Great River School

I am a current PSEO, 3.0 plus student at Great River School with several major University acceptances. Don t let that fool you; none of this is to be accredited to Great River. It is absolutely horrible. I have had to seek outside sources for education at my own expense. It is a constant nightmare of unprofessionalism, bias and poor teaching. It is not concerned about teaching its students, but buy its teachers need to act in a punitive manner against students in order to massage their own egos. There are a few bright stars at Great River but they are overshadowed by their egotistical faculty. Plus, if you want any extra circular activates; you can just forget it! I have also been the object of ridicule because of my interest of being in the Armed Forces. Surprisingly, I am being ridiculed by the teachers and not by the students. In closing, although Great River has a few amazing teachers, it is a pathetic excuse for a place learning. The only thing I learned from Great River is the meaning of unprofessionalism.

i came to this school from Crosswinds arts and science school because cw only goes till 10th grade and i came because of there comunity claims and the IB but the ib isnt one but challenging the teachers play favorites and dont appear to care and the admin plays favorites and the school is extreamly unproffessional i thought it looked like a great school on paper but then i actually went here and quickly learned this is not the case i also learned that these teachers loose your stuff all the time

Very frustrated parent at this school. My son has attended for two years. Teachers are EXTREMELY incommunicative. We cannot afford the near constant donation requests. Well meaning but misdirected. Built a huge addition to the school last year, but did not bother to even allow for a gym or exercise room. NO COUNSELORS, NO NURSE, NO LUNCH PROGRAM, NO JANITOR, NO DETENTION, NO SPORTS, NO PHY ED, NO WHEELCHAIR-BOUND, AND ALMOST NO PERSONS OF COLOR. Staff are either dismissive, lazy, or both. Don't even bother expecting a email response from a teacher. Principal doing a good job at weeding out the "hangers-on" from the school's startup period. Now has more order and focus. Could be five star, but instead gets low marks because it consistently misses the point: Teach my kid to read, write, and count. Teach him to exercise his mind AND his body. Make accountable for his choices--good and bad. Don't substitute glamourous academic aspirations, with confusing pseudo-Montessori doublespeak lingo, for genuine pedagogy and results. The sooner it gets over its narcissistic fascination with its own self-proclaimed charter school exceptionalism, and instead starts teaching my kid, the better.
--Submitted by a parent

We are high school seniors at great river school, and have been attending since 7th grade. Throughout the years we have seen the school grow in amazing and sometimes, although very rarely disappointing ways. The school is split up into 3 different levels (A1, A2, and A3) the first is the junior high (7th and 8th grade), the second being the lower class men (9th and 10th grade) while the third and the best is the upper class men (11th and 12th grade). Each level has a very different structure based on the needs of said level. In the A3, we get to create our own schedule, meaning we have certain classes we have to take, but we are in charge of what day and time we attend them. This is good practice for college, because much like college no one is forcing us to go to class, but if you don't you will become behind. A very big plus to this schedule, is that we have at least one hour of open work a day where teachers are available and willing to help you with whatever you need.It has a real community and it goes out of its way to make everyone feel accepted and comfortable! We would have not become the students let alone the people we are today without this amazing school!

What makes this school different than most? Camping trips for starters. To kick off the fall, while the 11th graders visit colleges around the midwest, the 12th graders kayaked around the Apostle Islands, and the 7-10th graders are on different camping trips. The 9-10th graders are harvesting pumpkins, potatoes, tomatoes, and squash that were planted the Spring before in Western Wisconsin. I have never worked or been in a school that contributes and uses it s community like this one. Great River collaborates with local businesses and uses/helps maintain local parks. In the current dire situation of public education funding, GRS is doing everything it can to earn grants, and fund raise to make these critical experiences possible. The young adults at this school are learning the invaluable skills of questioning, having a sense of place, how to work with others, and how to lead and be active members of their community. I have worked in many school districts in this state and have never found a more dedicated group of teachers and administrator. If I had children and lived in the metro area, they would be going here. Zach Schultz, former Math Teacher at GRS
--Submitted by a teacher

Very disappointed in every aspect of this school. The most troublesome factors are inconsistency, poor communication and persistent lack of organization by administration.
--Submitted by a parent

A school in which students have tons of options and have teachers that are committed to teaching them to think, to lead, to be curious and to explore. Montessori based, each students developmental needs are important.
--Submitted by a parent

A very creative school with positive learning experiences and great teachers. Our granddaughter loves it!
--Submitted by a parent

The best Montessori school in Saint Paul, and, why not, in Minnesota!
--Submitted by a parent

This school provides an incredible learning environment where students are engaged, responsible, and striving to become leaders.
--Submitted by a parent