St. Paul Academy and Summit School (SPA) is a coeducational, non-sectarian, college preparatory day school serving more than 920 students in kindergarten through grade 12. Our two campuses are located approximately a mile apart in St. Paul, Minnesota, serving Grades K-5 on our Goodrich Campus and Grades 6-12 on our Randolph Campus. The school draws students from St. Paul, Minneapolis, and throughout the eastern and western suburbs. Our mission—shaping the minds and the hearts of the people who will change the world—is a promise to our students and our families, and it pushes us to be thoughtful about everything we do. It inspires us to be our best and reminds us that we have the responsibility to respect the unique potential in every child. Our mission gives us purpose and represents our greatest aspirations and values. But most of all, it reflects our deep belief in the talents and capabilities of our students. About the Upper School: The Upper School is home to students in Grades 9-12 and is characterized by advanced inquiry, lively discussion, deep engagement with topics, a strong sense of community, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students develop the habits and relationships that will carry them through high school and into the world of college and beyond. The Upper School's rigorous academic curriculum and seminar-based learning model is complemented by a network of support that includes teachers, advisors, college counselors, and resources for both academic and social/emotional well-being. About the Middle School: The Middle School at SPA is a place where students in Grades 6-8 experience the transition from childhood to young adulthood safely and surrounded by adults who care. Our culture is defined by our warm and welcoming community, our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our innovative and rigorous curriculum. The Middle School curriculum emphasizes wide-ranging exploration and skill development in specific disciplines, taught by teachers who understand and genuinely enjoy students at this age. Organization and accountability are emphasized, and students learn to take responsibility for managing their work. In the Middle School, students are challenged to embrace new ideas and think independently. The classroom experience is based on increased academic rigor combined with increased freedom of choice and support for the social/emotional needs of young adolescents is provided using Developmental Designs for Middle School. Finally, the advisory system sets clear standards and expectations for individual behavior and community norms. About the Lower School: When you walk through the front doors of our Lower School, you'll immediately feel just how special a place this is for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. From the welcoming Living Room just inside the front door (often warmed by a cozy fire in the fireplace), to the bright and spacious classrooms and hallways adorned with student artwork, to the five acres of open green space just outside our back door, the Lower School is designed around the academic, social, and emotional needs of young children. Our culture is defined by our warm and welcoming community, our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our innovative curriculum. Our small classes, 7:1 student/teacher ratio, and team-teaching model are the building blocks of the Lower School experience, along with the TOOLBOX social/emotional program, which gives both children and adults a common language for community values and problem-solving. For additional information about the school’s curriculum, community, and culture, please visit our website at www.spa.edu.