Early Learning Center

Building Curiosity, Connection and Community

In August 2023, Blake opened an Early Learning Center (ELC), the first of its kind in the Twin Cities. Designed for learners in pre-kindergarten (ages 4 and older), kindergarten and first grade, the ELC offers a child-centered program in a green facility designed to spark curiosity, joy and growth. You can inquire here by sharing some basic information.

The ELC experience provides a foundation for the remarkable journey that is a Blake education. Understanding children as inquisitive, intelligent, creative and capable, Blake’s Reggio-inspired early childhood program teaches students to investigate, inquire and make connections in the world around them.

Young students learn best in an environment designed for them. Blake partnered with HGA to design a facility that connects the indoors and outdoors. Nestled into a hillside at the top of a winding drive, the building’s three floors, one for each grade, are elevated at half-levels:

• Field Level
• Forest Level
• Treetop Level

Common spaces on each floor create a sense of belonging and community. The ELC is scaled to be both spacious and intimate with gathering places, play areas and reading nooks. Blake’s early childhood educators use the building itself as a teaching tool.

The ELC has access to the campus’s playing fields, ice arena and swimming pool. With proximity to the Upper Elementary (grades 2-5) and Middle School, ELC learners have the opportunity to be mentored by older students.

Other highlights include

Natural play structures  •  Outdoor adventure zones  •  Spacious common areas  •  Learning kitchen  •  Library  •  Art studio  •  Movement studio  •  Music studio  •  Strings studio

Lower School	Grade Level	Number of Classrooms	Students per Classroom	Teachers per classroom
Early Learning Center (ELC)	Pre-kindergarten	3	15	2
	Kindergarten	3	20	2
	First grade	3	20	2
Upper Elementary (UE)	Second grade	3	21	1.5
	Third grade	3	21	1.5
	Fourth grade	4	21	1.5
	Fifth grade	4	21	1.5