Best Minneapolis middle and high schools and protocol (St. Paul, Eden Prairie: home, neighborhood)

[Rowanlinnea]

I am planning a move to the Twin Cities, and have been researching the schools as my kid's education is a very high priority as to where we will settle. I have heard from a Minneapolis resident that it is the norm for good students to be placed in bad schools to prop up the school, but it does not work that way in St. Paul. I would like to know just how true this allegation is . Thank you!

[MnMomma]

I have never heard that allegation and can not believe it is in any way accurate.

[1stpontiac]

Seems highly unlikely to me...

[Glenfield]

This is completely untrue. In Minneapolis, you have some ability to choose which school your child attends. I do not know how St. Paul works, but you can get info about MPS here.
2012-13 School Choice Center
Also, you are not limited to the school district in which you reside, but may choose another district, depending on availability. In both cases, transportation options may be limited.

I'm sorry you were given such bad information, but on the bright side, you now know to ignore what this person says.

[MplsTodd]

No, that doesn't make any sense. My kids go to Schools in SW Mpls and really enjoy it.

[StilltheSame]

Originally Posted by Rowanlinnea

I am planning a move to the Twin Cities, and have been researching the schools as my kid's education is a very high priority as to where we will settle. I have heard from a Minneapolis resident that it is the norm for good students to be placed in bad schools to prop up the school, but it does not work that way in St. Paul. I would like to know just how true this allegation is . Thank you!

Sounds like someone is having fun at your expense, or wants you to move to St. Paul. Never heard of such a thing.

[Ben Around]

Sounds like a suburban legend to me...

[Mason3000]

My kids go to school in St Paul & you will be asked to fill out a wish-list form ranking your #1, #2 & #3 schools. You can apply to any magnet, Montessori or charter school you wish & IF they have space they'll take you. If not, then you default to your local, neighborhood school regardless of your color, social class or how good the school is or isn't. St. Paul is full of wonderful options if you live in the Western District (i.e. West of Downtown). We listed #1. JJ Hill Montessori which is 2 blocks from us but we didn't get in, which brought us to our two default, neighborhood schools Randolph Heights & Groveland Park. Both had great reputations so we were excited that our worst case scenario was pretty rosy looking. We chose Randolph Heights as our #2 based mainly on their GreatSchools.Org ranking of '9' (out of '10') as opposed to Groveland Park's '7' (out of '10') ranking. It was full also so we are at Groveland Park & feel pretty fortunate to live in an area where our #3 choice is a Minnesota '7'. I'd be happy to answer questions you have about specific schools in St Paul or the process having gone through it just last fall.

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by Rowanlinnea

I am planning a move to the Twin Cities, and have been researching the schools as my kid's education is a very high priority as to where we will settle. I have heard from a Minneapolis resident that it is the norm for good students to be placed in bad schools to prop up the school, but it does not work that way in St. Paul. I would like to know just how true this allegation is . Thank you!

No, absolutely not true.

It used to be, however, that a student in one school zone had a decent shot at getting into a high school choice outside of that zone (i.e. attend South High School instead of the locally zoned Roosevelt -- there's been a lot of internet buzz about this on a Minneapolis parent email group lately), but these days you can't count on that. In other words, don't move to a neighborhood with a school that you don't like. I believe that's due to space issues, not to "prop up" the schools with lesser reputations, although I'm sure the district hopes that the parents will choose the local option and, in the process, those kids (and the kids who actively try to pick a school, rather than just automatically go the default route, probably are a self-selected group of students and families who would be a positive for the school) will make it better. In any case, it wasn't all that long ago that it was fairly easy (high school level, anyway) to go to a school outside of your zoned school if you didn't like the local option, but that has become far more difficult.

With elementary schools you have more options, as there are more magnets and things to choose from. But for high schools, better live in the zone that is home to the school that you like. But absolutely no need to worry that your kid zoned for Southwest is going to be sent across the city to boost scores at Roosevelt.

[golfgal]

Maybe she is thinking about what is going in in Eden Prairie since that is what they are doing in their district....