Kato Public Charter School is a charter school in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. The school opened as RiverBend Academy in September 2000 and rebranded as Kato Public Charter School in 2014. Kato Public is part of the EdVisions Schools co-op and is in its own independent school district, ISD #4066.
Serving 78 students in grades 6-12, Kato Public Charter School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Minnesota for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is ≤20% (which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 45%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is ≤20% (which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 51%).
The student:teacher ratio of 10:1 is lower than the Minnesota state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Quick Stats (2025)
- School Type: Charter School
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 78 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 10:1
- Minority Enrollment: 31%
- Graduation Rate: <50% (Btm 50% in MN)
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50%
- Math Proficiency: ≤20% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: ≤20% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: ≤20% (Btm 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Kato Public Charter School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Minnesota for:
Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Student Attention
School Overview
Kato Public Charter School's student population of 78 students has grown by 25% over five school years.
The teacher population of 8 teachers has grown by 60% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 6-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
78 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
8 teachers
School Rankings
Kato Public Charter School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,860 schools in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Kato Public Charter School is 0.50, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.59. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#1651 out of 1860 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤20%
45%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤20%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤20%
41%
Student : Teacher Ratio
10:1
13:1
American Indian
3%
2%
Asian
n/a
7%
Hispanic
10%
12%
Black
10%
12%
White
69%
61%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
<50%
84%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
65%
36%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
9%
7%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kato Public Charter School's ranking?
Kato Public Charter School is ranked #1651 out of 1,860 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Minnesota.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
≤20% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 45% MN state average), while ≤20% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 51% MN state average).
What is the graduation rate of Kato Public Charter School?
The graduation rate of Kato Public Charter School is 50%, which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 84%.
How many students attend Kato Public Charter School?
78 students attend Kato Public Charter School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
69% of Kato Public Charter School students are White, 10% of students are Black, 10% of students are Hispanic, 8% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are American Indian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Kato Public Charter School?
Kato Public Charter School has a student ration of 10:1, which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 13:1.
What grades does Kato Public Charter School offer ?
Kato Public Charter School offers enrollment in grades 6-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Kato Public Charter School part of?
Kato Public Charter School is part of Kato Public Charter School District.
In what neighborhood is Kato Public Charter School located?
Kato Public Charter School is located in the Washington Park neighborhood of Mankato, MN.
School Reviews
Review Kato Public Charter School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles

Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.

Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.

Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.