Increasing enrollment at Minneapolis Public Schools may mean big changes for neighborhood schools, including Hiawatha, Seward, Howe/Sanford, and Cooper.
Competing for Students
The district is expecting an increase of approximately 3,000 students in the five years and is preparing for these changes with a five-year enrollment plan that was unveiled on Tuesday. The district’s chief executive officer Michael Goar told the Star Tribune that the changes are intended to make the schools more attractive to parents. He said, “We are in a highly competitive environment, and we need to do better.”
The Tribune reported that “the district currently enrolls about 62 percent of the city’s school-age children who attend public school, with the balance in charter or suburban districts.”
Changes to Neighborhood Schools
MPS is recommending changes to several local schools.
- Opening Cooper as a community school or school of choice. Why? MPD anticipates growth in the neighborhood due to new housing and the proximity to the light rail. This would require a building addition and renovations.
- Adding nine classrooms to Seward Montessori, which would require a building addition. The Building Improvement Committee at the school recently reported in meeting minutes that the school is at 120% capacity.
- Moving some middle school classrooms from Sanford to Howe.
- Increasing early childhood education programs at Hiawatha.
Attend a Listening Session
More information about the five-year plan will be presented at an MPS listening session at Northrop Urban Environmental (4315-31st Ave S) on Thursday, October 10th from 6-8 p.m.
Comment