Boarding Schools in Minnesota

What's Up in Minnesota

This page features a list of boarding schools in Minnesota (MN), USA.

Minnesota is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.7 million residents. More than half of Minnesotans live in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, known as the “Twin Cities”, which is the main political, economic, and cultural hub. Greater Minneapolis is among the 20 largest metropolises in the U.S. Other Minnesota metropolitan areas include Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead, Rochester, and St. Cloud. Minnesota’s geography is highly diverse, consisting of western prairies, now given over to intensive agriculture; deciduous forests in the southeast, now partially cleared, farmed, and settled; and the less populated North Woods, used for mining, forestry, and recreation. Roughly a third of the state is forested, and it is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” for having over 11,800 bodies of freshwater that are at least ten acres.

Education in Minnesota (MN), USA

The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards define expectations for the educational achievement of public, private, and boarding school students across the state in grades K-12. Minnesota Academic Standards are in place for English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and physical education. State standards also are available in the arts, or districts may choose to develop their own. Local districts create academic standards for health, world languages, and career and technical education.

Private schools and boarding schools are popular choices for students seeking an alternative to traditional public schools. Currently, there are 168 charter, private and boarding schools in operation in Minnesota, serving approximately 63,000 pre-K through grade 12 students. There are also 39 officially recognized early learning programs in Minnesota. Boarding schools are open to all students and offer a unique educational program where students can expect to receive a quality education based on results. The primary purpose of these schools in Minnesota is to improve all students’ learning achievement and strive for the world’s best workforce.

High school boarding school students complete the academic standards by taking a core course of study that equips them with the knowledge and skills they need for success in postsecondary education, highly skilled work, and civic life. To graduate from a Minnesota high school boarding school, a student must meet the state’s course credit requirements and any additional local course credit requirements established by the school district. Students must take standards-based tests in reading and math. Minnesota requires high school boarding school students to complete 21.5 required and elective course credits.

Minnesota, the “Star of the North,” is known for its weather, the natural beauty of its vast lakes, and the Midwestern reserve and decency of its people, as well as its metropolitan “crown jewel” of St. Paul/Minneapolis with its breweries and its music scene. Minnesota boarding schools afford students and families access to all of those features, and additionally provide a strong academic tradition: at none of the major Minnesota boarding schools do less than 90 percent of students go on to four-year college programs, and the median student/teacher ratio is slightly more than 11. Those seeking boarding schools couched in a strong urban environment are advised to seek other states: Cotter High School in Winona, MN is as urban as Minnesota boarding schools get, although Shattuck St. Mary’s in Faribault is just a short hop south on I-35 from the Twin Cities. But those interested in the 98 percent matriculation rates at St. John’s in Collegeville face a somewhat longer jaunt northwest to a rural area. Two of the schools are Roman Catholic in religious orientation and the third is Episcopal, leaving non-Christian students in the region potentially high and dry. Minnesota doesn’t require its private schools to employ certified teachers, though it does require teachers either to be supervised by licensed teachers or to complete an alternate competency exam in the event that a specific Minnesota boarding school isn’t accredited. If a specific Minnesota school is accredited – which the state doesn’t necessarily require – then standardized testing of students isn’t necessary. For nonaccredited schools, students should expect to take the MCA and ACT tests along with public school kids prior to graduation. For those seeking financial aid: unfortunately, the Minnesota constitution prohibits public funds from being used to support religious schools, and Minnesota boarding schools at this time are all associated with a particular faith. Thus families are advised to seek private scholarships or to work with schools directly in order to address tuition costs. Minnesota does provide tax credits for certain qualifying educational expenses, however: up to $2,500 for students in grades 7 – 12 may be subtracted from taxable income for tuition expenses, (non-religious) books, tutoring, or transportation.

Going to boarding school in Minnesota has many benefits. The state offers high academics in its boarding schools and diversity in its landscape. From beautiful lakes to scenic mountains to also being the home to the biggest mall in America! Students will never get bored going to boarding school in Minnesota.

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