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Frequently Asked Questions

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Northeast College Prep is a free public charter school that serves students of all economic and cultural backgrounds with a priority on closing the opportunity gap (or achievement gap).

We believe that children and adults grow into strong critical and creative thinkers when they have the opportunity to learn alongside others with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.  Northeast College Prep prepares all students to be able to graduate from college, if they choose.

Northeast College Prep serves Kindergarten – 8th grade.

Northeast College Prep is located in Northeast Minneapolis at 300 Industrial Blvd. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413, near 280 and E. Hennepin.

7:40am – 2:30pm every day Monday – Friday.

Students may arrive anytime between 7:20 and 7:40am.

Dismissal occurs between 2:30 and 2:45pm

Every K-8th grade student attends Spanish, Arabic, Music, Art and Physical Education on a rotating period. Additionally, all students have daily recess and go to the library every other week (or more frequently depending on their grade).

Here is the School Calendar 2023-2024 .  If you would like a printed copy, write a note to your child’s teacher or call the office, and we will send one home in their homework folder.

Here is a detailed document with student assessment dates 2023-2024 NECP District Assessment Calendar

Here is the 2023-2024 Attendance Policy Letter and the Student and Family Handbook 2023-2024.

NECP purchases school supplies for all students. No students are asked to bring school supplies from home.  Our school believes that every student will learn the best if they have the supplies they need, so we provide all school supplies for all students.  If your child needs school supplies to complete their homework at home (i.e. pencils, crayons, etc.), please talk to your child’s teacher and they can send supplies home with your student.

Please send a reusable water bottle with your student each day.  If your child needs a water bottle, their teacher can provide them one.

Currently, face masks are optional.  If you would like your child to wear a face mask, please send 2 or 3 masks each day to school.  Northeast College Prep can provide a face mask if requested.

Northeast College Prep requires its students to be in uniform unless expressly exempted from wearing a uniform by the school’s administration.

Click here to the view the Visual Uniform Policy.

 The school will provide each student with one uniform polo shirt. Additional polo shirts can be purchased in the school office for $10.   Other parts of the uniform may be purchased at local stores. 

Special Dress Days

  • On special dress days, students must bring a uniform with them in their backpack.  If they lose the privilege of special dress, they will change into their uniform.

Winter Clothing (required):

  • Boots (and tennis shoes for inside).  Students can keep their tennis shoes at school overnight and wear their boots to and from school.
  • Coat
  • Hat
  • Mittens or gloves

Winter Clothing (optional):

  • Snow pants
  • Scarf

Students without snow pants and winter clothing may have limited outdoor recess choices.  All students will go outside with the class everyday there is outdoor recess.

Students who are not in uniform will be sent to the office to change into a borrowed uniform or go home if they refuse to comply with school rules. If the administration believes a student’s appearance, grooming, or mode of dress interferes with or disrupts the educational process or school activities or poses a threat to the health or safety of the student or others, the student will be directed to make modifications or will be sent home for the day. A parent or guardian will be notified.

If you have questions about the uniform policy, please contact the school office.

There are two classes of about 24 students in each grade.  Students have one “homeroom” classroom teacher for all of their subjects and they also have one specialist classes each day (i.e. Arabic, Spanish, Music, Art and Physical Education).  5th and 6th graders have a homeroom teacher and one other teacher.  For example, in 5th and 6th grade one teacher teaches both classes literacy and one teacher teaches both classes math.  In 7th and 8th grade, students start and end their day in advisory.  They move to different classes and have three different teachers (one Math, one English Language Arts, and one that alternates Science and Social Studies).

No.  Northeast College Prep is open to any student.  Free transportation is provided to students within the busing zone but any student can attend, even if they live outside of the busing zone.

There is no single ethnic majority represented at our school.  Fourteen different primary languages are spoken in the homes of our students.  We believe schools must prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in an increasingly diverse society.  In addition to preparing students academically, schools must also promote cross-racial understanding and tolerance among groups and improve life opportunities for all students.  Students who learn in diverse, integrated learning environments have been found to have better critical thinking skills, academic achievement and life options.

In 2018, Northeast College Prep was recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education as a High Quality Charter School because of our years of academic data and sound financial accounting.

98% of Northeast College Prep families say their student is learning “a lot” at NECP and 96% of families will or have recommended NECP to other families.  Many students have found success at Northeast College Prep, even those who hadn’t found success at previous schools because of the calm and peaceful school culture, commitment to including all children, and dedication to knowing students and their families.

Our teachers:

  • Believe in our Core Convictions
  • Are talented, dedicated, caring adults who expect all children to learn at high levels
  • Are trained to treat children respectfully and interact calmly with everyone
  • Meet all state employment certification requirements and have passed a rigorous screening process
  • Regularly analyze data to effectively teach students what they specifically need
  • Believe that teaching students well with critical thinking, higher order questions and community action projects will disregard the need for a focus on test preparation
  • Are committed to constantly improving their teaching
  • Work closely with other staff to ensure the success of every student

To learn more about each of our staff members, click here.

Absolutely!  We support the teaching of all students.  We train our teachers in how to teach students with a variety of needs and welcome all students to our school.  Our Special Education teachers and English Language Development teachers are committed to the success of every student.

A charter school is a public school.  It is funded by the state, much like traditional public district schools are funded.  Charter schools receive the resources they need, given the number of children, just like all public schools.

Charter schools have their own School Board and are required to be accountable to the same state measures.  If growth is not made, charter schools can be closed by the authorizer and the Minnesota Department of Education.

We value family engagement and offer a variety of ways families can get involved, although family participation is not required.  We believe that a child’s education occurs amidst a partnership between the school and the family; a strong partnership increases the odds of a child’s long-term success.  Many families volunteer at the school and we hold regular family events and conferences.

When demand exceeds capacity, a lottery for student spaces in the school is held.  Names are drawn out of all of the waiting list names to fill the available seats.  Preference is given to students who have siblings at the school and children of school staff.  Once spots are full, a waiting list for the current school year is created until the next lottery.  Northeast College Prep will hold its lottery at the end of January.  All students will be notified of their status in early February.

Call the office for the most updated information and to find out which grades have current openings at (612) 248-8240 or click here to apply online.

Volunteering, donating supplies or making financial donations can all be done through Andrea Halverson at 612-248-8240 or [email protected].

If you would like to donate supplies, we are always accepting school supplies, winter clothing, uniform clothing (dark blue or khaki or black), children’s tennis shoes, and recess equipment.   If you are available to volunteer, we would love help chaperoning field trips or supporting in the classroom.

Any financial donations can be made out to “Northeast College Prep” and mailed to Northeast College Prep, 300 Industrial Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.

Thank you for supporting Northeast College Prep!