St. Paul Academy - Summit School
St. Paul Academy and Summit School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for students in kindergarten through grade 12.
Our mission—to shape the minds and the hearts of the people who will change the world—is a promise to our students and our families.
Students are taught how to think clearly and creatively. We open doors, show them pathways and support their passions.
Each child learns to apply their individual talents, and to embrace their potential.
Our faculty and staff model and coach students on how to be sensitive to the personal struggles of others.
Quick Stats (2022)
- Top Ranked MN School
- Grades: Kindergarten-12
- Students: 911 students
- Yearly Tuition: $27,500
- Acceptance rate: 75%
- Average class size: 15 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
St. Paul Academy - Summit School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Minnesota for:
Category
Attribute
ACT Score
Acceptance Rate
Student Body
Sports offered
School History
School Overview
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-12
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Mild Learning Differences
Year Founded
1900
Summer School Offered
Yes
School Calendar
Student Body
Total Students
911 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
22%
State avg.: 23%
Students by Grade

Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
107 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
75%
Average Class Size
15 students
List of Courses Offered
Average SAT score
1270
Average ACT score
29
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
(Lower school-dress code, middle and upper-appropriate dress)
(Lower school-dress code, middle and upper-appropriate dress)
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Feb. 1 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$27,500
% on Financial Aid
25%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$14,926
Acceptance Rate
75%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Heather Cameron Ploen
Admissions Associate
Julie McGlincey
Sports
Total Sports Offered
15 sports
Sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
2 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Chess Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Theatre
Chess Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Theatre
School Notes
- At SPA, students are challenged by what we believe is the best academic curriculum in Minnesota. They are supported by the individual attention that is made possible by the lowest average class size of comparable independent schools in the state: Lower School classes average 13 students; Middle School classes average 15 students; and Upper School classes average 14 students. Across all three divisions, our student/teacher ratio is 8:1.
- In the Lower School, these small classes, each led by a teaching team of two homeroom teachers, allow for a thorough and age-appropriate introduction to intellectual inquiry. The careful use of differentiation--grouping students into small learning cohorts--allows master teachers to offer plenty of attention and indivdiualized guidance to our youngest students. Academic technology is introduced in Kindergarten and is integrated into learning in both the homerooms and specialists classes.
- In the Middle School, an increasingly rigorous curriculum is supported by Developmental Designs for Middle School, a social-emotional pedagogy in which teachers push students intellectually while still offering them the support they need to navigate young adolescence. The advisory system is a fundamental component of this support, as is the continued use of academic technology with an emphasis on digital citizenship and online safety.
- By the time they enter Upper School, students are ready for SPA's challenging and innovative college preparatory program that emphasizes discussion-based learning, advanced inquiry, lively discussion around Harkness seminar tables, and deep engagement with ideas. As students prepare for life after SPA, our extenstive College Counseling program begins, with each student assigned one of three full-time College Counselors in Grade 10.
Source: Verified school update
School Reviews
5 8/25/2021
MPA has firm mask restrictions that keep us safe. We always do fun stuff and meet new awesome teachers. The track is big and we can play multiple games. The best part is that there are role models everywhere to help and teach us everything we need to know. Overall I rate MPA A 10/10
5 7/24/2015
Spent 10 years in the system as an unwilling participant. Learned more there than anywhere else since. Excellent school and if the student accepts it will create a sense of purpose.
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Nearby Homes for Sale
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1583 BERKELEY AVE
SAINT PAUL, MN$499,900- 5 Beds | 2.5 Baths
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1975 LAUREL AVE
SAINT PAUL, MN$429,900- 3 Beds | 1.75 Baths
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1176 LAUREL AVE
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1403 SHERBURNE AVE
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