The cast and crew of Apple Valley High School’s one-act play, “The Revolutionists” earned a starred-performance rating at this year’s state One-Act Play Festival held Feb. 7 at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul.

For the fourth time in school and state history, the Eastview High School Lightning Dance Team swept the Class AAA state titles in both jazz and high kick Feb. 14-15 in Minneapolis.

Apple Valley High School has earned its 13th trip to the state One-Act Play Festival and is one of eight Class AA high schools to perform Friday, Feb. 7 at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul.

Fifty-seven District 196 students were selected by audition to participate in state honor choirs for grades 7-10 sponsored by the American Choral Directors’ Association of Minnesota.

Cedar Park, Diamond Path and Glacier Hills elementary schools received a 2020 School of Excellence Award, and Oak Ridge Elementary was named a 2020 School of Distinction. 

Future City is a national, project-based learning experience where middle school students imagine, research, design and build cities of the future that showcase their solutions to a citywide sustainability issue.

Eastview High School junior Layla Foster won a state championship and 11 other District 196 students advanced to the elimination rounds of the state debate tournament.

District 196 high schools qualified 167 students to compete at state business conferences that will be held in March.

The approval implements improvements to classroom teacher staffing and additional mental health support for students promised as part of the operating levy referendum approved by district voters in November.

The Minnesota State High School League ExCEL Awards recognize high school juniors who are active in fine arts and athletic activities, who demonstrate leadership qualities and who are model citizens in their community.