January 23, 2025
from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school
It is my custom to provide a yearly “state of the school” report in January, and I will use my Panther Post messages today and next week to highlight key updates and insights into our progress and future direction. Let me say upfront that MPA is in excellent shape and in a strong position locally, regionally, and nationally. Your partnership, support, and trust make it possible for MPA to continue thriving as a school community dedicated to cultivating a love of learning and fostering excellence in our students.
Enrollment Growth and Community Strength
I am thrilled to share that our enrollment for this year stands at 571 students, exceeding our forecast and marking continued growth. This is a testament to the exceptional reputation of MPA within the broader community. Once again, the demand for Lower School is a primary driver of this growth, with as many new students joining Lower School as the Middle and Upper Schools combined. We are proud to report that several grades, including kindergarten, first grade, third grade, sixth grade, and seventh grade, are fully enrolled with most other grades having just a few spots open.
Community member recommendations have emerged as the most common way that new families discover MPA, reflecting the power of word-of-mouth and the strength of our community’s commitment to our school’s mission. Additionally, attrition rates are at their lowest in several years, particularly during key transition years such as PreK to kindergarten, fourth to fifth grade, and eighth to ninth grade. This retention demonstrates the confidence families have in the continuity and quality of an MPA education. Looking ahead to the 2025-26 school year, we anticipate maintaining or slightly increasing enrollment. This steady, incremental growth aligns with demographic trends in the east metro area of the Twin Cities.
Financial Stability Amid Global Economic Challenges
Inflation continues to present challenges, particularly in areas like compensation, fundraising, food, and supplies. However, MPA remains on a solid fiscal foundation. Our lean budget requires careful stewardship to balance resources while maintaining our commitment to excellence.
A critical factor in understanding the financial dynamics of independent schools like ours is the economic theory of Baumol’s Cost Disease. This concept explains why costs in labor-intensive industries, such as education, arts, and health care, rise over time. Unlike industries where technology increases productivity, the personalized attention and small class sizes that define MPA cannot be automated. Compensation accounts for 80% of our expenses, while tuition makes up 80% of our revenue. Auxiliary programs, endowment earnings, and fundraising provide the remaining revenue, but the balance remains delicate.
Affordability
Affordability remains a top priority for the Board of Trustees and me. The cost of tuition is at the forefront of our short-term and long-term fiscal planning, and we are committed to managing tuition increases as we also prioritize compensation for our faculty and staff. For instance, tuition increases have slowed since the 2023-24 school year and the rolling 5-year average increase has declined since the 2019-20 school year.
Advancing Our Strategic Vision: 2024ward
Our strategic plan, 2024ward, is a guiding framework that propels us toward achieving our mission. Below are some highlights of our progress on the first priority, “empowering students to live, learn, and thrive in today’s increasingly complex globalized society.”
- Customized Pathways and Curricular Innovation: At the end of last year, our faculty finalized nine future-ready competencies encompassing 35 skills to prepare students for success in an increasingly globalized society. This year, teachers are integrating at least one of these skills into their instruction and assessments, laying the groundwork for embedding them throughout the curriculum in the coming years.
- Whole-Child Support Services: The newly established Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning embodies our commitment to creating a more inclusive and effective learning environment for all children. This year, professional development is focused on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework that guides the design of instructional goals, assessments, methods, and materials to meet the diverse needs of all students, particularly those who are neurodiverse. To support this initiative, we have added an instructional coach to our staff who is working directly with faculty to share research and best practices, ensuring teaching and learning are optimized for all students.
Looking Ahead with Optimism
As we reflect on our successes and address the challenges before us, I am filled with pride in what we have accomplished as a community. From robust enrollment to innovative curricular initiatives, MPA continues to position itself as a leader in independent education. Next week’s message will cover the three remaining strategic plan priorities as well as what’s on the horizon for MPA.
Together, we will continue to empower students to live, learn, and thrive in an ever-changing world. Thank you for entrusting us with your children’s education and for your steadfast support. It is an honor to partner with you in nurturing the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers
