Magnet School Information

  • University Ave logo

    University Avenue Aerospace, Children’s Engineering and Science (ACES) is a K-5 /magnet school in the Anoka-Hennepin District. At University Avenue (ACES) we value leadership, relationships and engagement. Having a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focus and specializing in aerospace, the school approaches student learning in a unique way by utilizing its aerospace theme to better engage and excite its nearly 600 highly diverse learners.

    University Avenue ACES is also part of the Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD), which is a consortium of seven districts in the northwest metropolitan area. This allows those within these districts to enter specialty/magnet schools through a lottery process and also obtain transportation. Being a neighborhood school first, about 20% of University Avenue ACES is lottery based.

    Magnet School Information Night

    Tuesday, November 14, 2023
    5:30-6:30 p.m. 

    *Tours available by request. Contact Kate Watson at 763-506-4560 or kate.watson@ahschools.us.

    University Avenue ACES follows the rigorous Anoka-Hennepin district curriculum but has woven the specialty focus throughout core curriculum areas, as well as through special added-value events and partnerships including, but not limited to, working with such groups as the Anoka-County Blaine Airport, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Jackson Middle School Observatory (JMO), STARBASE Minnesota, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). These experiences and partnerships work to narrow the opportunity gap that exists among our economically diverse student population, while also engaging all of our students in hands-on, real-world, problem and project-based collaborative learning.

    Students learn about aerospace, engineering and science in and outside of school. Field trips are designed as hands-on learning experiences that increase background knowledge and enrich the learning happening at school as well as connect to our families and community.

    University Avenue ACES has been recognized multiple years by the Magnet Schools of America, a national organization, as a Magnet School of Excellence. This is the top merit award category and is only awarded to a select group of specialty/magnet schools in the country. The Metropolitan Airport Commission recognized University Avenue ACES for their promotion and support of the Anoka-County Airport. Multiple articles have been written about the school in both district and local newspapers, as well as in the Minnesota Flyer Magazine.

    Contact

    To find out more about our specialty/magnet school or schedule a tour, please contact Kate Watson, Curriculum Integration Coordinator, at 763-506-4560 or kate.watson@ahschools.us.

    What is the NWSISD magnet program and how do you enroll?

    NWSISD logoMagnet schools are public schools of choice, offering comprehensive, high-quality, thematic curriculum intended to attract students from a wide range of racial, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Students who live outside a magnet school’s attendance zone can apply for an opportunity to enroll in the magnet school or program. Entrance into NWSISD magnet schools and programs is application based and open to all students who live within the seven member district boundaries.
     
    NWSISD is a collaborative of seven area school districts in the northwest metro providing schools and communities with a variety of programs and services to promote racial equity and cultural awareness. The seven member districts of NWSISD include Anoka-Hennepin School District, Brooklyn Center Schools, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools, ISD728 (Elk River | Otsego | Rogers | Zimmerman), Fridley Public Schools, Osseo Area Schools, and Rockford Area Schools.

    Priority application registration is open mid-October through end of December with lotteries taking place beginning of January.

    Learn more about NWSISD and apply

    Transportation during weather closings

    Know your resident and serving districts 

    Your resident district is the district in which you live. Your serving district is the district in which you (or your student) attends school - in this case it's Anoka-Hennepin.

    Anoka-Hennepin determines if school is open

    The safety of all students is the first priority when determining if schools should stay open in extreme winter weather. School closures are made by the individual school districts (in this case Anoka-Hennepin) that comprise Northwest Suburban Integration School District. If school is canceled due to inclement weather, Anoka-Hennepin will announce it in several communication outlets. Check out the full list on our weather page. The Northwest Integration School District also posts weather closings at nws.k12.mn.us. Questions? Email transportation@nws.k12.mn.us or call 763-450-1300.

    If resident district has a late start and Anoka-Hennepin is open

    There will be no morning transportation, but afternoon transportation will proceed as normal.