How selective are Breck, Blake, etc? (middle school, office, cities)

[Lynne_MN]

Does anyone have a general idea of how selective the "elite" private schools are in the Twin Cities? Are test scores and grades really important for entrance into later elementary school grades or middle school (or high school) or do they take a range of kids whose parents can pay? I am referring to schools like Saint Paul academy, Breck, etc.

[uptown_urbanist]

I would guess it varies by year and how many spaces they have available, but for what it's worth, I've never personally met anyone who either hasn't been accepted or has had kids who haven't been accepted. Not all the kids there are naturally brilliant.

[Glenfield]

U_U is correct. Children will be tested to ensure that they are placed at the appropriate grade level, and the elite privates (Blake, Breck, Minnehaha, SPA, MPA) all provide an outstanding and challenging academic environment, but they do not screen out children of average intelligence. If these schools are looking for anything in prospective students it would be those who can contribute to the diversity of the student body.

One other point is that all of these schools offer financial assistance, sometimes full scholarships, and they accept students from a range of financial circumstances.

If you are looking for a school for your child(ren) I would encourage you to contact an admissions office or to attend an information night for prospective parents.