Pratt Elementary School

66 Malcolm Avenue Southeast

School District

Minneapolis Public School Dist.
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Minneapolis Public School Dist.

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 February 06, 2019

I am happy with my child's experience at Pratt and we plan to send our second child there as well. They value the arts, they have a good amount of field trip experiences, and they are creative with their budget dollars. A good number of students are in telescope math (4th, 5th, and 6th grade math in grades 4+5) and reading above grade level. They have also reported above average success with their English Language Learner student achievement.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2017

The year spent at Pratt Community School was disappointing in many ways.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2015

We are wrapping up our first year at Pratt school and cannot say enough great things about it. This k-5 school is small enough where the staff and teachers all know your child's name. Principle Vague greets children every morning at the door with smiles, pats on the head and a big good morning. Teachers in the higher grades know the lower grade students. Kids at Pratt are confident and feel safe and cared for. The teachers are talented and work hard with specialists to break classrooms up into small groups. Teacher to student ratio in small groups is 1:5 or 1:6. Kids all move at their own pace and assessments are regular so when your child progresses they are always challenged. Principle Vague is always around and has a great handle on what's going on in each classroom. To her credit she knows the parents and listens to suggestions and implements them! The PTO is strong and welcoming. They fund Artists In Residence and the school can easily say it has an arts focus. The kids get to work with community artists each month on top of their regular weekly art instruction. The building and classrooms are gorgeous. Big huge rooms, lots of space and tons of natural light.
Submitted by other on September 10, 2013

Pratt is dedicated to the need of their children. The staff goes above and beyond to make student's successful!
Submitted by other on September 10, 2013

Best Social Worker Ever!!!! The staff really cares about the students! I love what Pratt does!
Submitted by other on September 10, 2013

Pratt community school is trusted throughout a very diverse community. Pratt care's about the community, families, student's and every aspect that affects their students success.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2012

My son attended Pratt from kindergarten through fifth grade. During those years, the school changed from a tiny, very affluent school to a still small, but larger, much more diverse school. This is the best thing that could have happened for my son and the other privileged students at Pratt. He gained so much understanding, compassion and poise from learning with kids from such different backgrounds, and being part of such a close-knit community. Academically, he was able to skip to advanced seventh grade math when he started middle school this year, and placed into the g&t reading and Arabic program as well. I always appreciated how much challenge his excellent teachers were able to provide for my son and the other students who were ahead of the curve. Homework was never an issue-he spent his time in school learning and his time after school playing, which is what is best for elementary age students. I teach AP history at a high school in the suburbs that was named one of the top schools in the nation by Newsweek. I KNOW that my son got a great education at Pratt. He will be well prepared for AP classes in high school. More importantly, he is happy, confident, & socially savvy.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2012

Pratt School has been wonderful for our family. I have two kids in this school now and one who will start in a year. The teachers are top notch, the parents are active and strong, and the student body is richly diverse. Many neighborhood families choose this school and reap the benefits of living in a community lucky enough to have one of the smallest schools in the district. Others choose to drive their kids here to have a small school, diverse educational experience. One of the best schools in MPS!
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2012

We have one graduate of Pratt and one child still there. Both attended since kindergarten. The current principal is wonderful. She has attracted, and kept, a wonderful group of teachers. Test scores are very good, when measured against students of similar backgrounds. Our children have been afforded a great academic, cultural, and arts education. Our first child, who has moved on to middle school, tested a grade level ahead in math and into advanced writing in large part because of the instruction and confidence building at Pratt. Our second child is also doing very well. Pratt is a wonderful place where children of all backgrounds learn, play and nurture each other. Our children have received a wonderful multifaceted education.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2012

Clearly the two recent reviews were not from very recent experiences. The school certainly has its share of FRL and ELL, but we love being part of a diverse school. And if we must judge a school on test results my kids are a testament to excellent instruction as they both (current 2nd and 4th) exceed the standards by a huge margin. Every teacher my kids have had has been extremely dedicated, and the principal is a fabulous leader. I can't say enough good things about this school. My kids are getting a high quality education in a school of only 200 students, and at the same time they are learning that not everyone in this world comes from the same culture as they do. Pratt school is a wonderful, nurturing environment in the center of a community that strongly supports it. The classes that have historically had trouble in this school have a direct correlation with the years that MPS has threatened to close it due to it's small size. Those threats resulted in some white flight. Luckily the strong dedicated parents and neighborhood community prevailed and we are well past that threat as the school continues to grow and kids thrive. I highly recommend this school to anyone!
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2012

REALLY enjoyed walking to school & connecting with very caring neighbors. Unfortunately, we transferred out in 4th with several neighbors which was gut wrenching & sad! Our 2nd/3rd math was never on level with our MPS peers. Those years are fundamental for math facts as foundation (& reading). Our homework was largely drawing "zinglots" - completing animals from partially provided line drawings. 1/2+ of our daughter's class was not at state standard in math or reading (WPM) and we saw virtually no quantitative measures mid year or specialist intervention. Behavior also needed much improvement! So much that we could identify a Pratt kid. Our daughter is again straight As as she was before and after Pratt. She's also gifted & talented. But it was a long and tough haul emotionally & financially with hard work & determination :) on her part (with SAP math specialist & Dad) to dig her out of partially proficient status The $ cost to us was real in terms of both summer tutors and eventually, alternative private school for middle school years to maintain her confidence. Every transfer should get an exit interview. We never considered Pratt for our 2nd who is highly gifted
Submitted by parent on March 06, 2012

Test scores aren't everything. But initially Pratt rivaled Lk Harriet & to date hasn't recovered in scores or GS rating. The 2011 MCAs are welcome sign reaching close to state ave. Unfortunately, Pratt was frought with a passive aggressive principal/vice for many years & thrown into a whirlwind of uncertainty/risk with only the well connected neighborhood to advocate for it. This is its strength & continues to be palpable with strong sense of community. For us the widely variable stats that started to manifest a few years after Pratt opened, as well as comparatively crippled resources,extracurricular and enrichment, had us go right outside the neighborhood to school. There was a very tough period with behavior that the school found itself due to past admin. To make ours sit through that without gauruntee of their education, was not acceptable & ultimately was unfair. Our Pratt experience in 2nd and 3rd put us way behind, & required several hard years getting up to speed as foundation for accelerating math concepts. Hopefully the community will continue pull it through as is its strength. Unfortunately, the cost of inconsistency to our family is much too high.
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2011

We moved our son from the Twin Cities German Immersion School to Pratt and we couldn't be happier with our decision. Our son is thriving because he has experienced teachers who know how to challenge him and a warm and loving environment which is largely due to the amazing leadership of the principal Anne Wade and her fantastic staff and teachers who treat children positively by rewarding them for their hard work not with negative consequences under the guise of "Responsive Classroom."
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2011

We have a first grader at Pratt and our daughter is learning very well, enjoying the learning, and feels VERY much a part of the Pratt community. This is her school and she is truly part of something special at Pratt. Her teachers have all been very skilled and love all their students. The rest of the staff is responsive and every single person know the kids and watch out for them; we're very happy with our choice.
Submitted by other on September 19, 2010

I am a Pratt alumni and now attend Sanford Middle School. When I started there, I was already over prepared and have made it onto the A honor role every quarter. I think that what led to my success in middle school has been my time at Pratt. All the teachers were caring and challenged my greatly. I would recommend Pratt as a number 1 choice to any parent with an elementary school age child.