Earlier this year, you received an update about Maplewood Academy’s financial condition. The debt had grown significantly, and income was not keeping up with expenses.
Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, and specifically to the efforts of Sara Swanson-Lane, more than $850,000 was raised to cut down the debt significantly. As of this update, the debt has been reduced to about $250,000. This has been a major blessing and has bought us some time to address the reality that expenses are more than income and the debt continues to grow.
Additionally, for the 2024-25 school year, we were able to regain a little of the financial ground we lost over the past three years, thanks to a generous donation. And more good news is that enrollment is up nearly 30 percent. On the first day of school, 87 students attended—up from 67 on the first day last year. There is still room for more students if you know someone who should attend.
The Ongoing Challenge
Despite positive developments, Maplewood Academy continues to face a serious income shortfall. Seventh-day Adventist schools are traditionally funded by tuition and subsidies, but the actual cost of maintaining facilities, staff, and programs has grown far beyond what tuition and subsidies cover.
The true cost of educating a student at Maplewood Academy is about $40,000 per year, while tuition, room, and board pays for only about half that amount.
Most students need financial aid. Last year, Maplewood received approximately $486,000 in worthy student funds, scholarships, and donations, but we needed about $1,100,000—a shortfall of $614,000 in a single year. If current trends continue, we anticipate a million-dollar shortfall again this year (growing at about $90,000/month) if we can’t increase income, which we are intentionally trying to do.
Why the Conference Carries the Debt
Some have asked why the Conference backstops the academy when expenses outpace income. The reason is because Maplewood Academy’s disciple-making ministry is critical to God’s mission in Minnesota. In terms of investing in mission Minnesota, our schools are the primary way we train and disciple young people for future leadership and mission. And Maplewood is unique in this work of spiritual training and discipling because it is the only school in our conference where we have access to students 24/7 for nine months out of the year. If we lose Maplewood, we lose a critical component of our future.
What This Means Moving Forward
Obviously, however, expenses outpacing income is unsustainable in the long run, so we need to fix the problem. That is why the board of trustees has appointed a study committee to gather data and provide recommendations. The committee has been meeting with stakeholders and is preparing a comprehensive survey to better understand attitudes toward Adventist education and Maplewood Academy. When you receive a survey asking for your feedback, please take the time to complete it.
What Can We Do Together?
We enter this school year with hope. Enrollment growth, donor support, and faithful tithe return are signs that God is still at work through Maplewood Academy. But the situation is still desperate as long as expenses outpace income.
There are several ways you can help.
- Financially you can support Maplewood by direct donations for operations or by sponsoring students.
- For the long-term investment, you can contribute to the endowment, which pays dividends indefinitely. The larger the endowment the more income on a regular basis.
- You can intentionally recruit and encourage students to attend Maplewood.
- Your church can sponsor your students to attend.
- You can also help by praying for God’s leading and blessing at Maplewood, and that He will bring us toward a stable and vibrant future of growing and training future leaders and disciple makers.
We are declaring October 25 this year a day of fasting and prayer specifically for Maplewood. Please join us!
Thank you so much for what you are already doing to support the students at Maplewood Academy!
Originally released September 2, 2025 through TNL Extra