Minneapolis forms the largest metropolitan area in Minnesota, along with its sister city of Saint Paul. Over the years, it has become a cultural center in many ways and is also renowned for possessing many sufficient education opportunities.
These include public schools, private schools, charter schools, and more. Students interested in these classes need to sort through their options and find the best Minneapolis schools for their needs.
Public Schools in Minneapolis
The public school system forms the country's educational backbone and is heavily funded by federal and state governments. These educational options are designed to be free to parents and students, beyond costs for lunch, breakfast, field trips, and other extra activities. Classes, however, are free of charge.
Some schools primarily focus on preparing students for college, but other schools have a more technological or vocational base, preparing students for jobs right out of high school. Minneapolis's options can serve these needs and much more, ensuring students find perfect classes for their needs.
School Districts
The Minneapolis public school district stretches over a vast area and is broken down into several zones based on geographical location. It stretches north up near Columbia Heights, as far west as the eastern edge of Theodore Wirth Regional Park, overlaps the University of Minnesota in Prospect Park, and goes as far south as the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
Within this region, over 20 different individual sub-districts include many elementary schools, a few middle schools, and at least one high school.
High Schools Around the Twin Cities
High school provides students with training for life that includes advanced mathematics and reading courses, science, history, and much more. Pubic high schools also include sports, such as football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. In Minneapolis, football is a popular option for many players due to the nearby NFL team, the Vikings. However, hockey is also a popular option.
High schools in the area include Washburn High School, located on West 49th Street. This school is the home of the Millers, the sports teams that compete among other schools in the city and throughout the state. These include soccer, cheerleading, cross country, football, swimming, soccer, volleyball, floor hockey, basketball dancing, hockey, and skiing.
South High School
South High School on 32nd Street and 19th Avenue South serves the southern end of Minneapolis. It has the unique honor of being the oldest and largest public high school in the area. Formed in 1885, it has 1,800 or more students, serving grades 9-12, focusing on college and vocational education.
Currently possessing a 16:1 student-to-teacher ratio, it provides a reasonably well-focused environment. There is a heavy international presence in the school due to the nearby proximity of the University of Minneapolis. As a result, individuals from many cultures blend to learn more about the different ways that people think and behave around the world.
North High School
North Community High School is located on 16th Avenue just across the road from North Commons Park. This school is well known for possessing state championship football and basketball teams and a hands-on learning center focused on technology and engineering.
For instance, the North CTE Center gives gifted students the chance to learn topics as diverse as engineering, computer science, robotics, web design, and digital communication. Other specializations include the KBEM radio station, a jazz network that provides various music and educational programs.
Roosevelt High School
Serving the 28th Avenue area, Roosevelt High School is not far from Freeway 55, making it reasonably easy to access. This school is known for a variety of vocational programs, including automotive and construction classes. These options make Roosevelt a popular destination for students whose education does not include college-bound options or career choices.
Roosevelt also provides classes for health careers, including various types of international baccalaureate diploma programs that can transition to a college environment. These dual-credit opportunities are a popular way to prepare for a post-high school career and create a balanced education approach with classes carefully chosen for students and their unique needs.
A Grade Up: Middle School
The challenging period of middle school requires a balanced approach because the transition between elementary and high school can be too much for some children to handle. Thankfully, Minneapolis hasschools to handle this process, including classes adjusted to be as tight-knit and intimate as possible.
Sanford Middle School
Sanford at 42nd Avenue has a unique team-based approach that breaks all students into different groups. These teams go to classes like language arts, science, math, and social studies and stay together during their whole education here.
This method helps produce strong cultural capabilities and produces intelligent and capable students who can handle life demands.
Northeast Middle School
Located at 2955 Hayes Street, this middle school is renowned for its Five-Stage process for educational safety, including distance learning, various safety protocols, and proper assessment of these elements. Designed primarily for Covid-19, they have also become a robust way to enhance 6-8 education and create a strong background for various cultures and religions in the area.
Local Elementary Schools
Elementary schools in Minneapolis typically include many options. There are a few reasons for this: elementary education is often a more delicate process that requires a hands-on approach with students. Teachers must identify how a student learns and emphasize these abilities to keep them focused.
Therefore, it is often critical for these schools to have small class sizes and various approaches that work for each student. Each school provides a healthy level of education, tweaked for students, and presented in classes that are streamlined and easy to understand.
Twin Cities International Elementary School
Located just off 12th Avenue and not far from Highway 52 and 94, this school serves the K-8 level and includes various rigorous curriculum options. Students get access to a fun and engaging outdoor play environment, learn music and art in hands-on classes, and are not far from a vast wooded area.
This school focuses heavily on international and global education, attempting to teach students their place in the world. Education of this type bridges the gaps between cultures to make students more well-rounded and understanding of the world.
Pratt Elementary School
Pratt Community School is focused heavily on K-5 education and has a robust international presence like many other schools in the area. Programs here are directed at teaching children about the importance of the growing African American community and the basics of their educational background.
Pratt is also well-respected for its on-site daycare in the Minneapolis Kids program, smaller class sizes, emphasis on art and cultural education, English language education, Somali bilingual courses, and a unique focus on human rights.
Private Schools: Focus on Smaller Class Sizes
Parents and students who want smaller classes, more specialized education, and access to higher technology levels may prefer private schools.
Though parents must pay tuition to these schools, doing so gives access to many possibilities. Teachers are often carefully chosen based on their skills and experience, producing a high-quality and robust atmosphere.
Blake Private School
Blake Private School on Blake Road is one of Minneapolis's larger private options, with around 1,360 students. However, they have about 350 teachers and staff members, creating a reasonable 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio. This immersive educational environment includes on-campus living, comprehensive art programs, athletic competition, and a strong focus on community engagement.
Christian Schools
Minneapolis has a diverse Christian environment, including many Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, and much more. Parents who want to emphasize their faith's teachings may want to consider sending their children to one of these private schools. They are often based on a specific church, making it easier for parents who may attend one of these religious options.
Catholic Schools
Minneapolis Catholics have many school options to choose from, including Carondelet Catholic School Grades (which focuses on 3-8 grades), Risen Christ Catholic School, Annunciation Church, and Saint Helena Catholic School. School uniforms, masses, and prayer groups are often standard in many schools, creating a very open and immersive religious experience.
Calvin Christian School
As one of the oldest Christian schools in the area, Calvin provides a comprehensive learning option that is suitable for many children. They are accredited by the Nonpublic Schools Accrediting Association, making them one of the most trusted and convenient religious education environments in the city.
Charter Schools in the Area
Charter schools are a unique compromise between public schools' free nature and the more specialized classes of private schools. Class sizes are smaller, but attendance is free, creating a unique possibility for a broad range of students, like gifted children who are bored with the more general and less focused public school education they have been receiving.
Mastery Charter School
The Mastery School on Thomas Avenue focuses on K-5 education. It includes theater programs, a distance learning model, small groups in each class, and a focus on African American lifestyles and education. Those who want to emphasize this critical culture and its impact on the world may want to choose to send their students here.
Universal Charter School
With a “success for all” basis, Universal strives to identify the best teaching approach for each student and to integrate lesson plans that suit their needs. This method allows students to work in smaller classes based on their ability and succeed at their own pace.
Local Boarding Schools
Boarding schools allow students to attend the campus full time, producing a unique educational environment closer to a college atmosphere.
Options for boarding schools in Minneapolis typically focus either on success or on struggling students, including those who may have had behavioral problems that impact their public school classes' capabilities.
Summer Schools
Summer schools in Minneapolis include Pillsbury Elementary, Hmong International, Northeast Middle School, and Sanford Middle School. Learning during the summer immerses children in a year-round education experience that is often good for struggling students and those who want to succeed at a higher level.
Considering Your Educational Options
Make sure to talk to each school in your area to get an idea of what they provide, how they may benefit you, the different classes they offer, and how students react to their approach. Doing so will help to ensure that your student gets the best education possible.