Profile of Edina High School

A comprehensive curriculum of 140+ courses emphasizes preparation for college. Besides extensive offerings in English, mathematics, social studies and sciences, study in four languages is offered: six years of French and Spanish, five in Latin, five years in Chinese and three years in American Sign Language (ASL). One notable exception: approximately 40 French students in ninth grade have been part of our Immersion program since kindergarten; as sophomores, they will take Diverse Francophone World. As juniors, they’ll take AP French Language & Culture. As seniors, they all have an opportunity to take French Culture in the Modern World.

For complete descriptions of all courses: ehs.edinaschools.org/learning/course-registration

Edina students have numerous opportunities for enriched (accelerated/honors) or AP courses.

Edina is both a small city, population 53,100 and a suburban, residential community on the southwest edge of Minneapolis. With a high percentage of college graduates, most parents are employed in professional and managerial positions.

Assignment of students to counselors is done by team in 9th grade and alphabetically in grades 10- 12. Besides the counselors listed on the front page, three administrative assistants serve the department: Nancy Knutson (952) 848-3131 works with Nicole Plafcan, Erica Landers, Susan Phetsamone and Lisa Burnham and the 9th grade counselors-Angela Kieffer and Natalie Golberg; Allison Du Chateau (952) 848-3146 works with Kris Moe, Julie Block, Sandy Schmidt and Dylan Hackbarth. College representative visits (Virtual) may be scheduled in RepVisits at least two weeks in advance of the desired time. College and Career Center, Molly Thuma (952) 848-3833.

Spring 2020

Distance Learning at Edina High School took place during the time period of March 16 through June 30, 2020, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is also noted on all student transcripts.

The Edina School Board passed a resolution to allow students the opportunity to change any passing grade from Semester 2, 202, to a P (“Pass”) on the their transcript. Non-passing grades for Semester 2, 2020, are noted as NG (“No Grade”).

2020-2021 School Year

Edina High School is providing two learning models for students: part-time in a hybrid learning model and a full-time online learning model.

• A hybrid model of learning is a weekly blend of in-school learning following strict safety guidelines and at-home learning via technology.
• Full-time distance learning in the newly designed Edina Virtual Academy. This includes synchronous and asynchronous school days.

Again the Edina School Board passed resolutions at the end of each semester to allow students the opportunity to change any passing grade to a P ("Pass") on their transcript. Non-passing grades for both semesters are noted as NG ("No Grade").

2021-2022 School Year

Edina High School returned to full face-to-face, five-day-a-week instruction with COVID mitigation protocols in place including mandated masking.

By Board policy, Edina High School High School will not rank students, but will provide a grade distribution chart by deciles. Decile rank is determined by deciles, that is, groups of 10 percent of the senior class. With a senior class of 700 students, for example, the first decile includes approximately the top 70 student GPAs. The second decile contains the next 10 percent and so forth.

Class of 2024 Decile Rankings

Besides the formal curriculum, Edina students are engaged in many co-curricular activities at our school. Surveys show approximately 85% of our high school students take part in these activities. One in three takes one or more leadership roles. Edina offers a wide array of opportunities including athletics, debate, music, publications, student government, theater and clubs ranging from art to foreign language to math. The Community Service Letter is an award earned by students who go above and beyond when it comes to serving others. In 2023, 109 students earned a letter in community service.

Of the 170 certified faculty members, 90% have earned master’s, specialist or doctoral degrees. 20% are National Board Certified.

The Board of Education requires a minimum of 43 credits in grades 9-12. Requirements for the class of 202. are:

• English - Four years, including one year of literature
• Health - One semester
• Physical Education - Two semesters
• Math - Three years, at least through Advanced Algebra with Probability and Statistics
• Science - Three years, including Biology and at least two additional credits in Physics or Chemistry
• Social Studies - One year of U.S. History, one year of Government, one semester of Economics, and one year of either World History or European History. The state geography requirement is satisfied through a year of U.S. History and either a year of World History or European History.

AP Courses are weighted 1.2

• U.S. Department of Education National School of Excellence.

• Five Star School (highest rating possible) designated by the Minnesota Department of Education.

• U.S. News ranked EHS in Top 5 Minnesota public, non-charter schools

• #1 Best College prep high school in Minnesota (Niche)

• 2020 EHS in top 500 of America’s Best STEM High Schools by Newsweek

• #1 in Minnesota for sending students to elite colleges (Polaris list)

• Student publications include Images, our literary arts magazine, Zephyrus, our student newspaper, and Whigrean, our yearbook. Each of these publications has won state and national awards from organizations such as Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Educators of Minnesota, National Scholastic Press Association and the Minnesota High School Press Association. Students are selected for Whigrean and Zephyrus through a competitive process.

• Comprehensive music program features Concert, Symphonic, Varsity, Marching and Pep Bands; Symphonic, Chamber and Philharmonic orchestras; Concert Choir, Varsity, Men's and Bel Canto Choir. Small groups include jazz ensembles, chamber choirs, solo and ensemble contest participation.  The Concert Choir, Concert Band and Orchestra have earned superior ratings from the Minnesota State High School League for decades. The Minnesota String and Orchestra Teachers Association (MNSOTA) recognized Edina Public Schools’ (EPS) orchestra program with the 2017 Meritorious Orchestra Program Award.

• 202 state athletic championships - #1 among 500 members of the Minnesota State High School League.

• Over 50 sports, activities and academic teams.

• Edina’s athletic program is ranked 8th in the nation by Sports Illustrated Magazine. The ranking is done once a decade and recognizes all-around achievement over a 10-year period.

• The Green Machine, Edina’s robotics team, received the highest award in competition at the national FIRST Robotics Competition in 2019.

• Award winning Model United Nations and DECA teams.

• Leadership Opportunities: Student Council, Student Senate, Mosaic and Hornet Mentors.

• Unified Options include Physical Education, sports and theater.

• Over 50 student led clubs. Examples: Project Earth, Interact Club, Computational Linguistics Club, Say Hey Hornet Boosters.

In addition, 11th and 12th grade students may also complete graduation requirements by taking course work, funded by the state, at Minnesota public and private colleges. Seventy-five plus students designated as PSEO on their transcript, are enrolled in this program on a full or part-time basis for the 2023-2024 school year.

College credit-bearing courses taught at Edina High School

• College Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Latin IV

Four-year Colleges/Universities - 82%

• 65% Public, 35% Private
• 38% Minnesota, 62% Out-of-State

Community Colleges/Technical Colleges - 9%
Gap Year - 5%
Other/Employment - 4%

Graduates will attend 180 different Colleges and Universities in 2023-2024

ACT - American College Test (Class of 2023)

Number of seniors taking the test: 492
Percent of the class: 72%
Average ACT score: 24.9

Note: According to ACT, the percentage of Edina students ready for college level course work was twice as high as the typical Minnesota High School graduate.

SAT Reasoning Test (2021-2022)

Number of seniors taking the test::  63
Percent of the class: 9.7%

Advanced Placement Program

Note: Edina High School administered in May 2020 almost twice as many AP exams as any other high school in the state.

Advanced Placement Scholars

Number of Scholars: 472  
Average Score: 3.92