Minnetonka High School

Last updated

Minnetonka High School
Minnetonka High School.jpg
Main entrance
Location
Minnetonka High School
,
United States
Coordinates 44°54′33″N93°30′41″W / 44.9090907°N 93.5112960°W / 44.9090907; -93.5112960 [1]
Information
Type Public
Teaching staff192.30 (FTE) [3]
Enrollment3,482 (2023–2024) [3]
Student to teacher ratio18.11 [3]
ColorsBlue and white [4]   
Nickname Skippers [4]
Website www.minnetonkaschools.org/schools/high-school/mhs

Minnetonka High School is a four-year public high school in Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States, a western suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Newsweek ranked the school 123rd on its list of America's Top High Schools. [5] Niche ranked it 3rd among Minnesota public high schools. [6]

Contents

Minnetonka High School is the only high school in the Minnetonka School District, whose enrollment area comprises western Minnetonka, northern Chanhassen, Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Woodland, northern Victoria, and northern Eden Prairie, an area known as "South Lake Minnetonka" or simply "Minnetonka".

Demographics

Minnetonka High School has the second-largest enrollment of any Minnesota high school, behind neighboring Lake Conference rival Wayzata High School. As of 2025, it has a student population of 3,482 that is 0.2% Native American 6% Hispanic, 4.2% black, 6.2% Asian, and 77.6% white. [7] Minnetonka School District's catchment area has a population of 53,000 and is characterized as a bedroom community. It is predominantly white, with a strong Scandinavian influence, [8] and is considered one of the state's most affluent areas. [9]

Specialty Programs

The Vantage program is an advanced professional studies program founded in 2012 that offers students hands‑on learning across career paths such as business analytics, design and marketing, global business, global sustainability, health sciences, international relations, multimedia communications, public policy, user experience design and education. [10] It places students in real‑world projects developed with business partners, giving them experience similar to workplace problem‑solving. [11] The program also uses one‑on‑one mentorship from local professionals and includes partner projects that connect students with businesses. [10]

The Momentum program began in the 2020–21 school year. It focuses on design and other skilled trades, offering courses in aviation, automotive, construction, and design. Students take part in hands‑on projects, including building items like an ice house using skills in wood, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. [12] The program also provides field experiences, such on-site visits to learn how a dealership operates. [13] Aviation students can fly with instructors during discovery flights and use flight simulators to learn basic skills. [14] In 2022, the Minnetonka School Board approved construction of a new building for the Vantage and Momentum programs. [15] [16]

Minnetonka Research is an advanced science program that began in the fall of 2016 and allows students to conduct independent research projects. [17] It connects students with mentors from industry and universities to support their work. The school held its first Research Symposium in 2017, where more than 40 students presented their work. [18]

The Writing Center is a school program where students get help with writing. It is staffed by trained student coaches and teachers who work one-on-one with students on papers and other writing tasks. [19] The center opened with support from the Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation as a place for students to receive writing help during the school day. [20] It has held events, such as “Off the Page,” to show writing in different jobs and to share writing with the school community. [21] Former students also return at times to help current students with assignments, including work for the International Baccalaureate program. [22]

Tonka Online is a program that offers online classes taught by the school’s teachers to give students flexible ways to complete their courses. [23]

Athletics

Minnetonka High School is part of the Lake Conference in the Minnesota State High School League. [24] The school mascot is a Skipper. [4]

State Championships
SeasonSportNumber of ChampionshipsYear
Fall Tennis, Girls41974, 1975, 2021, 2022 [25]
Soccer, Girls32001, 2013, 2018
Cross Country Running, Girls41981, 1982, 1991, 2004
Volleyball, Girls11976
Football 12004
Marching Band12016
Swimming and Diving, Girls41975, 1976, 2012, 2021
Winter Alpine Skiing, Boys61996, 1998, 2000, 2012, 2017, 2018
Alpine Skiing, Girls51987, 1993, 2011, 2013, 2014
Wrestling 11974
Hockey, Girls32011, 2012, 2013
Hockey, Boys22018, 2023
Swimming and Diving, Boys111978, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2011, 2017, 2018
Basketball, Boys41965, 1998, 2008, 2024
Basketball, Girls22016, 2024
Cheerleading, Girls272009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 [26]
SpringTennis, Boys31974, 2016, 2017 [27] [28]
Softball, Girls21999, 2000
Lacrosse, Boys12009
Track and Field, Boys21976, 2012
Track and Field, Girls81983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 2013, 2014, 2018
Rugby union, Boys32004, 2005, 2018
Adapted Bowling32006, 2007, 2008
Total101

Notable alumni

Feeder schools

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Minnetonka High School
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Minnetonka High School
  3. 1 2 3 "Minnetonka High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "Minnetonka High School". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  5. "America's Top High Schools 2016". Newsweek . August 11, 2016.
  6. "2025 Best Public High Schools in Minnesota". Niche. Archived from the original on July 3, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  7. "Minnetonka Senior High School Students".
  8. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/2743252 [ dead link ]
  9. "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of Minnetonka Public Schools" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 19, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  10. 1 2 McDaniels, Hanna (August 1, 2023). "How Minnetonka High School Builds Students Up". Lake Minnetonka Magazine. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  11. Raghavendran, Beena (September 24, 2015). "Vantage program gives Minnetonka students a career head start". The Minnesota Star Tribute. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  12. Kwon, Se (February 8, 2024). "Minnetonka High School's skilled trades program gets students ready for real world". FOX 9. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  13. "Igniting Young Minds: Minnetonka Public Schools' Momentum Program visits Feldmann Imports". June 6, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  14. Heneghan, Madeline (March 1, 2024). "Minnetonka High School Students Reach for the Sky". Lake Minnetonka Magazine. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  15. Miller, Kristen (November 16, 2021). "Minnetonka School Board approves construction of new Momentum/Vantage building". hometownsource.com. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  16. Jenkins, Jason (May 27, 2022). "Minnetonka School Board approves construction bid for new building". Sun Sailor. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  17. Davy, Meghan (May 21, 2017). "Minnetonka: Research symposium scheduled at Minnetonka High School". Twin Cities. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  18. Edmondson, Jeff (June 1, 2017). "Minnetonka High School students present their research". kare11.com. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  19. Callen, Elizabeth (August 1, 2017). "Students Help Their Peers Foster a Love of Writing at Minnetonka High School | Lake Minnetonka". Lake Minnetonka Magazine. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  20. "MHS opens writing center". Twin Cities. November 20, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  21. Davy, Meghan (March 14, 2017). "Off the Page: Minnetonka Writing Center marks 10 years". SWNewsMedia.com. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  22. Glander, Becky (January 2, 2012). "Grads Visit MHS Writing Center to Work with IB Students". Minnetonka, MN Patch. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  23. Kleinhuizen, Monique (August 1, 2015). "Minnetonka High School Offers Online Classes So Traditional Students Can "Do More in Four"" . Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  24. "Minnetonka High School | Schools | MSHSL". www.mshsl.org. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  25. "Minnetonka captures Class AA Girls Tennis crown | News | MSHSL".
  26. "Past State Placements". MCCA. Minnesota Cheerleading Coaches Association.
  27. "Minnetonka wins first boys' tennis state title since 1974". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  28. Paulsen, Jim (June 8, 2017). "Minnetonka repeats as Class 2A boys' tennis champions". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  29. "Beau Allen". Wisconsin Badgers . University of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  30. "Jake Gardiner". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  31. Riemenschneider, Chris (November 10, 2019). "Hüsker Dü and Replacements sound tech, Garage D'Or operator Terry Katzman dies". Star Tribune . Minneapolis-St. Paul . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  32. "With job on the line, Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm to meet with top Republican on Friday". Twin Cities. November 19, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  33. Giles, Kevin (January 12, 2001). "Nancy Parsons, actress best known for her role in the 'Porky's' movies". Star Tribune. Minnesota, Minneapolis. p. 31. Retrieved May 23, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  34. "Tom Staggs". Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.