Lester Prairie Public Schools
A commitment to excellence is what Lester Prairie Public Schools demonstrate to the community through pursuing excellence inside and outside the classroom in a variety of ways.
Independent School District 424 is made up of both the public elementary and high school in Lester Prairie.
Both these schools are housed in facilities located in one convenient building at 131 Hickory St. N., in a residential neighborhood of Lester Prairie.
The schools are comprised of about 440 students. The high school averages about 35 students per grade, while the elementary school averages 17 per class. There are approximately 70 non-resident students enrolled, as well.
The faculty at Lester Prairie is committed to education, and totals 32 certified teachers and administrators. The average amount of experience of teachers is about 17 years.
All teachers have at least a bachelor’s degree, while several have acquired additional graduate credits or a master’s degree.
The staff also has opportunities to attend professional workshops. Administrators hold a specialist degree and continue to update their knowledge.
With the growth and technology of this day and age, Lester Prairie Schools can show it has kept up with the times. For instance, the school’s media center has a computerized catalog and checkout system and a computer resource library.
The school utilizes technologies such as e-mail, networking, “online parent,” and Internet through its computer labs. All classrooms have Internet access.
The school also has the ability to transmit and receive educational opportunities through an interactive television system. The system links the school with surrounding districts and college campuses, such as Ridgewater College and St. Cloud State University. Further, the elementary school boasts one or more computers per classroom and computer lab instruction.
Junior and senior high school students have an opportunity to utilize technologies directly in their education. This includes programs in computer-aided drafting, broadcast journalism, broadcast production technology and tech prep curricula. In fact, development of these programs are, in part, influenced by a technology committee made up of staff and local residents to establish needs for the future.
Educational highlights in the elementary include monthly formal art lessons with a certified art teacher. A comprehensive fine arts program also brings students into contact with professional artists, as well as a young authors’ conference.
Field trips are common, as well as participation in competitions such as a science fair, geography and spelling bees, and fire prevention week activities.
Beginning band is available as early as grade five, and can include individual lessons.
A DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is targeted to fifth graders.
Opportunities for the older kids include college prep courses with foreign language instruction, business education, a comprehensive science and math program, advanced placement English and biology, and classes such as economics, psychology, genetics-embryology, and human anatomy. Also available are courses in woodworking, welding, and small engine repair.
For the college bound, there is $13,000 in post secondary scholarships available.
Extracurriculars are not in short supply at Lester Prairie Schools. The school includes many programs sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League.
These include sports such as football, volleyball, cross country, girls basketball, boys basketball, wrestling, cheer leading, track, golf, baseball, and softball. Declam competition and one-act play are also offered.
Other activities sponsored by the school include student council, Future Leaders of America, yearbook staff, choir, band, jazz band, fall musical, spring play, peer tutoring, and National Honor Society.
The community of Lester Prairie is supportive of the school, with a number of organizations supporting the school in a number of different ways. These organizations include a Booster Club, the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Lions Club, a community TV channel, and the local newspaper.
The school also has a very active Community Education program, providing life-long educational opportunities for students and adults. Activities include adult classes, trips, crafts, family programs, and open gym.
Early Childhood Family Education concentrates on birth to four-year-old children with their parents.
Kids Depot provides an appropriate and fun child care program for elementary children after school and during summer and vacation days.
Little Learners preschool is a two-day tuition supported pre-school for children three-and-a-half to five years old to prepare for kindergarten. It is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and includes busing.
High school students have a post-secondary education option available in which they can begin work on their degrees.
Finally, Adult Basic Education (ABE) provides free, individualized instruction weekly for adults to obtain their GED or learn English as a second language.
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