Celebratory graphic for Friendship Academy of the Arts 25th anniversary with gold and blue text, large number 25, and confetti.

Educating the Whole Child to Be Confident, Competent, and Creative Citizens

Our Mission

To educate children to be confident, competent and creative citizens.

Our Vision

Empowering scholars to be lifelong leaders and learners by developing the whole child socially,
emotionally, academically and artistically.

Our Beliefs

Our beliefs about the value of all people:

  • Every person deserves respect.

  • Each person’s intrinsic value is non-negotiable.

  • Every student possesses the potential to learn.

Our beliefs about our educational experience:

  • High standards stimulate achievement.

  • Higher-level thinking and social skills are developed through exploration and self-discovery.

  • Arts integration enhances the learner intellectually and culturally.

  • Leadership is a critical life skill that must be intentionally developed.

  • Family involvement is critical to learning.

Our beliefs about the impact of our school:

  • Learning is a lifelong process.

  • Education provides access to unlimited opportunities.

Our Model

A colorful circular diagram with four quadrants surrounding a central logo of two stylized children wearing graduation caps. The top left quadrant has a tree, the top right shows a graduation cap, diploma, and books, the bottom left displays the word "ARTS" in colorful letters, and the bottom right features a group of hands joined together.

Leadership

Art Integration

Academics

Family & Community Collaboration

Academics

  • Research Based Approaches

  • Integrated Curriculum

  • Data-Driven Approaches

  • Individualized/Project Based Learning

  • Collaborations and Partnerships

  • Teacher-Family Communication

Family & Community Collaboration

  • Engage Whole Family

  • Family Voice

  • Family University

  • Community Involvement

  • Community Partnerships

Leadership

  • Social & Emotional Learning

  • Leader in Me 

    • Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

  • Student Agency

  • Student Voice

Art Integration

  • Learning by Doing

  • Artistic Mindset (Innovative, Creative, Problem Solving)

  • Technology

  • Enrichment Programs

  • Self-Discovery

Friendship Way

  • The Core

  • Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships

  • Restorative Practices

    • Student-Student

    • Staff-Staff

    • Student-Staff

    • Family-Staff

Our Mantra

Chalkboard with affirmations about self-confidence and belonging, featuring a logo for Friendship Academy.
A diagram illustrating the concept of innovative inclusive community builders, combining innovative scholars and inclusive leaders to create community builders. It details the traits of innovative scholars, such as actively pursuing knowledge and artistic expression, and of inclusive leaders, like demonstrating mutual appreciation and serving as community leaders. The resulting community builders advocate for self and others, think innovatively, collaborate on restorative solutions, and generate positive change with leadership skills.

Our Plan

Virtual Tour

School Calendar & Daily Schedule

Daily school schedule poster with times and activities, decorated with stars and a graphic of two children with a cluster of gold stars.

Before School & Summer School Programming

In partnership with the Children Defense Fund MN, Friendship Academy offers a year-round Freedom School Program. CDF Freedom Schools® provides summer and after-school enrichment through a research-based and multicultural program model that supports K-12 scholars and their families through five essential components. We focus on high-quality academic and character-building enrichment, parent and family involvement, civic engagement and social action, intergenerational servant leadership development, nutrition, health, and mental health.

CDF Freedom Schools incorporates the totality of CDF’s mission by fostering environments that support young people (known as “scholars” in the program) to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves as well as their families, schools, communities, country, and world with hope, education, and action.

Colored pencils with a blue shield logo featuring stars and a person in a wheelchair, and text announcing enrollment at Friendship Academy of the Arts for the 2025-26 school year, now open.

Follow us on Social Media

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