Twin Cities
Minneapolis and St. Paul, known as the Twin Cities is home to over 700,000 people making one of the largest economic hubs in the mid-west. The Twin Cities are home to many of America's Fortune 500 Companies: General Mills, Medtronic, Target, Best Buy, Carlson Companies, 3M, Cargill to name a few. While the median income is one of the highest in the nation per capita at $54,103, most low income families from African American, Latino and Hmong community are living on less than half this amount.
The Challenge
Realities of the Achievement Gap
Sadly, the Twin Cities has the second highest achievement gap between white students and students of color in reading and mathematics in the nation. Less than one and ten African American and Latino attending college from the Twin Cities. 37% of Latino students are graduating from high school in Minneapolis. In partnership with the business community, local government and neighborhood community, Hiawatha Schools has and will continue to operate with a sense of urgency to close the achievement gap in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Our Approach
Hiawatha Schools believes that through high expectations, longer school day and school year, developing leaders, focusing on results and doing whatever it takes will prepare our scholars for college and to be the future leaders of the Twin Cities region.
Teach for America Partnership
65% of our staff are Teach for America alumni or current corps members.
Executive Director, Shannon Blankenship was a 2001 TFA corps member in New York City and Corps Member Advisor at New York Institute.
Founding Teach for America Executive Director for the Twin Cities, Daniel Sellers was a Hiawatha Board member and now special advisor to the leadership team.
"Hiawatha Academies reminds me of the truly first rate schools I've seen across the country: it is a place where students and teachers and parents expect greatness from each other, where learning is important and pursued with urgency, and where every child starts down the path to college."
~ Matthew Kramer – President of Teach for America