advise on schools please! (St. Paul, Minnetonka: 2013, home, theater)

[Mommy100]

My daughter went to school where her dad (lived about two hours away) and due to issues with her new middle school she has decided to move with me and go to school here next year. She will be in 8th grade for the 2013-14 year. We are located in the Hopkins school district but the city of Minnetonka. I have not herd good things about this school and know a few parents that pulled there kids from here. The issue I am having is because of the late decision all the schools are full. The issues we had at the last school boil down to their lack of policies and bullying (really bad) Also not having the advanced class to keep up with my daughters level of education. I am a stay at home mom and don't mind driving her to school. The things we are looking for are,
high level and challenging academics
she would prefer a smaller environment and school with community feeling
I would love a school that works with different learning styles and offer more then just sitting in a class room listing to lectures for hours at a time. She learns well by doing.
I'm not concerned about athletics as she is a reader, writer and enjoys musical interest.
Schools I would love to tour are, blake, breck, great river, Minnetonka middle east ( all of what are not taking any more for next year)
international school of mn and Minnetonka middle west is, but I do not know much about these schools. ?
We are open minded about different types of schools. I still think you will only do well in school if you are happy at your school and like to go. I saw her loosing interest in learning for the first time, at this last school because of the reasons mentioned above. I could really use some suggestions!
Thanks for any help

[golfgal]

Do you have the money to send her to Blake or Breck? Both are very expensive. They are good schools though.

[Mommy100]

We are more then willing to pick a school that has tuition and we could accommodate to the cost. Breck would have ben my first choice (it sounds like an environment that suits my daughter). The 8th grade is full for next year and Blake is also full for next year. Unfortunately it was a necessary decision that came about at the wrong time of the year. International school of MN has openings but I am not familiar with there sabis method of teaching and the reviews are 50/50.

[MnMomma]

I'd add King of Grace Lutheran to the list too.

[golfgal]

Try St. Paul Academy if you want to go private. I would also consider the Edina schools for public schools in your area.

[Mommy100]

Thanks for the help. I will check in to those It doesn't have to be private, it's just been that the large classes and lack of community type of setting that comes from having 1000's of kids in a school, hasn't seemed to work for my daughter. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks for giving me some to look at.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Mommy100

Thanks for the help. I will check in to those It doesn't have to be private, it's just been that the large classes and lack of community type of setting that comes from having 1000's of kids in a school, hasn't seemed to work for my daughter. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks for giving me some to look at.

Minnetonka schools are huge, one of the largest districts in the state. The community feel can come from being involved in "something" too. It doesn't have to be sports but a music program, theater, a club, etc. helps tremendously. Our kids have over 500 kids in their class but they feel very connected to the school because of their sports teams and music programs.

You could also look further out to smaller towns like Chaska but part of the community feel comes from living there, doing business there, attending events there too. Might not be practical living in Hopkins.

Holy Family in Victoria might be a good fit too.