District Overview

The Shakopee Public Schools serve over 6,000 students in a rapidly growing, diverse community. The district has five elementary schools serving grades K-5; a Middle School serving grades 6-7, a Junior High, serving grades 8-9, and a High School, grades 10-12.

Elementary

Elementary school is a learning environment that stimulates a curiosity and eagerness for learning. The elementary curriculum provides students with the basic skills necessary to achieve success in subsequent years, plus enrichment, extension and remediation activities that address the needs of individual students. Instruction is provided in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. Technology is integrated throughout.

Secondary Curriculum (7-12)

The secondary curriculum offers junior and senior high school students a wide range of courses and learning experiences to suit their individual needs and interests. Shakopee’s performance expectations are designed to ensure that all graduates have mastered the basics and are prepared for post-secondary opportunities—college, technical school, or the world of work.

Junior High

Shakopee Junior High serves grades 8 through 9. Course offerings include accelerated math, enriched English, pre-AP civics and economics, fine arts, family and consumer science, industrial technology and world language (German and Spanish). Students who need extra help can get individualized assistance during the school day or in an after-school program that also offers enrichment activities. An active student council and after-school activities offer students a variety of nonacademic experiences.

Senior High

Shakopee Senior High aims to address the academic, creative and social needs of students. A growing number of classes offer college credit, including Composition 101; Democracy in a Changing World; Introduction to Modern Fiction; Principles of Micro Economics; Intermediate Spanish; Writing Laboratory; AP Calculus; AP Music Theory, and AP Psychology. Honors American History, Biology, Chemistry and English 10 also offer rigorous coursework for high academic achievers. World Language choices include Japanese, Spanish and German. The Senior High also has a program in the construction trades that serves as a model for others. The school’s activities program has academic, fine arts and sports opportunities.

High Potential Program

The school district’s High Potential Program is led by a district coordinator and a teacher at each building. Teachers and parent volunteers provide curriculum extensions during the school day, and students have opportunities to take enrichment classes after school.

Special Education

Special education services are offered from infancy. They include programs for students with learning, perceptual, physical and emotional disabilities.

Focus on Academic Improvement

In order to improve the achievement of all students, the school district is focusing on analyzing student data and establishing measurable improvement goals. Students in grades 2-9 are tested in the fall and spring using a computerized standardized test system. The testing results allow parents, students and teachers to monitor a student’s progress. The results are also used to help design curriculum-improvement plans.

Curriculum review

New curriculum is adopted district-wide on a six-year cycle. Staff committees study each curriculum area and report findings to a district-wide Curriculum Advisory Council. The council, which includes community members, then makes recommendations to the School Board.