BOYS TOTEM TOWN

BOYS TOTEM TOWN is a Title I public high school that is part of the Saint Paul Public Schools school district, located in SAINT PAUL, MN with about 18 students offering grade levels from 7th Grade to 12th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 4 teachers, BOYS TOTEM TOWN has a student/teacher ratio of about 4:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

**BOYS TOTEM TOWN** was a long-standing juvenile correctional facility and residential treatment center located in St. Paul, Minnesota, that operated under the jurisdiction of Ramsey County in partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS). Designed to serve adolescent males who had been adjudicated by the juvenile court system, the facility functioned as a secure residential site where students lived and attended classes on-site. The school’s curriculum was specifically tailored to students with unique behavioral and educational needs, focusing on credit recovery, social-emotional development, and preparing students for a successful transition back into their home schools or the community.

The facility officially closed its doors in 2019 following a series of policy shifts regarding juvenile justice, which emphasized moving away from institutionalized detention toward community-based interventions and restorative justice programs. After its closure, the sprawling property on Totem Road was decommissioned and subsequently sold for redevelopment. Today, the site no longer serves as a school or correctional facility, as the city and county have transitioned toward alternative support models for youth that prioritize keeping students integrated within their local school districts rather than in isolated residential centers.

For more information, contact BOYS TOTEM TOWN at (651) 266-5055 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.