Upper School

From the Principal

Welcome to the Upper School at St. Paul Academy and Summit School! Our program, like those in the Lower School and the Middle School, is anchored by a faculty of outstanding teachers who serve as mentors and guides to their students inside the classroom and beyond. The Upper School focuses on preparing students for their next steps: preparing them for success in college and preparing them to be valuable contributing members of society throughout their lives. Our rigorous college preparatory curriculum is designed to move students through the basic skill-building and concept mastery of 9th and 10th grades, to a program in 11th and 12th grades that challenges students to test their limits and think “outside the box” as creative problem-solvers. Our school culture values and rewards integrity, respect, and compassion. We nurture students and provide them with the confidence to take intellectual risks as they mature into responsible citizens. Students in the Upper School are encouraged to pursue opportunities for leadership and service, and close student-teacher relationships help each student find his or her own distinct voice and passions in the classroom and throughout a wide range of artistic, athletic, cultural, and social activities.

If you are new to the SPA community, I encourage you to visit the Upper School on the Randolph Campus to see our exciting program and our dynamic people in action. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Chris Hughes
Upper School Principal
651-696-1415

In the Upper School Classroom

SPA teaches all students an independent, rigorous college preparatory curriculum with a broad liberal arts emphasis. Class sizes averaging 14 students support interactive discussions and close student-faculty connections. Teaching at SPA is student-centered and discussion-oriented. Through small classes and interaction with faculty and peers, students learn to think for themselves and develop skills in communication, problem-solving, and analytical thinking. Teachers expect high levels of concentration, engaging classroom discussion, and creativity in homework assignments. As students move from grade to grade, the program offers greater independence and academic choice and fosters collaboration with faculty and classmates. Faculty incorporate Harkness pedagogy with a focus on thoughtful student preparation prior to class, active student listening and leadership within classes, and increased student responsibility for individual and collective learning.

Students Earn State and National Recognition

  • Two Presidential Scholars in past three years
  • First Place, Regional Science Bowl and State Science Olympiad, 2007
  • State Champion, Boys’ Tennis, 2005, 2007, 2008
  • State Tournament contender, Math Team, 21 years; perennial first place in Tri-Metro division; Tier II State Champion, 2008
  • The Rubicon student newspaper earned StarTribune First Place, Best of Minnesota (2005, 2006); Journalism Educators of Minnesota (JEM) All-State Gold Award (2005, 2006, 2007); Minnesota High School Press Association (MHSPA) First Place, Best in Show (2006, 2007). During 2007–08, individual staff members received 16 state and 2 national awards for writing and design. Ten staff members were acknowledged for academic excellence and journalism skill.
  • Award of Excellence, Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) One-Act Play, 2006
  • All-State Gold Award, 2006 Art and Literature Magazine; honorable mention, yearbook Ibid
  • National Forensics League honors earned by 31 seniors, 23 juniors and sophomores in 2007—the highest percentage per school in Minnesota
  • Qualified for the National Tournament in debate in 2005, 2006, and 2008
  • 32 Silver and Gold Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards, 2005–08

US Vision Statement

The Upper School is a rigorous college preparatory school. Our essential activity is the collaboration between students and faculty mentors who strive to foster integrity, responsibility, and respect in an atmosphere of trust. We value intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, creativity, breadth of experience, and the development and understanding of multiple perspectives. We nurture mental, physical, and emotional well-being while encouraging leadership, service, and engagement in community life.

The Upper School focuses on preparing students for their next steps: preparing them for success in college and preparing them to be valuable contributing members of society throughout their lives.