The Blake School is kicking off the public part of an $80 million fundraising campaign, which would bring more student financial assistance, increased faculty professional development and new facilities to the school.

The school is calling the efforts its "most ambitious fundraising campaign" ever and the biggest goal for an independent Minnesota school, according to a release from Blake.

"As we launch this campaign for The Blake School, we embrace the opportunity to build on our longstanding strengths in teaching and learning," Head of School Anne Stavney said in the release.

The funds would create "a transformed school," the release said.

The public phase's target is $25 million, which will wrap up in 2018. The campaign's earlier "quiet phase" brought in $55 million in gifts since that part started in 2013.

Gifts that came in early have made the Ankeny Center for Science, Design and Research, updated the MacMillan Performing Arts Center and boosted athletic facilities. In addition, the funds have increased need-based financial help for students and strengthened curriculum and professional development, according to the release.

In its last campaign from 1999 to 2004, Blake raised $55 million. The school said that was one of the largest for independent schools in the Midwest at the time.

The Blake School is a pre-K through 12th grade school with three campuses in Wayzata, Hopkins and Minneapolis.