Sidney Pratt School, 66 Malcolm Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Sidney Pratt School
Address:	66 Malcolm Avenue SE
Neighborhood/s:	Prospect Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota
City/locality- State/province	Minneapolis, Minnesota
County- State/province:	Hennepin County, Minnesota
State/province:	Minnesota
Country:	United States
Year built:	1898
Additions:	1906, 1926.
Major Alterations:	Altered
Historic Function:	School
Current Function:	School
Architect or source of design:	Edward S. Stebbins (also attributed to Lowell Lamoreaux)
Material of Exterior Wall Covering:	Brick
Part of the Site:	Prospect Park

Sidney Pratt was built in 1898 with additions in 1906 and 1926. The school was closed in 1982 and reopened in 2000.

Contents 1 History 2 Memories and stories 3 Significance 4 Photo Gallery 5 Related Links 6 Notes

History

Sidney Pratt is the oldest Minneapolis Public School building still in use as a school^[1] The school was named after a graduate of the Minneapolis Public School System who died in the Spanish American War. His father also happened to be the President of the Board of Education and the Mayor of Minneapolis^[1]. When the school opened in 1898 there were 37 students and 1 teacher^[1]; today 185 students are enrolled^[1]. The building did not function as a school between the years of 1982 and 2000. During this period community education continued using the building and space was rented to The Loft Literary Center for their administrative offices, classes, workshops, and lectures; and the building was threatened with demolition^[1]. The neighborhood, however, rallied to save the building and were successful in preserving the building as well as returning it to use as a school^[1]. Today Sidney Pratt School serves a diverse population with English Language Learners making up 20% of the total population. Most of those ELL students are Somali. The precentage of students receiving free and reduced lunch has grown from about 44% to 72%. The building also continues to house community education classes^[1].

Memories and stories

Significance

Sidney Pratt School is unique among the Minneapolis Public Schools in a number of ways. As the oldest of the Minneapolis Public Schools still being used as a school it has a deeper connection with the past than most of the public schools in Minneapolis today. Its age contributes to another unique feature of Sidney Pratt School, its small size. In addition, the school is truly reflective of the neighborhood surrounding it in that it includes people of many different classes and backgrounds. All of these features reflect the deep connection between Sidney Pratt School and the community around it.

Photo Gallery

Front of school with Tower Hill Park in background.

Side of school facing Tower Hill Park.

Interior of front entry.

Related Links

Prospect Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota Tower Hill Park, 55 Malcolm Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota Pratt School Website

Notes