Zimtor Elementary School is a new, progressive, private school in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Zimtor serves children ages two through eleven. We currently offer only preschool through our licensed family child care program. For more information on our preschool program, see www.zimtorfcc.org
Free Tuition
Tuition is free for the regular K-5 school day at Zimtor. We are supported by an endowment and by donations. There is a $50.00 enrollment fee, but this is the only fee of any kind Zimtor charges for the regular school day. An extended day program is available at a cost of $742 per month. Tuition subsidies for the extended day program are available through the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program.
Noncompetitive Admission
Children are admitted to Zimtor without regard to academic ability. Children over the age of eight must have had experience in a school with an emphasis on independent work.
Early Admission
Four-year-olds are admitted to kindergarten at Zimtor if they are at least four-and-a-half on September 1.
Project-Based Curriculum
Zimtor uses a a project-based, progressive approach to education in which students work independently for much of the day.
Continuous Progress
Because students work largely independently, each student works at his or her own pace. Multi-grade classrooms help each student work at a level appropriate for him or her.
Electronics Free
Electronic devices are neither used nor allowed at Zimtor. An exception is made for recorded music and movies that are directly related to the curriculum.
Problem-Solving Approach to Conflicts
Conflicts are resolved through problem solving in which the goal is to find a solution satisfactory to everyone.
Limited Size
Each classroom is limited to twenty students, and the entire school is limited to forty students. This helps make Zimtor a stable, cohesive community that is responsive to the needs and concerns of each child and each family.
Twelve-Month School Year
Zimtor is open twelve months a year. This allows students to build on what they’ve learned continuously, without the disruption of a long summer vacation. We do have short summer and fall breaks as well as the traditional winter and spring breaks.
Universal Vaccination
To protect the entire school population, all students are required to be vaccinated in accord with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) schedule. The only exceptions are those provided for by the CDC. However, we do not plan to require any Covid vaccines.
Free Transportation
Free transportation will be provided within a fifteen-mile radius of the school using our own bus.
Nondiscriminitory Policy
Zimtor admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other school-administered programs.
