New City School
Minneapolis School Finder Rating
About
About Us
New City School is a K-8 public charter school located in Northeast Minneapolis. The school is committed to equity, inclusivity, & supporting students on the margins, with a strong emphasis on culturally-responsive teaching & building a sense of belonging through its “Crew” model. Their mission is to prepare & empower diverse learners to thrive academically, socially, & personally, while cultivating curiosity, creativity, & a sense of responsibility to the community & the world. Guided by their vision, New City aims to be a place where every child feels seen, supported, & challenged—where equity & relationships form the foundation for deep learning & lasting growth.
Languages spoken by school staff
English, French, Spanish, Somali
Extra programming
The regular school day ends at 4:15PM & is followed by a variety of extracurricular activities. These include: math intervention, musical theater production, a music club, basketball learning & competition for grades 3-8, chess, & book club. New City offers before- & after-school care on a flexible basis for a minimal cost.
Extracurriculars Offered:
Music, Theater, Visual Arts Clubs
Uniforms
Students who attend New City School are not required to wear uniforms.
How to enroll
To enroll, contact Juana Mandujano or Jane Ojile at (612) 623-3309.
Students at this school
Teachers at this school
Average student to teacher ratio
Academics
Above Average
Academic programming
New City aims to grow students who have a strong sense of agency upon entering high school after 8th grade, have gained a sense of themselves, are able to think critically, communicate & collaborate effectively, imagine & create, & care about others. Their charter was anchored in the understanding that social learning is as important as academic learning. The New City program values challenging learning & utilizes EL Education ELA & Eureka Math as core curricula. They are in the process of developing learning “expeditions” that tackle social studies & science standards through hands-on learning adventures. As a staff, they value relationships for learning & have built a professional community that can model caring & cooperation for students. “Crew” (where no one is a passenger) starts the day with team-building & social skills development.
Academic Programs Offered:
Arts Focused Programming
Special education programming
New City provides a full-service special education program, including three teachers, multiple paraprofessionals, & special service providers in speech, social work, school psychology, & occupational therapy.
Curricula
New City School uses the EL Education Literacy curriculum to build strong foundations in reading, writing, & language through rich, knowledge-building texts & collaborative learning. For mathematics, they use Illustrative Math, a problem-based curriculum that emphasizes conceptual understanding, reasoning, & real-world application. Both curricula are aligned to state standards, grounded in equity, & designed to support all learners in becoming confident, critical thinkers.
English language learner programming
New City has a full-time English Language Learner (ELL) teacher who assesses ELL students, identifies student needs, coordinates with classroom teachers, & schedules supporting instruction.
Proficiency
4 out of 10 students are performing math at grade level
5 out of 10 students read at grade level
Progress
4 out of 10 students are progressing to graduate on grade-level in math
5 out of 10 students are progressing to graduate on grade-level in reading
Climate
Average
School values
New City School strives to create a community where all facets of the city are represented & where every student & staff member feels fully welcomed & significant. They are guided by their values around diversity, community, citizenship, quality work, & creativity, & their mission to integrate social, emotional, & academic learning.
Recess
At New City School, recess is an important extension of the learning day where students practice collaboration, relationship building, & joyful play. To ensure safety & belonging, they begin each year with a “slow release” model. For the first several days, classroom teachers accompany their students to the playground & lead structured group games that establish shared expectations & inclusive play. This helps students learn routines, practice problem-solving, & feel confident joining in. After this initial period, responsibility gradually shifts: staff supervising lunch & recess provide consistent oversight, while teachers continue to reinforce skills & strategies in class. By scaffolding expectations in this way, students experience recess as a welcoming space where everyone is included, supported, & encouraged to have fun while building community.
Discipline Policy
New City School’s discipline policy is grounded in Responsive School Discipline, which emphasizes proactive teaching of expectations, consistent routines, & logical consequences. They believe discipline is about learning, not punishment, & their goal is to create a safe, respectful community where students can grow academically & socially. In grades K-4, teachers use Responsive Classroom strategies such as reinforcing, reminding, & redirecting language to help students build self-control & responsibility. In grades 5-8, they expand this approach with restorative practices, including restorative circles, where students have opportunities to reflect, repair harm, & rebuild trust when conflicts arise. This combination of structure & relationship-centered practice ensures that discipline is fair, developmentally-appropriate, & rooted in equity—helping students understand the impact of their actions while remaining connected to the community.
Teacher retention
Attendance
Discipline
Equity
Average
Equity vision
New City School’s equity vision is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to be seen, valued, & supported to reach their fullest potential. They actively work to dismantle barriers that marginalize students by centering culturally responsive teaching, inclusive practices, & strong relationships. Their vision is not neutrality, but advocacy—standing alongside those most impacted by inequities & ensuring their voices shape the community. Equity at New City means more than access; it means creating conditions where all students thrive academically, socially, & emotionally, regardless of race, language, ability, or background. Through intentional instruction, family partnership, & community-building, New City strives to make their school a place where diversity is celebrated & every student feels a deep sense of belonging & possibility.
