Edina Council hears praise for middle school experience
The Edina City Council heard from community members on Tuesday about their positive experiences in the district's middle schools, with speakers highlighting strong academics, welcoming environments, and a sense of belonging that characterizes the educational experience.
During a meeting focused on parent and student experiences at Edina Public Schools' middle schools, speakers painted a picture of an educational system that prioritizes both academic rigor and student well-being. The discussion centered on what makes the middle school experience in Edina distinctive and valued by families in the community.
According to those who spoke, Edina's middle schools foster a strong sense of community where students feel welcomed and valued. Speakers emphasized that the schools celebrate diversity and create a supportive atmosphere where students report feeling heard by staff and peers alike. This welcoming environment appears to be a defining characteristic that families appreciate about the district.
On the academic front, attendees noted that Edina Public Schools maintains high educational standards through exceptional teachers who challenge students to excel. The district's size and resources allow it to offer a wide variety of coursework, giving middle school students the opportunity to explore different interests and prepare themselves for success in high school, college, and beyond. This breadth of academic options was highlighted as a significant advantage of the district.
The meeting reflects ongoing community engagement with Edina Public Schools, as residents share their perspectives on what's working well in the district. While no votes were taken or formal actions recorded during this portion of the meeting, the input from parents and community members provides the City Council with direct feedback about the educational experience families are receiving in their schools.
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[0:03] If I think back to what has stood out to me
in terms of the middle school experience,
[0:08] I would say the sense of community
comes through clearer and clearer.
[0:13] We felt very comfortable here,
everybody was very welcoming.
[0:17] I'm just blown away. I grew up in another
country and just being of color and being
[0:23] different than everyone around us at school,
but I have never felt excluded, I have felt
[0:28] more included than ever. And I feel that our
culture and our diversity is celebrated here.
[0:34] We pride ourselves on creating a strong sense
of belonging. The quality of academics here at
[0:39] Edina Public Schools is noteworthy because
we have exceptional teachers who set really
[0:44] high standards. Our learners have many
options when they are thinking about which
[0:49] coursework is best for them. Edina Public
Schools, because of our size and resources,
[0:57] is able to offer students a variety
of different exploratory and class
[1:02] offerings that most schools are not able
to offer. Students get to experience many
[1:07] different opportunities to think about
what sort of things they want to pursue.
[1:11] It has been the perfect balance for us. I go
into it with the confidence that whatever my
[1:17] child needs at this level, she is going to
get it. I just think it comes in at a much
[1:22] higher level than I ever would have
expected from another public school.
[1:27] With the really stellar crew that we
have, rest assured that middle school
[1:32] is a fun place that is also academically
rigorous. We feel like we work lockstep,
[1:37] hand-in-hand, with our community every step of
the way to create a really awesome experience
[1:42] for the scholars of tomorrow. Our staff is
deeply committed to the content and to the
[1:47] instruction necessary to help our scholars
be prepared not just for high school,
[1:51] but for college, to be future-proof no
matter what pathway they choose to pursue.
[1:55] So we started off in the Edina Public
Schools system for elementary school,
[2:00] we did consider going to a private school for
[2:02] middle school but we reconsidered. My
child is really happy to go to school.
[2:08] Knowing that the entire school year she
has been valued, she has been heard, the
[2:16] staff cares about them, the administration cares
about them and they're not shy to tell them that.
[2:21] Students need to want to come to school,
we want them to love being in this place
[2:26] understanding that life will pivot and
life will change, but if you have some
[2:29] foundational skills that can carry you through
these pieces you'll be ready for whatever.
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Academic Excellence and Diverse Opportunities
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