Minnehaha Academy

Minnehaha Academy
Location
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Information
Type	Private, day
Religious affiliation(s)	Evangelical Christian
Established	1913
President	Dr. Donna M. Harris
Enrollment	1,000 total 341 Pre-K–5 (Lower School) 210 6–8 (Middle School) 449 9–12 (Upper School)
Average class size	19 students in Upper School, 20 in Middle School, 20 in Lower School
Student to teacher ratio	14:1
Campuses	2 campuses in residential neighborhoods in south Minneapolis
Color(s)	Red & White
Athletics	25 Varsity Sports
Athletics conference	Tri-Metro
Mascot	REDHAWKS
Average SAT scores	629 verbal 628 math  (mid 50% ranges for 2005)
Average ACT scores (mid 50% ranges for 2005)	36 Composite

Established in 1913, Minnehaha Academy (often abbreviated MA) is a Christian private school in Minneapolis, Minnesota for students in preschool through 12th grade. It is owned by the Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Located in the Cooper and Longfellow neighborhoods. Students from Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and throughout the Twin Cities area attend Minnehaha Academy. There are also several students attending from various foreign countries around the world.

History

Minnehaha Academy was established in 1884 by Swedish immigrants and missionaries. Since 1913, Minnehaha has been located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the banks of the Mississippi River. Minnehaha was a high school serving grades 9–12 until 1972, when grades 7 and 8 were added. In 1981, the South Campus was purchased and the Middle School was established with the addition of grade 6. The Lower School, grades 1–5, started in 1982. Kindergarten was added in 1985, and then preschool in 1995. The following year, Minnehaha expanded to another campus in Bloomington for preschool through grade 5(which shut down in the spring of 2011). The new Athletic Center at North Campus was dedicated in 2002, and the new Chapel and Fine Arts Center in 2003. Renovation of the South Campus (lower and middle school) was completed in 2008.In the Spring of 2011, Minnehaha Academy consolidated its Bloomington Lower School Campus with its Lower School in Minneapolis.

The Minnehaha educational program, which begins at the Lower School in preschool and goes through the Upper School in 12th grade, sends many students on to both Minnesota-based colleges and universities and many out-of-state schools including University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Savannah College of Art and Design, Saint Olaf College, Dartmouth, Carleton College, Georgetown, Princeton, Judson University, Illinois, The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, North Park University, Normandale Community College, the Eastman School of Music, University of British Columbia, University of Puget Sound, Cornell, Yale, United States Air Force Academy, Westmont, Bethel University, Stanford, and Wheaton College. At M.A., class sizes generally range from 18-24 students.^{[citation needed]}

80% of Upper School faculty members hold advanced degrees, 66% among Middle School faculty and 55% among Lower School faculty.^{[citation needed]}

Minnehaha Academy is a member of the Tri-Metro Conference & the Minnesota State High School League at the high school level and the South Side Youth Organization at the middle school level. Students in Middle School and Upper School can select organized athletics including 25 varsity sports. 75% of Upper School students participate and 87% of middle school students participate in athletic programs. They are known for consistent winning seasons in girls' basketball(including the 2010 Class AA State Championship), girls' soccer (including the 1998 Class AA State Championship and undefeated season), cross-country, ping-pong (sent teams to the tournament in recent years who have placed near the top), and Alpine Skiing (3 straight state tournament appearances for girls 2008–10 including a 3rd place finish and 2 straight for boys 2009–10). Guido Kauls was Minnehaha's first soccer coach, holding the position from its beginnings in the 1960s until he retired in 2001, having accumulated 500 career victories. The cross country team has seen success recently, going to eight state meets in the last nine years. Academically, Minnehaha features teams that compete in regional math and science tournaments, as well as a small classical debate team. The Minnehaha Academy Slalom ski team has sent the girls team to state the last 4 years, and the boys team to state 2 of the last 4.^{[citation needed]}

Minnehaha's current mascot, the Redhawk, which is a fictional creature, was chosen in 1991 when the previous mascot, the Indian, was deemed to be politically incorrect. Minnehaha was without a mascot from 1990 until the Fall of 1991.

• 24% of Minnehaha Academy students receive student aid • Average award is approximately $7,500 • Student aid budget: $1.8 million • Available for kindergarten through grade 12 • Student aid is given based on economic need

Notable alumni

• Reynold B. Johnson (Class of 1925): Inventor and computer pioneer
• Homer Dupre Hagstrom (Class of 193x): Expert in surface physics, elected to National Academy of Sciences. [1]
• C. Donald Peterson (Class of 1935): Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1967–1986.[2]
• Philip Brunelle (Class of 1961): Classical musician and founder of music group Vocalessence [3]
• Melody Beattie (Class of 1962): self-help author.
• Rev. Mark Hanson (Class of 1964): Current Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and President of the Lutheran World Federation
• Joe Roche, (Class of 198x), Iraq War veteran and political commentator.^[1]
• Amy Sannes (Class of 1995): Competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy [4]
• Marc Johnson (Class of 1996): Boy's Basketball Player. Named to First Team All-State Team, and was named Class A Player of the Year in 1996 by Minnesota Prep Basketball Magazine. Led team to a fourth place finish in the 1996 Sweet 16 State Tournament. Holds school single season record in points scored.
• Matt Kretzman (Class of 1998) : Plays keyboard for indie rock band Tapes 'n Tapes. Performed on the David Letterman Show. Played at Lollapalooza 2007. [5]
• Larry Fitzgerald (attended Minnehaha Academy as a freshmen in high school): Wide Receiver in the National Football League (Arizona Cardinals)

Publications

MA's yearbook is named "The Antler," with its Middle School counterpart the "Minneantler." MA's school newspaper is "The Talon," referring to the foot of the fictional Redhawk mascot. It is a member of the High School National Ad Network. MA's quarterly news publication for parents and alumni is called "The Arrow."

References

1. ^ Hotakainen, Rob (2004-01-10). "Stay or go? Iraq opinions diverge – It's a familiar debate in state, across nation". Star Tribune. 

External links

• Minnehaha Academy Website
• North Campus 44°56′45.28″N 93°12′20.20″W / 44.9459111°N 93.205611°W / 44.9459111; -93.205611