Rochester Public Schools (RPS) today announced that the four-year graduation rate for the Class of 2024 reached 86%, according to data released by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). This marks a 2.0 percentage point increase from the Class of 2023 (84%) and represents the highest graduation rate the district has achieved in the past six years. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/2196956
Heads up, students! There will be no school on Wednesday, May 7. Staff will be engaged in a Curriculum Adjustment Day. See you back on Thursday, May 8.
We're excited to see you all in TWO days! Join us for Kick Off 2 Kindergarten, a fun and informative fair designed just for incoming kindergarteners and their families. It's the perfect way to explore all that RPS has to offer and get excited for the school journey ahead!
🎒 When: Thursday, May 8, 4–7 p.m.
🎒 Where: Century High School, 2525 Viola Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906
🎒 Admission: Free and open to the public!
At the fair, families can:
🎒 Meet the friendly faces from Transportation, Student Nutrition, SACC, and more.
🎒 Connect with community partners to learn more about their services.
🎒 Ask questions, gather info, and feel ready for Day One.
🎒 Capture the moment in our super-fun photo booth.
We will also have multilingual interpreters ready to help! Discover what makes RPS a great place to learn and grow, because every big dream starts with a strong foundation. Play, learn, and get inspired with us!
And so begins our graduation celebrations! This past Saturday, we celebrated our American Indian seniors at the annual Celebration Powwow! 🎓🎉 It was genuinely moving to witness their journey and celebrate this significant milestone with them, their families, and the entire community. We're incredibly proud and excited to see all the wonderful things they will achieve. Congratulations, graduates!
Lincoln K-8 Elementary will be celebrating 50 years of education! If you're a Lynx alumni, you are welcome to join the festivities at Lincoln K-8 Elementary School on May 22 at 5:00.
Additionally, if you have any photos, articles, stories, and anything that we could include in our photo archive display, please submit material to Amy Krahn at amkrahn@rochesterschools.org.
The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s regular session is: FY26 Budget Development Process Update, Approval of the 2026-2027 District Calendar, Mindsets, Behaviors and Experiences for Student Success, SRO Contract, Performance Measures & SCIP 2.0 Process, and Approval of Start Times for 2025-2026.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli
"Heidi at Early Childhood and Special Education goes above and beyond in her role, always stepping up when needed and never hesitating to lend a hand to colleagues and children. Heidi is so positive and always has a smile on her face and a kind word to say. Thank you, Heidi, for being such a valuable part of our team. Your work ethic and attitude inspire those around you, and we’re grateful to have you with us." Submitted by Jamie, Malissa, Sarah and Cassidy.
Read this month's #CelebrateRPS: https://rochesterpsmn.edurooms.com/engage/celebraterps/newsletters/celebraterps-may-5-2025
Do you know someone like, Heidi? Submit them to be featured, and help us #CelebrateRPS staff, students, and community members!
https://www.rochesterschools.org/o/rps/page/celebrate
Wow, April really flew by! Between catching up with amazing friends, celebrating some special moments, diving into all things Earth Month 🌎, and tackling some seriously rewarding physical and academic challenges 💪📚, it was a month packed to the brim! But you know what? We're buzzing with excitement for May and all the adventures it holds!
You're invited to our 2025 Celebration Powwow at Mayo High School this Saturday, May 3. Enjoy captivating dancing, drumming, delicious food, and beautiful Native American artistry. It's an excellent opportunity to support our students and learn more about our community's heritage. All are welcome! #RochesterMN #Classof2025
Due to impending inclement weather this evening, ⚡ Middle school after-school activities are canceled. ⚡ All night school classes are canceled. ⚡ All activities at school sites must conclude by 6 p.m. Please make necessary arrangements and stay safe.
Learning about budgeting, saving, understanding credit, and investing isn't just for adults. Starting early gives students a head start in building a secure future. That's exactly what our students experience as they played the game of life through our personal finance course. At Rochester Public Schools, personal finance is a requirement for all graduating students. Thanks to our partners at Think Bank, Altra Federal Credit Union, First Alliance Credit Union, McDonald's, and the Rochester Public School Board for volunteering your time and making this event a memorable learning experience for our students.
Join us for Kick Off 2 Kindergarten, a fun and informative event designed just for incoming kindergarteners and their families. It's the perfect way to explore all that RPS has to offer and get excited for the school journey ahead!
🎒 When: Thursday, May 8, 4–7 p.m.
🎒 Where: Century High School, 2525 Viola Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906
🎒 Admission: Free and open to the public!
At the fair, families can:
🎒 Meet the friendly faces from Transportation, Student Nutrition, SACC, and more.
🎒 Connect with community partners to learn more about their services.
🎒 Ask questions, gather info, and feel ready for Day One.
🎒 Capture the moment in our super-fun photo booth.
We will also have multilingual interpreters ready to help!
Come discover what makes RPS a great place to learn and grow, because every big dream starts with a strong foundation. Come play, learn, and get inspired with us!
Ansh S, an 8th grader at Kellogg Middle School, finished 3rd in the 2025 state MathCounts competition! Ansh is the only student from Rochester and the only student outside the Twin Cities to place in the top four. Ansh will join the other students from the top four in representing Minnesota at the National MathCounts competition in Washington, D.C. next month.
Congrats, Ansh! And good luck at Nationals!
The RPS School Board will meet Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for the Regular session is Housing Stability Initiatives Update, Curriculum Review and Revision Process, School Resource Officer Contract Review, Performance Measures & SCIP 2.0 Process, and School Start Times.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view the full agenda at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
We've got even more Kindergartener content for you all! Our Kindergarteners were so good that we couldn't fit them into one video! Watch the second part of Supt in the Halls: Kindergarten Edition (Now with more Kindergarteners!).
Watch here: https://youtu.be/53UbbA8oUDc
Register your student for Kindergarten today: https://www.rochesterschools.org/page/incoming-kindergarten-students
Join us for a College Planning Night on April 25, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., for 8th—to 11th-grade students and parents. Learn more about the tools available to students within Xello and how to better prepare for college opportunities. Save the date and link for the session: bit.ly/3DySo3P
Hey, future kindergarten students and families! Mark your calendars and save the date: you're invited to our Kick Off 2 Kindergarten Fair on Thursday, May 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Century High School. Stop by to learn more about Kindergarten at RPS and visit our departments, such as Transportation, Student Nutrition, School Aged Child Care, Registration, and more, as well as community partner organizations. You can also take photos in our photo booth! We hope you'll join us!
Here's your reminder - School Age Child Care (SACC) summer registration opens Tomorrow, April 16, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. for Summer SACC!
If you're considering summer care for your K-5 students, consider making it a summer of fun with our educational and enriching summer school age child care! Learn more at www.rochesterschools.org/sacc.
The RPS School Board will meet today at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW).
On the agenda for tonight's study session is the SCIP 2.0 Success Measures and Process Recommendation. If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view tonight's and other meeting's full agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
Rochester Public Schools wouldn't be the same without the dedicated, compassionate, and hardworking individuals who make a difference every day, whether they're teaching in classrooms, supporting students, or keeping our schools running smoothly behind the scenes.
As a small gesture of gratitude, we invite you to share a few words of encouragement with a staff member who has made a positive impact on you or your student(s). Your message can go a long way in brightening someone's day and reminding them just how appreciated they are.
Send a thank you card: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/2149885
