We believe great schools are possible everywhere
In pursuit of our mission: A critical mass of great schools for students underserved, proving what's possible when schools work for all kids
Together with our partners and schools, we're rewriting the future for students, families, and our entire community.
Student enrollment
We help to create more schools that work, ensuring a rigorous, relevant education that meets students’ diverse learning needs.
In 2020, 5,349 students enrolled in our portfolios schools, representing more than 15% of all low-income students in Minneapolis.
Academic progress
77% of our portfolio schools show better annual academic progress than the average progress for low-income students in Minneapolis Public Schools.
The path toward high performing
Our portfolio of 16 schools is on the path toward becoming high performing. Here's a snapshot from 2020...
Daily student attendance: 93%
Average student retention: 85%
Students moving toward proficiency:
TNTP's Instructional Culture Index
Our portfolio of schools also had a noteworthy 11% increase on TNTP's Instructional Culture Index (6.1 to 6.8—against a national school average of 7.6). The index is an independently validated predictor of student performance and effective teacher retention, and is reflective of progress toward schools' success plans.
School leaders accessed best-in-class capacity building & strategic interventions
22 schools and 509 teachers participated in TNTP's Insight Survey
18 school leaders, supporting more than 180 teachers, accessed ANet
12 board members from 8 schools were part of the Board Governance Cohort with Education Board Partners
17 school leaders received executive coaching
The Great MN Schools team understands how schools work, and they're focused on helping our school improve.
Helen Fisk, Director, Global Academy
Community partners making an impact
We create and curate tools, resources, and information that support families as strong partners and advocates in their children's education.
And we work closely with community organizations to get these resources into the hands of families at the highest-leverage time each year, and support them in making the most of the information.
This school year, to-date:
Organizations trained to support families in finding the best-fit school
Copies of Minneapolis School Finder distributed
Visitors who explored MinneapolisSchoolFinder.org
Family outreach
Working alongside our core community partners, we look to support 3,500 families in K-12 decision-making and advocacy in 2021.
Parents are eager to continue learning as much as they can to support their children; they know schools, too, play an important role.
Maria Padilla, Centro Tyrone Guzman
Advancing proven solutions
We’re advancing proven solutions toward more high-performing schools—elevating what’s possible and demonstrating how other cities have increased the number of high-performing schools.
School performance frameworks close gaps
U.S. cities and school districts from Denver to New Orleans and Washington, D.C., to Chicago use multi-measure school performance frameworks as an important component of their efforts to effectively close opportunity gaps.
In 2020, we welcomed 150-plus educators, funders, and advocacy and community partners to learn from other cities.
Frameworks empower communities to define, measure, and manage school quality, together, as educators and policymakers, families, and advocates.
Retired MN Supreme Court Justice Alan Page and Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari kicked off our launch event.
Elections shape the future
Our MPS Voter Guide for the 2020 Minneapolis Board of Education elections elevated narratives surrounding good governance and student-centered decision-making—and helped voters make informed decisions.
Thank you to Ayada Leads, Citizens League, Isuroon, LatinoLEAD, Northside Achievement Zone, Pillsbury United Communities, Somali American Parent Association, and Pollen for co-creating this resource!
