Started in 2000, HA’s mission is to “make rigorous, Christian education affordable for everyone.” HA raises 90 percent of the school’s operating budget, with tuition covering the remaining 10 percent.

Approximately 150 businesses, individuals and foundations provide full scholarships of $4-5,000 through the school’s Partner Scholarship Program, which covers the bulk of the operating budget.

“Hope Academy High School will be the only evangelical high school in Minneapolis that is affordable for everyone,” said Dan Olson, HA’s development director. “Tuition for many families is $60 per month.”

Principal Russ Gregg said the average family pays around $750 per year, per student. Gregg says the school has never turned anyone away for a lack of funds.

“Our current plan is to keep it the same for the high school,” Gregg said.

Hope Academy’s K-8 program currently serves 190 students of diverse backgrounds. About 50 percent of the student body is African-American, 20 percent are Hispanic, 10 percent are Native American, and 18 percent are Caucasian.

“Hope Academy is an oasis for families in the inner city,” Olson said. “The Phillips Neighborhood is an incredibly diverse community, but one racked by extreme poverty and violence. Seventy percent of HA students live in near poverty-level conditions and 50 percent come from single family homes.”

Despite the challenges of the community and student home lives, Hope’s students and families are thriving.

“We require parents to be involved in their children’s education (94 percent attendance rate at Parent Teacher conferences), and our teachers view their work as a mission field,” Olson said. “It’s working. Many parents have come to faith in Christ through relationship at Hope, and countless students thrive in a disciplined, loving environment.”

Last year, HA middle school students tested in the top 35 percent on national standardized tests.

Hope Academy moved into a new facility on the first floor of the former Mt. Sinai Hospital at 2300 Chicago Ave. S. in 2006. Classes for the new high school will be held on the second floor.

“The high school facility is beautiful,” Gregg said. “It has 12 excellently designed classrooms and a science lab to go along with our library, computer lab and gym.”

The new high school program will feature: regular times of corporate worship; a classical, academically rigorous curriculum; instruction in gender-divided classrooms; and class sizes between 15-20 students.

“Research has shown that among urban youth, gender-divided classrooms enhance educational outcomes,” Olson explained. “It won’t be for all classes—only core curriculum classes like science, math, English and Bible. Classes like music and art may include boys and girls together.”

Because so many HA families rely on bus transportation, extracurricular activities—like speech, debate and basketball—will be offered during a required afternoon activity period, allowing more students to participate. Plans for a sports program offering football, basketball, and track for boys, and volleyball, basketball and track for girls are also underway.

“Our mission [is] to raise up leaders of character who will serve God by serving families, neighbors, churches, and the city at large,” Gregg said.


ACTION POINT:
To learn more about Hope Academy, visit www.hopeschool.org or call (612) 721-6294. High School Information Open Houses are being held on the second Tuesday of each month through July. The next Open House event is Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m.