Welcome!
Pratt Elementary is a small K–5 public school nestled in the heart of Prospect Park at 66 Malcolm Ave. SE. With around 185 students spanning 6 grade levels, it’s the smallest and most historic school in Minneapolis, and its test results make it the best diverse school in the state.
Update on Pratt Status (May 29, 2009)
On April 28, 2009, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) staff presented a proposal to the MPS Board of Directors, developed for the purpose of reducing MPS transportation and operational costs. That proposal included a recommendation to close Pratt Community School effective September 2010. The school board was to vote on the proposal on May 26, 2009.
However, at a meeting on May 5, 2009, school board members asked tough questions about staff’s proposal and directed staff to revise the proposal in several major respects. Because of the extent of changes requested, the Board postponed the schedule of public hearings and final action. At this time, MPS intends to present a revised proposal in early July, with final Board action to occur in September.
Each restructuring proposal by MPS staff in recent years has included a recommendation to close Pratt. Pratt does not “fit the mold” of the larger-school model that staff believes is more cost-efficient. On each previous occasion, the MPS Board rejected staff’s recommendation because of Pratt’s record of academic achievement among an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse student body, and because of the strong community support that sustains the school. At the May 5 meeting, 5 of 7 Board members stated that Pratt should not be closed and should be supported. Indeed, the Pratt community and MPS representatives have begun to explore opportunities for Pratt under new state and federal initiatives to foster and support “innovative” schools.
If you are a present or entering Pratt family, then, we urge you to “stay the course” as we await the revised proposal from MPS in July. If you are a family still looking for the best school for your kids, we invite you to take a tour of Pratt and learn more about our school!! We are in the process of steady expansion to about 240 students and would be pleased to welcome you into our community. We are planning for a great year in 2009–10!!
Hello, Prospective Pratt Parents!
Thanks for stopping by! As parents ourselves, we know just how difficult it is to choose that one perfect school for your child. Rest assured that we want to help you find that perfect fit, whether you ultimately choose Pratt or another school. We’re always happy to give tours to show off the close-knit community that’s evolved at Pratt, and we’re always happy to put you in touch with other parents. You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers!
Want a tour?
Pratt offers parent-led tours to prospective families all year long. To arrange a tour, contact Jakki Kydd-Fidelman by telephone at 612-668-1107 or by email. Maps and directions are available here.
Want to talk to a current Pratt parent?
If you want to talk to a real, live Pratt parent, a number have volunteered to field questions from other prospective parents. You can find a list on our Contact page.
Not in the Pratt busing area but still interested in Pratt?
Because of the unique environment Pratt has to offer, a large number of our families come from outside the immediate Pratt busing area. Students from outside the busing area are still welcome to attend Pratt; you simply have to provide your own transportation. However, if you’re interested in joining a carpool from Seward, Longfellow or another neighborhood, please let us know. Contact Jakki Kydd-Fidelman by telephone at 612-668-1107 or by email.
Sign up for the Pratt email list!
The easiest way to keep up with news around Pratt is our school email list. Sign up now!
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FUNDRAISING FOR PRATT
Posted 2009-06-26 · This Past Friday
Make a contribution to Peace Maker Foundation before August 1st and your gift will be DOUBLED and paid to our school.
Pratt Community School is a member of Peace Maker Foundation. The Foundation raises money for our efforts to teach conflict resolution skills, as well as for the violence prevention efforts at about 50 other schools.
To make a tax-deductible contribution to Peace Maker Foundation, please go to http://www.peacemakermn.org/Contribute2.htm and write “A friend of Pratt Community School in the Special Instructions box.
Permalink: http://prattschool.org/news.php?id=84
Update to the Timeline for Extended Work on Changing School Options
Posted 2009-06-24 · Last Week
Many parents and community members have asked for an updated timeline for presentation of a revised Changing School Options plan, additional community engagement and final Board of Education vote. We ask for your patience with us as we work to develop and disseminate full and accurate information in a timely fashion.
Currently, members of the Minneapolis Public School’s administrative team and the board are collaborating to revise the Changing School Options recommendations that were initially presented on April 28. We are working together to further develop the best plan possible to right-size the district, given current financial realities and the goal to create a major urban school district that offers academic excellence for all students in all schools, provides stability for the future and is also financially sustainable over the long haul.
The additional work involved in the administration and board’s crafting an improved plan will require most of the summer. We are waiting to hold further community engagement sessions until we have a clear and thorough plan recommendation, likely by late summer or early fall. We collected a significant amount of input from February through April that we will use in revising the plan. We do not believe it would be fair to ask our families to engage in community sessions until we are prepared with clearly defined recommendations and rationale to share.
We are committed to completing each step in this process deliberately and carefully. We will come back to the community by holding informational town hall meetings at which we will share the revised plan and answer questions that may arise. Because the end of the school year is so near and summer is such a busy time for our families, our next round of community engagement will be scheduled to take place after the start of school in the fall. Please bear in mind that the following schedule is an estimate of the timeline for completing our Changing School Options Plan and is subject to change.
June
Administration revises plan and evaluate impact of changes
July-early August
Board and administration study revised plan and refine as needed
September
Community Town Hall Information Sessions
Public Hearing on School Change
Final Board Vote
Interested parents and community members should continue to check the MPS website, www.mpls.k12.mn.us beginning in July, to find planning materials being developed over the summer.
Permalink: http://prattschool.org/news.php?id=83
Key Advantages
- A unique partnership with the Community Education system, which uses those portions of the building which are not used for elementary education. This allows parents to attend classes in the same building as their children.
- Strong ties to the surrounding neighborhood, which has provided over $1.1 million in financial support and thousands of volunteer hours.
- Full-day kindergarten
- On-site before- and after-school care through the Minneapolis Kids program.
- Consistently turns in some of the very best test scores in Minneapolis.
- Numerous high-quality supplemental programs and partnerships.
- More…