Minnetonka High School

For other uses, see Minnetonka (disambiguation).

Minnetonka High School is a four-year public high school in Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States, a western suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Newsweek ranked the school 123rd on its list of America's Top High Schools.^[5] Niche ranked it 3rd among Minnesota public high schools.^[6]

Minnetonka High School
Location
Minnetonka , Minnesota United States
Coordinates	44.9090907°N 93.5112960°W / 44.9090907; -93.5112960[1]
Information
Type	Public
Teaching staff	192.30 (FTE)[3]
Enrollment	3,482 (2023–2024)[3]
Student to teacher ratio	18.11[3]
Color(s)	Blue and white[4]
Nickname	Skippers[4]
Website	www.minnetonkaschools.org/schools/high-school/mhs

Minnetonka High School is the only high school in the Minnetonka School District, whose enrollment area comprises western Minnetonka, northern Chanhassen, Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Woodland, northern Victoria, and northern Eden Prairie, an area known as "South Lake Minnetonka" or simply "Minnetonka".

Demographics

Minnetonka High School has the second-largest enrollment of any Minnesota high school, behind neighboring Lake Conference rival Wayzata High School. As of 2017^[update], it has a student population of 3,444 that is 0.5% Native American 4.8% Hispanic, 3.7% black, 6.5% Asian, and 80.2% white.^[7] Minnetonka School District's catchment area has a population of 53,000 and is characterized as a bedroom community. It is predominantly white, with a strong Scandinavian influence,^[8] and is considered one of the state's most affluent areas.^[9]

Specialty programs

VANTAGE

VANTAGE Professional Studies is a Minnetonka High School program offering a businesslike environment for students. Students go off campus for part of the school day and have class in an office building. They are expected to act and dress professionally. Students are provided with projects with local and Fortune 500 companies and with mentors who work in a field related to their class. As of 2024–25 there are 11 course "strands":

• Global Business
• Business Analytics
• Design and Marketing
• Digital Journalism
• Health Sciences
• Health Sciences 2
• Public Policy
• Global Sustainability^{[10][better source needed]}
• User Experience (UX) Design
• Vantage Education
• International Relations

Tonka Online

Minnetonka High School also offers some of its courses through Tonka Online. It is available to all Minnesota students. As of 2016–17, 28 courses are offered. The classes are delivered through Schoology, Minnetonka's CMS. Fees are charged for students who are taking them as extra courses or over the summer.^{[11][better source needed]}

Minnetonka Research

Minnetonka Research gives students the opportunity to learn through scientific research. The school built a "cutting-edge", negative-pressure, wet lab to allow students to research topics that are important to them. Like VANTAGE, Minnetonka Research provides its students with mentors who are industry leaders in their field of study.^[12] Many Minnetonka Research students compete in the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair,^[13] and many go on to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

MOMENTUM

MOMENTUM, a state-of-the-art technology education program, is Minnetonka High School’s newest specialty program. It allows students to explore careers with hands-on training in construction systems, manufacturing, design, and transportation. The program began during the 2020-21 school year, providing a trade school experience without leaving the campus. MOMENTUM also partners with local businesses to learn about their fields.^[14]

Writing Center

Minnetonka offers a writing center to allow all students a place to receive assistance on their work. It is in the commons and staffed by two English teachers and 40 trained student writing coaches. The Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation's Endowment funds the program.^{[15][better source needed]}

Athletics

Minnetonka High School is part of the Lake Conference in the Minnesota State High School League. The school mascot is a Skipper.

State Championships
Season	Sport	Number of Championships	Year
Fall	Tennis, Girls	4	1974, 1975, 2021, 2022 [16]
	Soccer, Girls	3	2001, 2013, 2018
	Cross Country Running, Girls	4	1981, 1982, 1991, 2004
	Volleyball, Girls	1	1976
	Football	1	2004
	Marching Band	1	2016
	Swimming and Diving, Girls	4	1975, 1976, 2012, 2021
Winter	Alpine Skiing, Boys	6	1996, 1998, 2000, 2012, 2017, 2018
	Alpine Skiing, Girls	5	1987, 1993, 2011, 2013, 2014
	Wrestling	1	1974
	Hockey, Girls	3	2011, 2012, 2013
	Hockey, Boys	2	2018, 2023
	Swimming and Diving, Boys	11	1978, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2011, 2017, 2018
	Basketball, Boys	4	1965, 1998, 2008, 2024
	Basketball, Girls	2	2016, 2024
	Cheerleading, Girls	27	2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 [17]
Spring	Tennis, Boys	3	1974, 2016, 2017 [18][19]
	Softball, Girls	2	1999, 2000
	Lacrosse, Boys	1	2009
	Track and Field, Boys	2	1976, 2012
	Track and Field, Girls	8	1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 2013, 2014, 2018
	Rugby union, Boys	3	2004, 2005, 2018
	Adapted Bowling	3	2006, 2007, 2008
Total		101

Notable alumni

• Beau Allen (2010), NFL player^[20]
• Eric Bischoff (1973), entrepreneur, television producer, professional wrestling booker, and podcast host
• Lee Blessing (1967), playwright
• Bobby Brink, professional hockey player
• Jim Brower (1991), MLB pitcher
• Dmitry Chaplin (2000), dancer and choreographer
• Steve Comer (1972), MLB pitcher
• Jake Gardiner (2008), professional hockey player^[21]
• Justin Holl, professional hockey player
• Haley Kalil (2010), Sports Illustrated swimsuit model
• Terry Katzman, producer, sound engineer, archivist, and record-store owner^[22]
• Will Leer (2003), professional runner
• Vinni Lettieri, professional hockey player
• Jan Malcolm, Health Commissioner of Minnesota^[23]
• Ryan McCartan (2011), actor and singer
• K'Andre Miller, professional hockey player
• John Mark Nelson (2012), songwriter and producer
• Keith Nord (1975), American football defensive back in the National Football League
• Nancy Parsons (1960), actress^[24]
• Peter A. Selfridge (1989), public servant who served as the United States Chief of Protocol from 2014 to 2017
• Thomas O. Staggs (1978), Chief Operating Officer, The Walt Disney Company^[25]
• David Wheaton (1988), professional tennis player
• Arick Wierson (1990), film and television producer
• Matthew Wilkinson (2017), professional runner

Feeder schools

• Elementary School
  • Clear Springs Elementary
  • Deephaven Elementary School
  • Excelsior Elementary School
  • Groveland Elementary
  • Minnewashta Elementary School
  • Scenic Heights Elementary
• Middle School
  • Minnetonka Middle School East
  • Minnetonka Middle School West