Mission Statement

We teach students to think independently, communicate effectively, and act with respect and integrity in a diverse community that models intellectual ambition, global responsibility, and the joy of learning.

Motto

Dream Big. Do Right.

What We Value

• Students who are involved and engaged in their own education
• An atmosphere of open discourse and academic rigor
• A balance of academics, arts, and athletics
• Experiential learning led by exceptional faculty
• Mutual respect and meaningful service
• Technology as an integral part of learning
• A school-wide spirit of innovation

History

After years of research, hard work, and a commitment to providing a college-preparatory curriculum focused on educating the whole child, founders Bob Kreischer and Sandy Kreischer Smith witnessed their dream become a reality as the doors of Mounds Park Academy opened in the fall of 1982.

With a group of highly committed parents, administrators, and teachers, slightly more than 100 students began that fall. Soon teams and clubs were formed, friendships were cultivated, and students became active participants in classrooms where the joy of learning and the spirit of community were celebrated each day.

The reputation of this amazing school spread and the student body steadily grew. By 1986, MPA quadrupled its enrollment and celebrated its first graduating class of nine students! Today, MPA has approximately 570 students in PreK through 12th grade, and graduates as many as 65 students each year who then move on to well-respected colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Not only has the student body flourished, but the campus has as well. MPA expanded and enhanced its facilities through the years with the addition of the Lansing Center, a four-court sports center, more than a dozen new Upper School classrooms and science labs, an Upper School student commons, and a state-of-the-art Makerspace. The fall of 2019 brought the new Family Commons, kitchen and library to the heart of the campus.

From its inception through today, MPA has provided rigorous learning opportunities for students in a nurturing environment, establishing itself as a top-tier college-preparatory school in the Twin Cities.