This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2024) |
Minnetonka High School, or MHS (locally referred to as Tonka or Tonka High), is a four-year public high school in Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States, a western suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The school enrolls about 3,540 students,[4] and offers four interchangeable academic curricula: International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, Honors, and G (general). 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]
| Minnetonka High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , United States | |
| Coordinates | 44°54′33″N 93°30′41″W / 44.9090907°N 93.5112960°W[1] |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | c. 1952 |
| Principal | Jeff Erickson |
| Enrollment | 3,200 (2022–2023)[2] |
| Color(s) | Royal blue and White |
| Mascot | Skipper |
| Website | www |
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". Other students come from all over the western suburbs due to open enrollment.
Demographics
editMinnetonka High School has the second-largest enrollment of any Minnesota high school, behind neighboring Lake Conference rival Wayzata High School. As of 2017[update], it has a student population of 3,444 that is 0.5% Native American 4.8% Hispanic, 3.7% black, 6.5% Asian, and 80.2% 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
editVANTAGE
editVANTAGE Professional Studies is a Minnetonka High School program offering a businesslike environment for students. Students go off campus for part of the school day and have class in an office building. They are expected to act and dress professionally. Students are provided with projects with local and Fortune 500 companies and with mentors who work in a field related to their class. As of 2024–25 there are 11 course "strands":
- Global Business
- Business Analytics
- Design and Marketing
- Digital Journalism
- Health Sciences
- Health Sciences 2
- Public Policy
- Global Sustainability[10]
- User Experience (UX) Design
- Vantage Education
- International Relations
Tonka Online
editMinnetonka High School also offers some of its courses through Tonka Online. It is available to all Minnesota students. As of 2016–17, 28 courses are offered. The classes are delivered through Schoology, Minnetonka's CMS. Fees are charged for students who are taking them as extra courses or over the summer.[11]
Minnetonka Research
editMinnetonka Research gives students the opportunity to learn through scientific research. The school built a "cutting-edge", negative-pressure, wet lab to allow students to research topics that are important to them. Like VANTAGE, Minnetonka Research provides its students with mentors who are industry leaders in their field of study.[12] Many Minnetonka Research students compete in the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair,[13] and many go on to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
MOMENTUM
editMOMENTUM, a state-of-the-art technology education program, is Minnetonka High School’s newest specialty program. It allows students to explore careers with hands-on training in construction systems, manufacturing, design, and transportation. The program began during the 2020-21 school year, providing a trade school experience without leaving the campus. MOMENTUM also partners with local businesses to learn about their fields.[14]
Writing Center
editMinnetonka offers a writing center to allow all students a place to receive assistance on their work. It is in the commons and staffed by two English teachers and 40 trained student writing coaches. The Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation's Endowment funds the program.[15]
Athletics
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (April 2020) |
Minnetonka High School is part of the Lake Conference in the Minnesota State High School League. The school mascot is a Skipper.
| State Championships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall | Tennis, Girls | 4 | 1974, 1975, 2021, 2022 [16] |
| Soccer, Girls | 3 | 2001, 2013, 2018 | |
| Cross Country Running, Girls | 4 | 1981, 1982, 1991, 2004 | |
| Volleyball, Girls | 1 | 1976 | |
| Football | 1 | 2004 | |
| Marching Band | 1 | 2016 | |
| Swimming and Diving, Girls | 4 | 1975, 1976, 2012, 2021 | |
| Winter | Alpine Skiing, Boys | 6 | 1996, 1998, 2000, 2012, 2017, 2018 |
| Alpine Skiing, Girls | 5 | 1987, 1993, 2011, 2013, 2014 | |
| Wrestling | 1 | 1974 | |
| Hockey, Girls | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2013 | |
| Hockey, Boys | 2 | 2018, 2023 | |
| Swimming and Diving, Boys | 11 | 1978, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2011, 2017, 2018 | |
| Basketball, Boys | 4 | 1965, 1998, 2008, 2024 | |
| Basketball, Girls | 2 | 2016, 2024 | |
| Cheerleading, Girls | 27 | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 [17] | |
| Spring | Tennis, Boys | 3 | 1974, 2016, 2017 [18][19] |
| Softball, Girls | 2 | 1999, 2000 | |
| Lacrosse, Boys | 1 | 2009 | |
| Track and Field, Boys | 2 | 1976, 2012 | |
| Track and Field, Girls | 8 | 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 2013, 2014, 2018 | |
| Rugby union, Boys | 3 | 2004, 2005, 2018 | |
| Adapted Bowling | 3 | 2006, 2007, 2008 | |
| Total | 101 | ||
Notable alumni
editThis article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. (October 2021) |
- Nancy Parsons (1960), actress[20]
- Keith Nord (1975), former American football defensive back in the National Football League
- Lee Blessing (1967), Pulitzer and Tony nominated playwright
- Steve Comer (1972), former MLB Pitcher
- Eric Bischoff (1973), American entrepreneur, television producer, professional wrestling booker, podcast host, and on-screen personality
- Thomas O. Staggs (1978), former Chief Operating Officer, The Walt Disney Company[21]
- David Wheaton (1988), former professional tennis player
- Peter A. Selfridge (1989), U.S. public servant who served as the United States Chief of Protocol from 2014 to 2017
- Arick Wierson (1990), Emmy-award-winning Hollywood Film and Television Producer
- Jim Brower (1991), former MLB Pitcher
- Dmitry Chaplin (2000), Russian dancer and Emmy nominated choreographer
- Will Leer (2003), former professional mid-distance runner
- Jake Gardiner (2008), American professional ice hockey defenseman[22]
- Beau Allen (2010), NFL nose tackle for the New England Patriots[23]
- Haley Kalil (2010), Former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model
- Ryan McCartan (2011), American actor and singer
- John Mark Nelson (2012), American songwriter and producer
- Vinni Lettieri, professional ice hockey player for the Providence Bruins
- Justin Holl, professional ice hockey player
- Jan Malcolm, Health Commissioner of Minnesota [24]
- K'Andre Miller, professional ice hockey player for the New York Rangers
- Terry Katzman, producer, sound engineer, archivist, and record-store owner[25]
- Matthew Wilkinson, professional distance runner with Project Dark Sky - Under Armor
Feeder schools
edit- Elementary School
- Clear Springs Elementary
- Deephaven Elementary School
- Excelsior Elementary School
- Groveland Elementary
- Minnewashta Elementary School
- Scenic Heights Elementary
- Middle School
- Minnetonka Middle School East
- Minnetonka Middle School West
References
edit- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Minnetonka High School
- ^ "MINNETONKA SENIOR HIGH" (PDF). Minnetonka Public Schools. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ https://www.minnetonkaschools.org/uploaded/Documents/MHS/Counseling/MHS-Profile.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Minnetonka High School Profile".
- ^ "America's Top High Schools 2016". Newsweek. 11 August 2016.
- ^ 2020 Best Public High Schools in Minnesota
- ^ "Minnetonka Senior High School Students".
- ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/2743252 [dead link]
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-19. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "VANTAGE Advanced Professional Studies".
- ^ "Tonka Online".
- ^ "Minnetonka Research".
- ^ Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair
- ^ "Minnetonka High adding auto shop as part of trades program expansion". 4 March 2021.
- ^ "Minnetonka High School Writing Center | Minnetonka Public Schools". Minnetonka Public Schools.
- ^ "Minnetonka captures Class AA Girls Tennis crown | News | MSHSL".
- ^ "Past State Placements". MCCA. Minnesota Cheerleading Coaches Association.
- ^ "Minnetonka wins first boys' tennis state title since 1974". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
- ^ Paulsen, Jim. "Minnetonka repeats as Class 2A boys' tennis champions". Star Tribune. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Tom Staggs". Archived from the original on 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
- ^ "Jake Gardiner". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ "Beau Allen". Wisconsin Badgers. University of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ "With job on the line, Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm to meet with top Republican on Friday". Twin Cities. 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
- ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (2019-11-10). "Hüsker Dü and Replacements sound tech, Garage D'Or operator Terry Katzman dies". Star Tribune. Minneapolis-St. Paul. Retrieved 2019-11-11.