2018 Thom Dr
Arden Hills, MN 55112

Pretty average. As some people have said, discriminatory sometimes, and short passing time. It's pretty okay. If you want a regal, fancy experience, don't come here (just go to Chippewa?) . It can be toxic sometimes, and learning can be boring, if you're someone who can focus easily, this won't be much of an issue, but it might not be as engaging depending on your teacher. Speaking of teachers, they can be nice, or absolute hell.

I graduated from this high school in 2009. I have since gone on to receive a bachelor's degree and master's degree at two well-regarded state universities. I have had a successful career and worked for employers across the United States. My income as a single-earner has roughly matched the average income of a full Minnesota household my entire career. I have always had sufficient money to travel, pay for housing, eat well, cover medical bills, and enjoy life. I cannot speak to the quality of this school in recent years, but I thought other parents might be interested to learn about the long-term outcome for Irondale graduates.For others in the class of 2009: I can say authoritatively that five of my peers went on to have roughly the same professional trajectory as my own. We have master's degrees, make good money, and are able to enjoy the best parts of life. I can also think of two people who went on to receive undergraduate degrees, but did not have good professional outcomes. Today, they work in the hospitality industry. All in all, that is 6 out of 8 of people I personally know from this high school went on to enjoy the best parts of life. The remaining 2 out of 8 deserved a better outcome.

We are just about to finish our first year at Mounds View High School and I had higher hopes. To date, my student's teachers have been great with the rare few that have struggled. Her teachers seem to WANT to engage with their students and apply the course material in a way that allows students to understand what they are learning. The new found freedom in high school has been a godsend in comparison to the dictatorships of the middle and elementary schools.However, our introduction and welcome to Mounds View High School was the principal sharing how their own student is a liar and so all students are liars. This set the tone for the administration to not take any student seriously when it came to health, wellness, safety, or discipline. That was a huge red flag for me both personally and professionally. The principal also shared widely that they struggled with a 31% truancy rate the previous year which is astounding for such an affluent area. This raised several questions that I posed to the administration and instead of answers, I was asked to give him grace.My student also got seriously hurt early in the year. When I brought this to their coach's attention, I was never replied to or the info passed on to the athletic director or trainer. I ended up taking my student to urgent care as it was serious enough and I was made to feel incorrect for doing so by the (incoming) athletic director. This person never engaged a plan with the current AD or trainer, never followed up with the coaching staff, and didn't have a plan with the school nurse for academic progress. This continued for weeks despite me asking for updates or plans. I had to write my own student's back to school and back to play plan. After all of that, the trainer told me it wasn't good enough. I would say that this experience put my student and any other student at significant risk for permanent injury.Most recently, i've asked the dean, principal, and teacher for updates on a class. Nothing. Three weeks of nothing. The principal hasn't said anything nor has my student been given any indication of what to do. Mounds View cares about their reputation far more than they care about the education and wellbeing of their students.I will update as needed.

For the most part really great. With my sons learning, the teachers have figured out how to help with his issues. It’s nice that the school works with kids to try to make their education better.