MINNESOTA NEW COUNTRY SCHOOL

www.newcountryschool.com

Charter School 136 Students

High School 7th - 12th

School Overview

Minnesota New Country School (MNCS), located in Henderson, Minnesota, is a public charter school known for its innovative, project-based learning model. Founded in 1994, it was one of the first charter schools in the nation and has since become a model for student-centered education. The school emphasizes a democratic environment where students take an active role in their own learning process, focusing on hands-on projects, real-world application, and individualized learning plans rather than traditional standardized testing or lecture-heavy curricula.

The school is particularly noted for its small, tight-knit community and its commitment to the "advisory" model, where each student is paired with a faculty advisor who guides their academic and personal development throughout their time at the school. By removing the traditional boundaries of grade levels and rigid subject silos, MNCS encourages students to pursue their interests, develop critical thinking skills, and collaborate on diverse community projects. This unique approach is designed to foster self-reliance, civic responsibility, and a lifelong passion for learning.

136

Total Students

16.6

Full-Time Teachers

8.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

33.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for MINNESOTA NEW COUNTRY SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	125
Hispanic	3
Black	2
Two or More	6

White
125 (91.9%)
Two or More
6 (4.4%)
Hispanic
3 (2.2%)
Black
2 (1.5%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Minnesota New Country School
Phone:	(507)248-3353
Website:	http://www.newcountryschool.com
Grade Range:	7th - 12th
Total Students:	136
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	16.6
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	8.2
NSLP Participation:¹	No
Qualified Free Lunch:	34
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	11

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 7 20

Grade 8 25

Grade 9 14

Grade 10 29

Grade 11 21

Grade 12 27