Welcome to Second Foundation School

School should feel good.

A democratically run K-12 school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 40+ years in operation, Second Foundation School was founded in 1970 by a group of visionary teachers. They wanted to create a learning environment where each student’s unique abilities are given space to flourish and their learning styles are respected.

 

Today, our school continues to thrive on the edge of Dinkytown, near the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus. SFS is dedicated to academic freedom. Students help run the school and mediate conflicts between fellow students. Students, teachers, parents, and community volunteers all teach classes that any student of any age can choose to attend. Annual talent shows and school plays foster cooperation and expression and help raise funds for the school. We are democratically-run and student-centered; the projects students work on are determined by the interests, skills, and abilities of the students attending.

 

Second Foundation School provides tuition scholarships to the majority of it’s students. SFS depends on the generous support and financial donations of it’s community. SFS is a non-profit and donations are tax deductible (ID#41-0961710). There is a convenient link in the side bar of this page to donate online. If you have a checkbook and a stamp, mail us your gift and your whole donation will go to the school instead of a portion going to processing fees. Thank you so much and please call if you’d like to volunteer your support. We all know money is tight.

 

If you are looking for an alternative to schools that teach to tests, use the same curriculum every year, discount student input, and discourage parent participation, we invite you to call us and make an appointment to visit Second Foundation to see if our school might be a healthy fit for your child’s needs.

At graduation, SFS students often have college courses already completed through our partnership with many of the Colleges and Universities in the area and the Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program.

 

Graduates of SFS tend to be curious, motivated learners who have excellent social and facilitation skills.

Enrollment fluctuates between about 40 and 60 pupils and two full time teachers. Tuition scholarships are available.

 

What we believe: school is a state of mind. School is the world we live in. School is what you carry around with you as you work, play, and live.