St. Paul Preparatory School, formerly known as Nacel International School, is a private college preparatory school in Faribault, Minnesota, United States, and part of the Nacel International School System. Founded in 2003 by US-based student exchange organization Nacel Open Door, it recruits students from more than 50 countries worldwide including the United States. All international students are placed in host families who they live with for five or ten month periods while school is in session. The enrollment at St. Paul Preparatory School resides from more than 35 countries in Asia, Europe, South America and North America. Students who attend SPP bring a wealth of culture and language skills to the school. Students primarily attend SPP to improve their global understanding, English comprehension and rigorous academics. Host families from the metropolitan Twin Cities area provide housing for the international students who attend SPP. Host families provide shelter, food and transportation needs, support the study habits of students and offer cultural and language understanding of the American way of life. Students are provided an unlimited metro transit bus pass to commute to and from school and visit local attractions such as Mall of America. In 2014 St. Paul Preparatory School founded three diploma programs in STEM, Visual Arts and International Business. Visual Arts Program diploma includes a rigorous product oriented portfolio that students develop for public presentation and sale. Students produce artistic creations derived from current inspirational motivation for competition, public display and commercial marketing. International Business Program diploma provides the skills and knowledge necessary to understand, develop and discuss economic concepts from a micro and macro level. In depth finance concepts of managing and operating a business, as well as hands-on learning through internship based opportunities provide an exciting and interesting first hand view of the capitalist system. An additional fourth diploma program was added in 2015. Global Leadership combines the communication skills needed for oral argument, speech communications, and problem-solving skills to emphasize leadership and issue-oriented critical thinking. SPP is organized around the diploma programs that provide a focus for the education of all students. Many students attend the school for one year and not able to participate in the diploma programs due to graduation requirements. SPP graduates are accepted to many top tier universities. Some 2016 graduates have received acceptance letters from: Georgetown University, University of California - Santa Barbara, University of Massachusetts - Boston, University of New Hampshire, Wheaton College, Roger Williams University, Adelphi University, Marymount University, Georgia State University, Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Utah State University, Penn State University, Gustavus Adolphus College, Macalester College, St. Olaf College Bard College, University of Edinburgh, Kingston University - London, University of Minnesota-Main Campus, University of Minnesota-Morris, University of Minnesota-Duluth, University of Minnesota-Crookston, University of Illinois
Branch Campuses
After opening St. Paul Preparatory School in 2003, Nacel International School System opened up other campuses around the world for schools modeled after its St. Paul Preparatory school. Its branch schools are located in China, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey and France. A sister school is located in Poland.
