Minneapolis Schools ISD 1
One of Minnesota’s largest school districts, District 1 is comprised of 45 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and seven high schools. The district also has eight special education schools, eight alternative schools, 19 contract alternative schools, and five charter schools. District 1 offers families the flexibility to select the school that best fits their children’s needs through an open enrollment program. The School Choice website enables students and parents to compare various school program options to facilitate these important decisions.
Each school is equipped with modern technology infrastructure in a state-of-the-art learning environment. The district has invested $608 million dollars in school renovations, producing beautiful and functional school campuses, 16 of which are brand new. The Minneapolis school district has also invested heavily in each student; the district spends approximately $11,243 per pupil, one of the highest per-pupil expenditures in the state. And Minneapolis school staff is highly trained, with 61% having earned a master’s degree.
District 1 was the first district to introduce all-day Kindergarten in every school. Minneapolis has also recently begun a special bussing program to several communities to provide safe transportation to those students who wish to participate in extracurricular activities. The district also boasts a unique summer jobs program called Step Up, which places dedicated youth between the ages of 16 and 21 in summer jobs with such companies as the Star Tribune, U.S. Bank, Target, and Children’s Hospital.
District 1 has also taken an innovative approach in designing the academic curriculum. Students at every grade level benefit from the Arts for Academic Achievement, a successful program which enables students to learn through participation in the arts. At the high school level, Minneapolis students also benefit from a rigorous curriculum that offers as many as 32 Advanced Placement courses. In addition, students living in the North, South, Edison, or Patrick Henry attendance areas have the opportunity to participate in the well-known International Baccalaureate Program, which offers an intensive learning experience that helps prepare students for success in a competitive world.
Minneapolis is dedicated to providing a high-quality academic environment in which all students have the opportunity to learn and succeed. At the high school level, students are grouped into small “learning communities” according to their specific areas of interest, such as liberal arts, technology, automotives, engineering, business, health, and the arts. District 1 believes this method of grouping enhances learning by providing a learning environment that is more closely tailored to individual students’ goals and ambitions. These learning communities also give Minneapolis students an edge by preparing them for post-secondary education. In addition, Career and College Centers offer students support in their career and educational planning.
In addition to academics, students may choose from among 60 non-athletic extracurricular opportunities. Of course, numerous athletic opportunities are available as well. The district encourages participation in co-curricular activities because it fosters self-discipline and self-esteem. Students learn such important values as the ability to work with and respect others, the desire and dedication to succeed, and the ability to think for oneself.
District 1 recognizes that parental involvement is the key to children’s learning success, and parents are invited to become active participants in their children’s education. Various opportunities for parental participation are outlined on a separate web page designed for parents on the district’s website.
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