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Cotter Schools proudly welcomes domestic students in grades 712 to live and learn on our safe, vibrant campus.
From Nachos Day in the cafeteria to cozy study spots like Blooming Grounds, life at Cotter is filled with special moments.
Our supportive academic programs, dual credit options, and connections to local colleges help students succeed alongside motivated peers.Students enjoy a secure new residence hall, a warm small-town community, and opportunities for worship, service, sports, and the arts.
Weekends are packed with activities and friendships that last a lifetime.Discover your home away from home at Cotter Schools - where you can grow, succeed, and build memories that shape your future.
Founded in 1911, Cotter Schools, is a private, co-educational day and boarding school located in Winona, Minnesota, USA. Cotter Schools serves motivated and engaged students from 16 months through grade 12. Cotter Schools offers boarding for students in grades 7-12. With over 1,200 students from the Winona area and from over 14 countries around the world. Together, we are Cotter! At Cotter Schools, our mission is to challenge students to achieve their full potential and use their lives in the service of others. Our interdisciplinary, liberal arts education helps students develop skills in critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity, preparing them to meet the needs of an ever-changing world. More than 98 percent of our students go on to college and attend some of the best schools in the country. Our curriculum includes numerous honors and Advanced Placement courses that offer a more rigorous curriculum and the potential for earning college credit. At Cotter Schools, you'll experience faith and community, excellence in education, individualized attention, and opportunities to grow. Our goal is to challenge, support, and inspire our students! Cotter is, and always will be, a place where we challenge YOU to be the difference!MISSION:Cotter Schools challenges students to achieve their full potential and use their lives in the service of others. BELIEFS:- As a Catholic learning community, we believe: God is present in all creation.- Each person is valuable and deserves respect.- Education prepares people to build a better world.- In community, everyone grows.COTTER CORE VALUES: - Community- Faith- Service- Respect
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
Bob Kierlin '57 - Founder for Fastenal Company, a $7.5 Billion Fortune 500 company
Andy Ballard '01 - A Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry for developing a program which, using artificial intelligence, solved the riddle of predicting protein structures.
Damien Fair '94 - Awarded the MacArthur Genius award
Jay Carrol '80 - Founder and CEO of Carroll Management Consultants and SeQuel Response. Also played as a tightend for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings ('84-'86)
Chris Green '91 - Top 5 trial lawyers in Massachusetts and top 50 trial lawyers in the USA.
What happens when a boarding student wants to leave midyear? Learn how families can assess the problem, work with the school, and plan a responsible exit.
Learn how to evaluate a boarding school dorm’s social climate, including friendships, supervision, inclusion, conflict resolution, and student belonging.
