About Global Arts Plus Lower Campus

The mission of Global Arts Plus is to provide a quality, comprehensive, arts-infused education.

Our school offers a unique educational experience in grades Pre-K through 8 on two campuses. Spanning a child’s first classroom experience all the way through middle school, Global Arts Plus lays a foundation for creativity and exploration in the arts. Beginning at our PreK-4 Lower Campus, children embrace their identity as emerging artists: learning how the arts make our identities unique and powerful. Students join the Upper Campus in grade 5 and smoothly transition to our middle school program in grade 6.

In middle school, students learn to set goals in personal, social and academic areas. Accelerated classes, leadership experiences, athletics and after-school programs support young adults as they step into new responsibilities and challenging academics. Our artist-in-residence programs enlist diverse voices and talents; students may learn flamenco dancing, Taiko drumming, poetry and more. Students continue their artistic evolution and showcase their learning at Friday gatherings, a weekly event that builds community among our young artists.

A Unique Program
Global Arts Plus PreK-8 offers a truly unique educational setting in the Twin Cities area. Spanning two campuses, Global Arts Plus provides arts-infused curriculum for children Pre-K through grade 8. Children in Pre-K through grade 4 are introduced to arts-infused learning at the lower campus and continue grades 5 – 8 at the upper campus.

Rigorous Learning + Arts!
At both sites, students are challenged with rigorous reading, writing, and math instruction. Additionally, there is daily instruction in the arts both during regular classroom instruction as well as during specialist classes. The arts classes are taught by trained specialists in the areas of: visual arts, drama, vocal music, instrumental music, and dance.

Arts Partnerships
Both campuses have a well developed set of partnerships and residencies with agencies such as U.S. Bank, Macalester College, Perpich Center for Arts Education, and The Ordway Center for Performing Arts, just to name afew. Because of these partnerships, students of all ages have opportunities to experience arts through a variety of field trips throughout the year. Each week students also show what they have learned through performance at the school wide Friday Gathering.

Transition to Middle School
After completing their elementary years at the Lower Campus, students step seamlessly into the middle school, where their teachers already know them as a result of being a part of the same learning community since Kindergarten.

School History
Core Values

School History

Global Arts Plus began as two successful schools in the school community- Linwood A+ Elementary, and Monroe Community School. It was called Linwood Monroe Arts Plus at the time in which the schools combined.

Linwood A+ began as an arts-infused magnet school in the fall of 1995. The A+ model revolves around the theory that educating through arts infusion is a highly effective way to help students find academic success.

Since our inception, student learning has been supported through music, drama, dance, and the visual arts.

In 2002, Linwood A+ received a Creative Ticket National School of Distinction Award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Only 5 schools are recognized each year across the United States for providing exceptional learning through the arts, so we have much to be proud of!

In 2008-2009, Linwood and Monroe schools joined together to provide a continuous arts-infused education for students in grades Pre-K through 8, becoming Linwood Monroe Arts Plus. The name was changed to Global Arts Plus in 2018.

The mission of Global Arts Plus is to provide a quality, comprehensive, arts-infused education. Our vision is that by infusing Arts into the curriculum, we enhance the opportunities for academic success for all students. Put another way, we try to utilize any means possible to reach all children and to help them to learn to the best of their abilities. Success for all students is our goal.

We would like for parents and students alike to know that they are very important to us. The number one goal of the entire school staff is to provide the best possible education for the students of Global Arts Plus in a safe and secure environment. We work to ensure that all families are involved in the school community.

Core Values

The Global Arts Plus approach to teaching and learning is grounded in the belief that the arts can play a central role in how children learn, and in helping them to excel in their course of study. At Global Arts Plus, we have created an academic/arts partnership that enhances the classroom learning environment and academic performance of all of our students.

Global Arts Plus students are challenged in a safe, joyful and appropriate academic environment. Our small size ensures that each child is known and celebrated in a community with strong relationships. Respect, responsibility, and support for the needs of each child are promoted.Our goal is to provide every Global Arts Plus student with a world-class education and to inspire an enduring love of learning.

The program at Global Arts Plus is based on the A+ Model which features daily arts instruction in music, visual art, drama, literary arts and dance. Teaching concepts across subject areas (an interdisciplinary approach) helps students find connections between subjects and provides opportunities for all types of students. The educational needs of diverse students are met in two specific ways. The academic program is supported by the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, developed by Harvard professor Howard Gardner, where classroom teachers help students learn by using language, numbers, physical surroundings, the body and more. The schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM link) provides opportunities for students who need additional challenges. Students engage in creative, hands-on experiences that use the arts to support academics and promote lifelong learning.

Contact Us

Global Arts Plus - Lower Campus
1023 Osceola Ave.,
St. Paul, MN 55105

Grades: PreK-4
School Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone: 651-293-6606

Fax Numbers:
must include the "1" when faxing

General/School Records:
1-651-293-6605
Health Records:
1-651-305-5738

Principal: Dr. LaKisha Franks

Staff Directory