Minnewashta Elementary School

26350 SMITHTOWN RD

School District

Minnetonka Public
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Minnetonka Public School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 10, 2025

In our two years at this school we have found the teachers, paras, helpers and all other workers at the school to be super kind and helpful. We love the Spanish Immersion program and are so impressed by how much our children are learning and can do every year. 100% would suggest this school to anyone over and over again! I cant imagine a better school for my family.
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2022

Our daughter will be entering Spanish immersion, grade 3 in the fall. We LOVE this school. From the principal thru the entire faculity and staff, we have only positive things to report on our daughter's experience at Minnewashta, thus far. Highly recommend!!!
Submitted by other on June 04, 2020

The teachers we have had are great. In fact beloved. However, their reach and affect in some areas Does not extend to the areas I spoke of above. Many teachers are also very frustrated by many of the policies that are inconsistent, or poorly implemented. The school building is overcrowded and excessively loud in many areas creating additional barriers to learning. The Minnewashta families are great. I love that they encourage volunteers! Please volunteer, and encourage change as you see gaps and inconsistencies. If you have developmental concerns for your child considering interviewing many schools and don’t relent to the pressure to attend here it doesn’t feel like the right fit.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2019

Terrible. They do speak to you nice at first. Unless you confront the actions that need improvement.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2019

Second to none. My kids get a world class education at Minnewashta and I have a hard time finding any flaws at the school. My children's Kinder class sizes were in the teens, their first grade classes in the low 20's and every grade beyond that is kept in the mid to high 20's. I have friends with school age kids that report 30 or more kids in class. Some of the parents are snooty, but that's no fault of the school. The PTO is pretty great, and there are many ways to connect and serve at the school. The principal is a treasure. The teachers and staff are amazing. The before/after school program, Explorers, is awesome. This is coming from someone who didn't have a good public school experience growing up and had a hard time trusting a school with my kiddos in the first place. I feel grateful every year that my kids get to have this opportunity.
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2018

Our experience is largely dependent on which teacher we've gotten. We have had some great experiences. However, the curriculum is very rigorous and questionable in regard to what is developmentally appropriate especially for Kindergarten. There is not a viable or consistent way to communicate unfavorable experiences with this school, and the special education has been ineffectual. If I knew what I know now, I would not enroll here. In conversation, it is common to hear families describe overwhelm in general with the rigor, and pacing. If you have a perfect child, who is well adjusted under large amounts of stress, this school is a great choice.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2015

This school has some very caring teachers that seem to be over-worked. I have 3 children attending here; however, there are some problems. The administration isn't organized. There isn't enough communication between the staff as to the special needs of children. The school seems bursting at the seams in terms of space and the number of children. There is a large margin of kids that are missed because of large class sizes and some lack of self-advocating skills. No real innovation in teaching environment or techniques. There is very little help or resources offered to parents of children who are doing poorly academically. In fact you won't be aware of it, unless you really look at the scores and ask why being in the bottom 15% is considered "passing". You must be the squeaky wheel at this school. If your child has average/above average intelligence, with poor social skills/self-advocating skills, ADHD, learning challenges, or dyslexia, this school would not be a good choice. This school lacks leadership and needs to make some changes.
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2014

This school used to be great. The Spanish immersion program has splits the school community. English teachers wonder who will be next on the chopping block. The Spanish classes have no classroom management. You will be lucky to get a Spanish teacher with a teaching certificate. There is a lot of room for improvement.. It would be nice to have a smaller school. Too big, and impersonal.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2013

I am a new kindergarten parent and I love this school! Our teacher even called us the weekend after the first week of school to see how we thought the first week went. Very caring staff - even hosted a "Bring Your Own Picnic" get together the Sunday after school started for all families. I would suggest this school to anyone.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2012

Your kid is just a number at this school. We had to pull our child out of the 2nd grade Spanish immersion program half way through the year. Problems and issues that arise will not be addressed. The Principal wont take your calls or return voice mail or email. This is not a place where you can drop off and pick up your kid at the end of the day expecting that their educational needs will be met.
Submitted by parent on July 22, 2011

Unfortunately I have to agree with the October 2010 reviewer. This used to be a great school! If you are in Spanish Immersion it still might be, although the teachers are unstable and change from year to year and many are not trained to be teachers but only to teach Spanish. If you want to be part of the English program, I would look for a different school. It is way too big for a neighborhood school, the teacher moral is low, English teachers do not know who will lose their job next year, the English students are now a minority in the school, and the special ed program is using some of their time to tutor kids in Spanish immersion students so they will pass the standardized tests at the expense of the kids who really need the special ed. It's sad that this will also be moving to our great middle schools so the same thing will be happening there within the next two years.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2010

We moved before our daughter started kindergarten so she could attend Minnewashta. 2.5 years later, we agree it was a wonderful decision. The language immersion program has amazed us and the teachers/administration/staff don't miss a thing. It is a big school yet still feels like a small, close-knit community. Class sizes are small, parents are involved, teachers are dedicated...couldn't ask for a better place to go to school!