There are three reasons I love Ramsey. One is that it serves an ethnically diverse, largely inner-city, 'under-privileged' student population. Another is that it serves a high percentage of Latino students and approximately half the teaching staff is bilingual in Spanish, which provides an encouraging
... Read more environment for students and families who primarily speak Spanish, as well as giving native English speakers the opportunity to learn Spanish. The other (and certainly not the least important) is that it offers a stringed instrument music program, required for students in grades one through five, and offered as an elective for grades six through eight. This program provides an incredible learning opportunity for all students, and especially for those who might not ever be offered such an experience otherwise. For fifteen years I have watched many students benefit from the small group instruction, a different kind of learning, and the joy of the music. Many students who otherwise struggle in school often gain a new sense of accomplishment with this program, and learn much about listening, focus, and working together as a group. Year after year, the program is threatened by budget cuts, as a 'secondary' or non-essential program. I want to see it continue to go strong and, more than ever, to be considered essential. It is one of the truly exceptional things about Ramsey of which I never tire of being a part. Read less
Posted by a teacher on 10/03/09
Watching kids of different backgrounds learn through performance i invaluable.
... Read moreRead less
Posted by a parent on 10/03/09
I am disappointed in the school. It certainly didn't deliver exactly what was promised. The programs in the brochure largely don't exist. Where are the fine arts? Oh, there's strings, but not much else. It's too bad that one program was so bent on existing that it rode over other programs to cement
... Read more itself in. Yes, the last administration was responsible for many of the cuts, but there are other reasons things are not perfect at Ramsey. I can say, after nine years, things have changed for the better. The behavior issues in middle school are disappearing. And despite our MCAs, children are showing improvement & academic richness. My daughter is highly successful in HS because of Ramsey & the staff. And what did it take? PARENTS. Get involved, be part of one of the boards -- speak your piece, help create a solution, then work as a TEAM. Read less
My daughter started here as a Kindergartener. There are 27 kids in her classroom, and as near as I can tell, there is no teachers aid to help out. I was not impressed by the staff -- both teachers, and administration. I attempted to speak to administration about my concerns and it took me 10 minutes
... Read more to have anyone actually acknowlege my presense at the front desk. I am transfering my daughter to another school. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/24/07
I am very dissapointed in Ramsey IFAC. They seem to be teaching to the lowest common denominator. When contacting the Administration about this problem there is little or no response. Our Daughter is above average and is completely bored! She will not be continuing at Ramsey next year. Discipline
... Read more and safety is very bad. Look for another school! Read less
Posted by a parent on 05/15/07
I have 2 students at RIFA, and I am grateful for the teachers at Ramsey. One of my students has experienced great difficulty this school year and I have been given genuine support and practical information, above and beyond what is expected of a public school. In spite of the demands of the public
... Read more school of today, these people are working with limited funds or as in most cases, no funds at all! On top of very little support from most parents, increasing demands from public school bureaucy, larger classrooms, plus increasing concerns about child safety it is a wonder that they are able to teach anything, dealing with all of these issues on a daily basis, it is amazing they can teach anything at all. I believe it would be a better choice of time to find ways to help them, and less time criticizing them. Read less
Posted by a parent on 05/14/07
My daughter began as an 8th grader, and has made friends, but no close ones, she's been harassed, taunted, and endured horrendous language at Ramsey. She's had her lock stolen off her locker repeatedly, along with things out of it-- as well as things stolen from her binder during class. This is not a
... Read more good experience, and while the staff was both responsive and kind, and did their best, there seems to be no hope of any turn around at present. I also feel a fine arts school should offer more than one language and somewhat broader options for higher achieving students than does Ramsey. Read less
Posted by a parent on 01/02/07
I feel the staff of Ramsey IFAC have great hearts and creative ideas for teaching children. I think they could benefit from stronger leadership. I am very concerned about the discipline and safety of children. I also wish we had after school activities for children in addition to the homework help and
... Read more ALS programs. As a parent of two children that attend Ramsey, I am disappointed by our Fine Arts piece. We have a strings program,band and choir. I do believe some of the community schools in our area have the same programs. What makes Ramsey a Fine Arts Magnet? no dance, theater (performance), visual arts,or production? Not to mention no sports other than basketball. I have to say I have been disappointed by the choices of the Principal of Ramsey IFAC. I feel the direction of the school has been by his leadership. Read less
Posted by a parent on 12/03/06
As a parent on nine children attending Ramsey International Fine Arts Center, I have been through four principals, voting on uniforms, discipline policies and bussing concerns for many years. I strongly believe that the 'arts' is what it is all about. My boys now play instruments, with some prooding
... Read more of 'please practice' instead of breaking windows by throwing rocks at any car on the street and running. My girls now bring home homework and review with each other. All of them work hard in putting music, art and drama into their studies as well as when they visit the Walker Art Center. They answer some of the questions that the musem guides ask. I am very proud of them. They did not do it alone they had great teachers too! Ramsey is what you make it. The family Art Nights are wonderful to have too. Ramsey is a great school.chp Read less
* In 2007-2008 Minnesota used the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment-II (MCA-II) to test students in reading in grades 3 through 8 and 10, in math in grades 3 through 8 and 11, and in science in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school. The results for reading and math are displayed on GreatSchools profiles. The MCA-II is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Minnesota. Students must pass the grade 10 reading and grade 11 math MCA-II exams in order to graduate from high school. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.
Student enrollment:
975
Students per teacher:
15
Full-time teachers:
66
Number of classrooms:
55
Arts
Art
Special Education
Autism Specialists, Emotionally Challenged, Learning Differences, Occupational Therapists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Title I
Music
Band, Choral, Orchestra
Fine Arts
Fine Arts
Vocational Education
Health, Phys Ed
English
Humanities, Literature
*The resources listed are programs that the institution is staffed to support. Staffing for a program does not guarantee that it will be offered. This content is provided by the institution and may be incomplete. The institution may offer programs not listed here. Please contact the school directly for additional details.
Advanced Placement
AP classes are college-level classes offered at the high school level. Once a student completes an AP class and passes a final comprehensive examination conducted by the College Board, the student earns college credit for the course. AP classes are specific and not to be confused with other higher-level classes such as honors classes.
Before/After School
"Extended day" programs where the school day is extended before and after school to accommodate working parents. These programs should not be confused with common after school clubs or athletic activities.
Gifted and Talented
A school system may identify 10% to 15% or more of its student population as gifted and talented. A brief description of each area of giftedness or talent as defined by the Office of Gifted and Talented:
general intellectual ability or talent - high intelligence test score (usually two standard deviations above the mean), and high levels of vocabulary, memory, abstract work knowledge and abstract reasoning;
specific academic aptitude or talent in one area such as mathematics or language arts;
creative and productive thinking, the ability to produce new ideas;
leadership ability, the ability to direct individuals or groups to a common decision or action;
visual and performing arts, special talents in visual art, music, dance, drama, or other related studies;
psychomotor ability, such as practical, spatial, mechanical, and physical skills.
Vocation/Technical Curriculum
Vocational and/or technical courses offered within a comprehensive school, usually a senior high school.
Special Education Classes
A school or program within a school that provides services and training to students with moderate to severe mental and/or physical disabilities.
Adult Education Classes
Programs offering GED or equivalent courses for adults within regular schools, whether classes are held during evening or daytime schedules.
English as Second Language
English language classes for students whose first language is not English.
Minneapolis schools — Ramsey Int'l Fine Arts Center is located at 1 W 49th St, Minneapolis MN 55419. 1 W 49th St is in the Tangletown neighborhood and 55419 ZIP code in Minneapolis, MN The school district for Ramsey Int'l Fine Arts Center is the Minneapolis Public School District. Ramsey Int'l Fine Arts Center is a Public school that serves grade levels K - 8.
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