Transition, moving from here to there with the tools to succeed
The K-12 academic community of MTCS is the largest group of charter schools in the state of Minnesota. We are a tuition-free, public school with 7 school options that serve students in the Twin Cities metro area through our 5 brick and mortar school sites, as well as greater Minnesota through our 2 online options.
- Blended Learning – Combines online digital media with traditional classroom methods; gives the student some choice over time, place, path or pace
- JROTC Leadership – A character and leadership development program available to MTS middle and high school students
- Online – Full-time flexible learning solutions to help you graduate and find success
- Careers and Work Experience Program – Offers theory and practical experience for employment and entry into college and post-secondary training options after high school
- Digital Music Program – Currently an after-school program, students have access to a recording studio to compose, record and collaborate
HISTORY
Serving our Minnesota community is at the heart of Minnesota Transitions Charter School. Opening our doors in Minneapolis in 1995, we began meeting the needs of secondary students who weren’t thriving in traditional schools. Elementary was soon added and a new age of responsive education was born at MTCS—meeting kids where they are.
The MTCS Minnesota Virtual Schools (first Minnesota Virtual High School) opened more than twenty years ago as one of the first and largest online schools in Minnesota. We recognized early on, that students need options and some need a lot of flexibility to succeed. Jobs, activities, mental health, even bullying might mean that standard school schedules and settings may not work.
Meeting the specific needs of cultural communities, and students dealing with very specific issues emerged as a community priority. Banaadir Academy, now with two campuses, was created to support families new to the country with a strong priority of English language learning and cultural focus. P.E.A.S.E. Academy, the nation’s oldest recovery school, became an MTCS school, supporting students dealing with the issues of addiction and substance misuse.
As one of the oldest, largest and most innovative charter schools, MTCS continues to change and adapt its programs based on what young people need to succeed. Currently MTCS has seven unique programs. Our school communities are part of our Minnesota communities, in buildings and online. The connection students, staff and neighbors experience make us stronger and wiser and prepare us for the future.
Meeting the needs of our community—it’s who we’ve always been.
CONNECTION IN COMMUNITY
MTS Secondary students led a powerful podcast conversation with Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura — asking honest questions about leadership, public service, and navigating complex times.
At MTCS, civic learning isn’t abstract. It’s lived.
Watch on Youtube: Full Video | Clip
MTCS has a school that’s right for you. Let’s get started.
Banaadir Elementary (Grades K-5)
A place to become a responsible, competent and prepared lifelong learner as well as a conscientious citizen. Focused ELL Program to provide instruction for academic and linguistic competence.
Banaadir Academy (Grades 6-12)
An extension of Banaadir Elementary with a focus on math and science (STEM).
MTS Elementary School (Grades K-6)
A place for your child to grow, blossom and develop friendships in a family feel community.
MTS Secondary School (Grades 7-12)
A caring community with blended learning options and a focus on individualized learning, support and opportunities.
P.E.A.S.E. Academy (Grades 8-12)
The nation’s oldest recovery school that offers a quality educational experience that is centered on healing.
MN Virtual Schools (Grades K-12)
A personalized online learning experience to prepare students to be successful contributors in an evolving global community.
MN Connections Academy (K-12)
MTCS is host to MN Connections Academy, an affiliate of the national Connections Academy. MN Connections Academy is able to offer K-12 online education in Minnesota because of their relationship with MTCS.
We include a land acknowledgment as a meaningful way to honor and recognize the Indigenous peoples who have long stewarded the land we now occupy. This practice is not just about recognizing the past; it’s also a commitment to respecting and supporting Native/Indigenous communities in the present. Native/Indigenous peoples continue to care for the land, maintain cultural practices, and contribute to our communities in invaluable ways.
Acknowledging the land honors this legacy and amplifies the voices of Native/Indigenous peoples, bringing attention to their resilience and their ongoing relationship with the land and water. In our educational setting, it also serves to counter the erasure of Native/Indigenous histories and contributions, which are frequently overlooked in K-12 curricula. A land acknowledgment can encourage others to seek a fuller understanding of our shared history, and to value Native/Indigenous perspectives in a way that supports and respects their lasting cultural and societal contributions.
Our land acknowledgment is more than a formality; it’s an intentional, respectful, and ongoing act that aligns with our commitment to truth, education, and allyship with Indigenous communities. In engaging with the Indigenous nations connected to this land, we aim to learn, grow, and encourage others to do the same.