by engaging with the foundational principles of the “Becoming…” curriculum and better understanding how these concepts apply to their own lives. Examples include learning skills to navigate the social dynamics of middle school, identifying their “star qualities,” and developing confidence and a positive self-concept. Grades 9 & 10: What Do I Want? Students in these grades focus on building on their EQ skills gained in previous grades to maximize their IQ through practical experiences in order to explore possible paths and set goals for their success after high school. Students will be asked to reflect on possible outcomes for their lives after high school and begin developing the academic skills needed to reach those goals. Grades 11 & 12: How Do I Get It? Students in these grades bring together their IQ and EQ to re-examine their opportunities and develop a plan for their future after graduation from North Lakes Academy. They’ll be asked to explore postsecondary institutions, apply for scholarships, and seek out internships or jobs, while reflecting on their greatest accomplishment  and preparing for the new challenges ahead. A Curriculum That Goes Beyond the Classroom The Becoming Curriculum is what makes NLA truly unique. By intentionally developing both academic skills and social-emotional growth, we help students build confidence, character, and clarity for the future. At NLA, we prepare students not just for graduation, but for life because  who you BECOME is just as important as what you ACHIEVE.

Myth #1: Charter schools aren’t public schools. Charter schools are public schools! Charter schools are publicly funded and are tuition-free. The difference between traditional public schools and charter schools is that charter schools operate under a charter or contract, and thus have more independence in staffing, curriculum, and budgeting. In exchange for independence and flexibility, charter schools are held accountable by their authorizer. If charter schools do not meet their performance standards, their charter can be revoked, and the school may be closed.  Myth #2: Charter schools handpick students. Charter schools are legally required to be open to all students, and may not establish specific enrollment priorities for students, similar to traditional public schools. Charter schools are legally prohibited from invoking discriminatory practices, including performance in their previous school.  Myth #3: Charter schools don’t serve students with special needs. Charter schools are required by federal law to provide special education services and serve students with disabilities. They must comply with the same state and federal regulations that traditional public schools follow. Charter schools may not deny a student admission based on a disability. Myth #4: Teachers at charter schools aren’t certified. Teachers at charter schools in Minnesota must have a valid teaching license for the position in which they are employed for. Per the MN Association of Charter Schools, State funding may be decreased if a school employs a teacher who does not hold the required license or approval from the MN Board of Teaching.  Myth #5: Charter schools drain money from public schools. Charter schools are  public schools. This means the money that is used on a student who attends a charter school remains within the public education system. The money is not being taken away from the traditional public schools, rather, it follows the student’s choice of education. Funding for both traditional public schools and charter schools are based on enrollment.

Sources: Niche , GreatSchools  and our 2025 Intent to Return survey Overview: North Lakes Academy continues to receive strong, positive feedback from students and families across the two main online platforms for school reviews and our 2025 Intent to Return survey. Recent testimonials emphasize our school’s supportive environment, personalized instruction, and strong sense of community. These reviews reflect well on both our academic quality and our culture—and present an opportunity to further strengthen our public image. Key Highlights from Reviews: Personalized Learning & Caring Staff: “Every teacher makes you feel comfortable and heard and they all do their best to personalize your learning experience.”  – Niche, Senior Student (2024) “The teachers and staff are great... They care more about how and what we learn than just our grades.”  – GreatSchools, Student (2021) “Small class sizes, high standards, and the fact that it's not FLAS.” – 2025 Intent to Return Survey “Smaller classes and kids really like the teachers and staff.” – 2025 Intent to Return Survey “Like the smaller school and class sizes for a more personalized learning experience. My son is happy there and would like to stay.”  – 2025 Intent to Return Survey Strong School Culture: “The culture at NLA is very positive and it often feels like a big family.”  – Niche, Senior Student (2024) “There is definitely a family atmosphere at this school along with high expectations of the kids.”  – GreatSchools, Parent (2023) “The amazing community.” – 2025 Intent to Return Survey “My son finally feels like he belongs and that is super huge to us.”  – 2025 Intent to Return Survey Engaged Community & Communication: “Staff know both of my kids even after they move on to the next grade… good at communicating with parents throughout the school year.”  – GreatSchools, Parent (2023) “This year NLA has been very informative and keeping families informed of all the changes.” – 2025 Intent to Return Survey “I like the open communication with the teachers and staff... the administrative staff know all of the students.” – 2025 Intent to Return Survey Extracurricular Opportunities: “My kids have enjoyed the variety of extracurricular clubs that the staff put forth each quarter.”  – GreatSchools, Parent (2023) “Kids have good friends and enjoy sports participation.”  –  2025 Intent to Return Survey Can You Be An Ambassador for NLA? Help Us Spread the Word About NLA! Families are the heart of North Lakes Academy—and your stories make a difference! When prospective families are researching schools, they often turn to websites like Niche and GreatSchools. Your reviews help show them what NLA is all about.If you’ve had a positive experience at NLA, please consider sharing your story! 💬 Leave a review on Niche 💬  Leave a review on GreatSchools Thank you for being an essential part of our school community—and for helping NLA grow through your voice! -Written by NLA’s Communications Specialist, Ila Dovre Wudali