Mounds Park Academy Revenue and Competitors

Mounds Park Academy is an independent, non-denominational, co-educational, college preparatory day school on a 32-acre campus located at 2051 Larpenteur Avenue East in St. Paul. Serving over 700 students from throughout the Twin Cities metro area in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade in one building, this unique setting fosters role modeling, cross grade collaboration, pairing assemblies, mentoring, and many other opportunities for shared growth and learning. Mounds Park Academy upholds a standard of academic excellence within a challenging, yet nurturing environment. With small class sizes, seasoned teachers, and an experiential learning environment, the school delivers a thoughtful, unique, and effective curriculum that resonates with students from a variety of learning styles. With a strong commitment to providing a liberal arts foundation for all students, MPA offers its students an equally strong curriculum in both the arts and the more traditional studies. Whether in science, social studies, or another discipline, the experiential, hands-on learning approach cultivates risk-taking and conceptual thinking around complex real-life issues. MPA considers visual and dramatic arts, music, world language, and physical education essential elements in a college preparatory curriculum that fosters critical thinking, problem solving, and self expression. Therefore, courses in these disciplines are required beginning in kindergarten. The wide breadth and depth of the curriculum develops students who are confident, articulate, and who think independently, and perhaps is most clearly evident during the senior performances, when each student in the senior class gives a remarkable 15-minute performance to his or her peers and the MPA community. MPA values a wide range of thought and has a diversity coordinator who works with faculty to continually evaluate the curriculum to ensure it reflects a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds. Each fall MPA celebrates the unique cultural contributions of its families and the community through a school-wide cultural fair. In addition, the globally-focused curriculum helps students consider their role in the broader community. The concepts taught in the classroom are reinforced by requiring students in all grades to carry out community service projects, culminating with a 30-hour service project in their senior year. MPA is committed to increasing its socio-economic diversity by making tuition affordable for all through its financial aid program. To ensure students are tech-savvy for college and beyond, information technology is an important component in the curriculum. It includes having wireless internet access throughout the entire building as well as computer labs, science labs, and a 28,000-volume library with the latest hardware and software for research and study. There are technology coordinators and librarians in each division who work with teachers and students to integrate the use of technology and research into the curriculum. All teachers at MPA, as well as all students in the Upper School, are provided with a laptop computer, which is used for in-class learning as well as homework assignments. In its mission to develop well-rounded students, MPA offers over 70 extracurricular opportunities, including an after-school athletic program that begins in 6th grade, an instrumental and vocal music program, a political union, and an award-winning speech and debate team. Students are strongly encouraged to explore extra curricular options, and almost all students in the Upper School participate in at least one activity. Upon graduation, MPA students are excellent communicators, accomplished researchers, and have a strong sense of self. With the assistance of a comprehensive college counseling program, nearly 100% of the graduates attend four-year colleges and universities throughout the country. Our alums continually report back that they felt very well-prepared for the rigors of college and professional school and are appreciative of the education they received at Mounds Park Academy.