FAQ

Charter schools in Minnesota are public, independent school districts. Charter schools accept all students in the grade levels they serve up to their maximum capacity. Charter schools are designed to be innovative learning labs to address learning opportunities not always available in larger district schools.

Nothing. Charter Schools are public schools and are not able to charge tuition.

Just off HWY 10, a few blocks south of Hanson Blvd, we are located at 11345 Robinson Dr, Coon Rapids, MN 55433

Call the main office 763-862-9223 or log in to our website nwphs.org to find an information night or schedule a tour.

Class sizes are capped at a maximum of 16 students.

  1. Everyday has a community check in activity, reading, math, mindfulness, project support lessons, and student work time.
  2. Days are very busy, dynamic and engaging. Lots of collaboration with both staff and students.
  3. The daily schedule is 7:45-3:00 Monday – Thursday and one Friday a month.

Students need 21.5 credits to graduate including the 15 Minnesota state requirements, 4 electives and 2.5 NWPHS specific credits.

Credits are earned through completing projects, seminars or expeditions. Students achieve mastery of subject area standards, once they complete all the required learning targets credit in that subject area is awarded.

Does NWPHS offer school lunch?

Lunches are available to all students regardless of ability to pay.

We provide transportation to and from school for students based in Coon Rapids. We have a fleet of vans that pick up and drop off students each morning and afternoon. We also provide city bus and train passes for families outside of the Coon Rapids service area.

Students rarely, if ever, do worksheets or packets, instead students dig deeper into ideas, concepts and learning.

Advisory is a long-term “homeroom” made up of a teacher/advisor and 15-16 students. Advisors serve as teacher, guidance counselor, and mentor. Students participate in advisory every day for support, community building, and project planning.

We purposefully spend time getting to know each other. Daily advisory meetings allow us to talk about life beyond school. The field experiences we offer allow students and teachers to get to know each other outside of the classroom. You get to know each other in a different way when you’re schlepping a 17 foot canoe over a 270 rod portage somewhere in the northern wilderness.

Ask them a lot of questions about who they are and what their interests are. Initially I make sure they know I know them and I am intentional about greeting them by name when I see them and then I look for common ground or interests they may have that I can ask them about.

All projects go through a supported process that includes discussions with teacher/advisor, brainstorming, researching, project tuning, standards alignment, presentation and finally assessment.

Expeditons are overnight learning experiences that range from one to 7+ nights and start as simple as a leadership retreat and go all the way to an international trip. The majority of expeditions are provided at no cost to parents and students. The exceptions could include the cost of a passport for an international trip or hiking boots for a backpacking trip.

Expedition catalogs are shared with students and families at the beginning of the school year. Students apply through a Google Form application.

Students at NWPHS pursue a wide range of post-secondary goals including 4 year college, community college, tech schools, internships and entering directly into the work force. Each year ~ 60% of our graduates enter into a post-secondary program directly after high school.

Headwaters is a specifically designed program for students entering 9th and 10th grade. The purpose of Headwaters is to support students, academically as well socially/emotionally, as they transition into high school. Headwaters has a designated building space, lower staff to student ratio and focuses on the building of success skills for high school and beyond.

Northwest Passage High School enrolled our first students in the fall of 1999 at the strip mall across the street from our current location. Over the years we have expanded to a three building campus, serving students in 9-12 grade.