Welcome to Parnassus!
We hope you will explore our website and learn more about Parnassus Preparatory School’s extraordinary classical education program. Parnassus is a tuition-free college preparatory school licensed as a K-12 school.
Our teaching and learning philosophy comes alive through a classical framework centered on the liberal arts and the Trivium by engaging students with English, literature, mathematics, sciences, formal logic, philosophy, Latin, Greek, Spanish, history, geography, art history, music, arts, and more. Learn more about what distinguishes Parnassus from other schools in the Classical Education section and throughout our website.
We hope you will find the information on our website helpful! Please contact us to schedule a visit and learn more about our school.
Mission and Philosophy
Our Vision
The mission of Parnassus Preparatory School is to provide students with a classical education, grounded in the classical Trivium, that demands their best in intellectual achievement and character development.
Our Philosophy
Parnassus Preparatory School’s philosophy is that all students benefit from the highest standards of academic integrity and a rigorous, content-rich, educational program that develops their intellectual capacity, personal character, and leadership skills. The school provides an environment that fosters academic excellence through the habits of discipline and thoroughness, the willingness to work hard, and the perseverance to complete difficult tasks. Through a defined, traditional, and classical curriculum that is grounded in the Trivium, students prepare to become active, responsible leaders and members of their communities.
What is a Charter School?
A charter school is a public school that receives public education funding and is open to all children in the state in which it is located. In general, a charter school is its own school district, nonsectarian, tuition-free, and governed by a Board of Directors.
Minnesota Charter Schools are:
Publicly funded schools of choice:
Parnassus Preparatory School is a charter school in Minnesota authorized by Friends of Education and is funded on a per-pupil basis.
Usually established by a group of founders:
Parnassus Preparatory School’s founding members are three parents who were interested in providing the best education to their own children and to as many other students as possible. The lack of choices available for academic excellence in the community became the driving force in their decision to make Parnassus a full Prima-4R school. Read about “Our Story.”
Site-based managed:
Governance models vary from charter school to charter school. Parnassus Preparatory School’s Board of Directors has a parent-majority board comprised of up to five board members including parents, one licensed teacher teaching at the school, and one community member.
Focused on one specific philosophy:
Every charter school has its own mission and philosophy. Parnassus is a classical school based on the classical Trivium framework. The Parnassus philosophy is that all students benefit from the highest standards of academic integrity and from a rigorous, content-rich, educational program that develops their intellectual capacity, personal character, and leadership skills. The school provides an environment that fosters academic excellence through the habit of discipline and thoroughness, the willingness to work hard, and the perseverance to complete difficult tasks. Through a defined, traditional, classical curriculum that is grounded in the classical Trivium, students prepare to become active and responsible leaders and members of their communities.
Created for a very defined purpose:
Parnassus expects nothing less than the best from its students. Parnassus is a fit for parents and students who wish to make a specific educational choice for a classical education. Students who understand, and whose parents understand, the effort necessary to attain a classical education will thrive at Parnassus. Parents and students who do not agree with the Parnassus’ mission, philosophy, and policies may find that Parnassus is not the right fit for their family. In such circumstances, a different educational opportunity may be more appropriate.
Brand and Logo
Parnassus Preparatory School’s name, crest, and logo are registered trademarks with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Unauthorized use of the school name, crest, and logo is prohibited.
The school was named after Mount Parnassus, the towering limestone mountain in Greece known as the home of the Muses who were the emissaries of literature, poetry, the sciences, and the arts. Our name has since become a metaphor for learning and achievement in creativity and the development of the mind. The name reflects the founders’ belief that Parnassus provides a classical academic program that produces students who are analytical thinkers, coherent writers, confident speakers, thoughtful leaders, and responsible members of their community.
At Parnassus, we proudly wear our crest – to let others know that we are united in the belief that knowledge stems from an education rooted in the classical system. By wearing a common uniform and educational crest, we agree to stand together as students, learners, thinkers, scholars, and friends.
The elements in our crest hold the following symbolism:
- The book at the top represents knowledge.
- The torch represents life, truth, and intelligence.
- The laurel represents peace and strong, lasting friendships.
The colors in our crest have the following significance:
- Red is associated with energy, strength, power, determination, and love.
- Yellow (gold) is associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.
- Blue is is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, and truth.
Our Story
After three years of research and planning Parnassus Preparatory School opened its doors on Monday, August 22, 2011. The existence and success of the school is attributed to three founding parents, Ms. Laura Miranda Bottenfield, Mr. Greg Friess, and Ms. Heather Ross. The founders dedicated three years of their lives, with many sacrifices along the way, to make Parnassus a reality. Through different roles, the founders continue to support the school and ensure that the mission and vision is delivered. (From left to right: Ms. Heather Ross, Mr. Greg Friess, Ms. Laura Miranda Bottenfield).
The founding of the school began in 2007 when Ms. Bottenfield, a resident of Maple Grove with two elementary school-aged children, realized that there were limited options for school choice beyond the traditional local public or private schools in the Northwest metro. She researched and studied schools and educational models and realized that the classical model was what she wanted for her children.
The founders began the process of creating a school by drafting a plan and finding an authorizer. Ms. Bottenfield, Mr. Friess, and Ms. Ross put together a proposal for a classical school which was accepted by the well-respected charter school authorizer, Friends of Education, which focuses on classical or Core Knowledge charter schools and sponsors multiple charter schools in Minnesota. The Parnassus Preparatory School charter application was submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) in 2009 in a competitive application process. There were 16 applicants for new charter schools in Minnesota that year. MDE approved four applications out of the 16 and Parnassus, with its well-researched and thought-out plan, received the highest score. Parnassus obtained its K-12 charter from MDE in 2010.
The founders named the school after Mount Parnassus, the towering, limestone mountain in Greece that in ancient times was known as the home of the Muses, the emissaries of literature, the sciences, and the arts. It has since become a metaphor for learning, achievement, excellence, and the development of the mind. The name reflected the founders’ belief that Parnassus would provide a classical academic program that produced students who are critical thinkers, coherent writers, confident speakers, thoughtful leaders, and responsible members of their communities.
From the beginning, the founders knew that Parnassus would be exceptional. The school broke the first year enrollment record for charter schools in Minnesota and has exceeded the expectations of its authorizer and parents since. Going forward, the school will continue to grow and improve as it keeps a constant eye on its mission to “provide students with a K-12 classical education grounded in the Trivium that demands their best in intellectual achievement and character development.”
Affiliated Building Company
Parnassus Building Company Board of Directors & Officers
Mr. Dennis Smith, President
Mr. Rob Dyer, Treasurer
Ms. Laura Bottenfield, Secretary
Mailing Address
Parnassus Building Company
11201 96th Avenue North
Maple Grove, MN 55369
EIN: 82-5253891
