The Blake School

110 Blake Road South

Hopkins, MN 55343

6 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 17, 2025

The Blake lower school is in a crisis right now. Blake has always been a wealthy school where parents sent their children to make the right type of friends, but in the past that was also supported by rigorous academics and cordial relationships between families and the school. Everything has been slowly falling apart over the past 15-20 years, and Blake won't be able to coast on its reputation for much longer.There is no longer an academic curriculum in the lower school. Yes, I mean that literally - there is no curriculum. Teachers just teach whatever they want to, with the predictable result that kids are receiving wildly varying educations with a lot of holes. By the end of 5th grade, Blake kids are several years behind their public school peers, with many still struggling to read and do basic math. The open secret now is that the success stories that Blake highlights in the upper school, with kids winning awards and heading to Harvard, are almost all kids who did their elementary years elsewhere. The Blake "lifers" almost never overcome the mediocre elementary education that they received. And there are other problems. The elementary administrators and teachers don't try to hide their disdain for parents and each other. No one seems to like or care about children. Blake admits and retains a certain type of kid: compliant, average, athletic, and boring. There is a lot of heavy-handed, old-school style discipline, heavy on punishments like taking away recess and having kids stand in the corner (literally. This is not a euphemism. It's actual standing in corners). The children are well-trained and walk quietly in the hallways, and they keep their heads down and often look sad. The normal joy and happiness and playfulness that you see in elementary schools is missing here.There are also big problems with diversity, and not just the obvious types of diversity. There aren't many kids of color - most families of color have realized their kids can get a better education at a local public school, and also just won't tolerate administrators and teachers treating them disrespectfully, which is unfortunately the norm at Blake. But it's lacking in all other types of diversity too. The Blake lower school wants a certain type of kid from a certain type of family who can pay full tuition. It doesn't want kids who view the world in a different way, who are curious or artistic or quirky or creative or gifted or who have a spark.
Submitted by parent on July 19, 2022

Exceptional school in every way. This is an elite , rigorous program that provides outstanding experience. By elite I mean in the sense of elite academic performance. It’s sensitive to diversity and inclusion. The students have a close relationship with their classmates, like extended family. The teachers and staff are incredible. They are 100% committed to students and exceptionally responsive to parents. Each class and each grade is one part of an overall plan, that is beautifully executed on every level. Highly recommend The Blake school, it puts your child on a completely different trajectory in life.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2021

Blake has really been a great place for our kids, and especially during Covid, they were well prepared with distance learning and hybrid models that evolved with the current pandemic status. A high percentage of the kids are involved in music and sports, which is open to anyone who is interested. The teachers are amazing, and continue to keep in contact with their students even when they move on to the next level. The homework is rigorous, but teachers offer extra help during daily tutorial sessions. English and Social Studies emphasize critical thinking and teamwork. There are options to skip math levels and multiple points of entry to the honors program. The teachers and general parent community tend to be more liberal. Bullying is not tolerated.
Submitted by other on March 14, 2020

Great 20th century approaches but so far behind 21st century curriculum and programing. Public schools in the area are superior in all aspects.
Submitted by other on September 25, 2019

Ich bin sechszehn Jahre alt und ich bin lerne Deutsch. Das Schul hilft mein Lehrbuch und es ist schlecht. Was wissen wir ist nicht gross und das ist schlecht. Sprecht Deutsch hier gut Mann oder Frau? Nein? Ich weiss nicht. Ich glaube nicht. Haben besser, bitte. Danke,Ein Deutsch lerne Jungenschlide
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2014

Not everyone is excited about Principal Stavney and her feministic ideals. I don't think her views are appropriate.