Education

Near Top Schools in US

Without a doubt, the #1 reason people make Apple Valley the place for a lifetime is we have one of the TOP SCHOOL DISTRICTS in MINNESOTA or the COUNTRY. Just ask most realtors and they will tell you there is a “premium” on being in the district.

Independent School District #196, fourth largest school district in Minnesota is comprised of over 28,000 students in Apple Valley, Eagan and Rosemount from a population base of 151,000. The district keeps winning national awards year after year.

District 196 is located in the southern suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It is the fourth largest school district in Minnesota, serving approximately 28,000 students and more than 150,000 total residents. The district’s 110 square miles encompass all or part of the cities of Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville, Coates, Inver Grove Heights and Lakeville, and Empire and Vermillion townships.

District 196 has 19 elementary schools (grades K-5); six middle schools (grades 6-8); four high schools (grades 9-12); an optional School of Environmental Studies at the Minnesota Zoo for juniors and seniors; an Area Learning Center alternative high school for those more successful in a non-traditional setting; a K-12 special education school for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (Dakota Ridge), and a special education school serving young adults ages 18-21 (Transition Plus). Five of the district’s elementary schools and one middle school are magnet schools that offer focused instruction around the themes of arts and science, international studies, leadership and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The district also operates two learning centers (Cedar Valley and Dakota Valley) that provide early childhood and Adult Basic Education, and offers robust community education programs and classes for life-long learners of all ages.

District 196 has high academic standards and expectations, and a record of outstanding student achievement both in and out of the classroom. The district has a comprehensive curriculum, outstanding teachers, supportive communities and a high level of parent involvement. District 196 has a graduation rate of 92 percent and approximately 90 percent of graduates indicate plans to continue their education after high school.

District 196 is consistently recognized as a responsible steward of the public’s investment in its schools. The district has earned the Meritorious Budget Award and Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting numerous times from the Association of School Business Officials International.