Great Oaks Academy

Great Oaks Academy is a tuition-free, Classical charter school with campuses in Farmington and Eagan, MN. Our mission is to provide students with a classical, liberal arts education that is rigorous, literature-rich, wondrous, and virtuous.  

Last year, during GTMD and throughout the academic year, our community showed up with overwhelming support—raising more than $75,000 to directly support classroom learning and campus improvements. That collective generosity has helped us expand to our Eagan Campus, creating a thriving space for our middle and high school students.

The acquisition of our Eagan site represents a major milestone for Great Oaks Academy. It removes the uncertainty around where and how our upper grades will grow and gives us a flexible, inspiring space to bring the vision of our classical education charter to life. Surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes, the campus reflects our commitment to connecting students to wonder, one of our school’s core pillars.

With this incredible opportunity comes real financial responsibility. As a growing K–12 school operating across **two campuses—K–5 in Farmington and 5–12 in Eagan—** we are in a pivotal moment.

Our K–5 enrollment remains strong, and we’re proud of the thriving community we’ve built there. But our 6–12 program is still in its early growth phase. This is completely normal for a young school—students often join upper grades gradually over several years. However, this means our operating costs are currently higher than the per-pupil funding coming in, resulting in a $200,000 shortfall this year as we expand our programs and maintain both campuses.

Thanks to careful financial stewardship, we have reserves to sustain us through this period. But community giving this year is essential to ensure we can continue to grow from a position of strength and set our upper grades up for long-term success.

Unlike traditional district schools, charter schools like Great Oaks do not receive local tax levy funding. District schools can rely on referendum-based property tax dollars to cover many of their operating expenses. We can not. Every dollar we use to fund classrooms, programs, and student experiences must come from state per-pupil funding and the generosity of our community.

That’s why your support matters so much. By donating to Great Oaks and sharing our story, you’re not just helping us close a funding gap—you’re investing in a thriving future for our students and helping our upper grades grow into a vibrant, unified K–12 community.

Your donation helps fill that gap—not as a “bonus,” but as a vital investment in:

• Keeping our classrooms and campuses strong and well-resourced 

• Enhancing our middle and high school experience 

• Ensuring continued program quality and stability while enrollment grows

This is a short-term but critical stage in our journey. Your support during this phase helps ensure that our students thrive now, and that Great Oaks Academy continues to be a place of learning, virtue, and growth for years to come.

🎯 Our 2025–2026 Fundraising Goal: $200,000

Your donations directly support:

• 👩‍🏫 Teachers and Interventionists — providing targeted support in math, reading, and more

• 📚 Library Books, Curriculum, and Educational Programs — enriching minds and nurturing a love of learning

• 🏫 Resources for Learning Spaces — ensuring classrooms remain engaging and well-equipped

• 🎨 Enrichment Opportunities — expanding music and arts programs and providing essential art supplies

• 🏃 Extracurricular Activities and Student Experiences — fostering community, teamwork, and joy in learning

If each family committed to a monthly recurring gift of $50, we would meet our goal.