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Back-To-School

A girl runs off the school bus into school on the first day of school.

Welcome back! The first day of school is Sept. 3.

This section includes helpful resources to ensure that you and your child are ready for the first day of school. Find all of your back-to-school information, including bus stop information, open house and registration events, immunization clinics and more. For school supply lists, visit your child’s school website.

What’s new this year?

Beginning this fall, parents whose children ride the bus to and from school each day will be able to track the location of their child’s bus using a smartphone application. The District 196 Transportation Department is piloting the “Here Comes The Bus” app this summer and launched the app in August. Learn more about Here Comes The Bus.

District 196 Levy 2019

District 196 voters have a choice to make this fall. Faced with the possibility of up to $18 million in additional budget cuts over the next two years, the district is asking voters to revoke the existing levy referendum authority and replace it with a new 10-year referendum authority increase of  $627 per pupil. Visit the Levy 2019 page for more information about the levy and voting options.

Important dates and open house information

Early Childhood Education

Dakota Valley Learning Center (952-388-1950)

  • Open House – Sept. 3, 5-7 p.m.

  • Connections Preschool first day of classes – Wednesday, Sept. 4

Elementary Schools

Cedar Park Elementary STEM School (952-431-8360)

  • Open House – Aug. 29, 5-7 p.m.

Deerwood Elementary (651-683-6801)

  • Open House – Aug. 28, 5-6:30 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Information Night – Aug. 19, 6 p.m.

Diamond Path Elementary School of International Studies (952-423-7695)

  • Open House – Aug. 28, 4-6 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Open House – Aug. 28, 6-7 p.m.

East Lake Elementary (651-423-7896)

  • Open House – Aug. 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Back-to-School Night – Aug. 27, 6 p.m.
  • 1st Grade Back-to-School Night – Sept 10, 6 p.m.
  • 2nd Grade Back-to-School Night – Sept. 24, 6 p.m.
  • 3rd Grade Back-to-School Night – Sept. 24, 7 p.m.
  • 4th Grade iPad Technology Night – Sept. 12, 6 p.m.

Echo Park Elementary School of Leadership, Engineering and Technology (952-431-8390)

  • Kindergarten Open House – Aug. 14, 6-7:30 p.m.
  • Open House/PTO Community Event – Aug. 28, 5-6:30 p.m.

Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science (651-683-8570)

  • Kindergarten Family Night – Aug. 19, 6-7:30 p.m.
  • Grades 1-5 Open House – Aug. 29, 5-6:30 p.m.

Greenleaf Elementary (952-431-8270)

  • Open House – Aug. 28, 5-6:30 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Parent Information Night – Aug. 21, 7-8 p.m.

Highland Elementary (952-423-7595)

  • Kindergarten Parent Orientation – Aug. 27, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Curriculum Night – Oct. 10, 5 p.m.
  • 1st Grade Parent Curriculum Night – Sept. 12, 5 p.m.
  • 2nd Grade Parent Curriculum Night – Sept. 9, 5 p.m.
  • 3rd Grade Parent Curriculum Night – Sept. 17, 5 p.m.
  • 4th Grade Parent Curriculum Night – Sept. 24, 5 p.m.
  • 5th Grade Parent Curriculum Night – Sept. 10, 5 p.m.

Northview Elementary (651-683-6820)

  • Open House – Aug. 28, 5-6:30 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting – Aug. 28, 4:30-5 p.m.

Oak Ridge Elementary School of Leadership, Environmental and Health Sciences (651-683-6970)

  • Open House – Aug. 29,  5-6:30 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Parent Information Night – Aug. 29, 5-5:30 p.m.

Parkview Elementary (952-431-8350)

  • Open House – August 29, 5-7 p.m.

Pinewood Community Elementary (651-683-6980)

  • Open House – Aug. 28, 6-7:30 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Classroom Orientation – Aug. 28, 6-6:30 p.m.
  • Connections Preschool Open House – Aug. 28, 6-7:30 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Literacy Night – Oct. 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Red Pine Elementary (651-423-7870)

  • Open House – Aug. 25, 5-6:30 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Parent Meeting – Aug. 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Rosemount Elementary (651-423-7690)

  • Open House – Aug. 28. 3-5 p.m.
  • New Family Orientation – Aug. 30, 5 p.m.

Shannon Park Elementary (651-423-7670)

  • Kindergarten Parent and Child Information Meeting – Aug. 28, 8-10 a.m.
  • 1st Grade Parent and Child Information Meeting – Aug. 27, 5-6 p.m.
  • 2nd Grade Parent and Child Information Meeting – Aug. 27, 4-5 p.m.
  • 3rd Grade Parent and Child Information Meeting – Aug. 28, 5-6 p.m.
  • 4th Grade Parent and Child Information Meeting – Aug. 28, 4-5 p.m.
  • 5th Grade Parent Only Information Meeting – Aug. 29, 4-5 p.m.

Southview Elementary (952-431-8370)

  • Open House – Aug. 28, 5:30-7 p.m.

Thomas Lake Elementary (651-683-6890)

  • Back-to-School Event – Aug. 28, 4:30-6 p.m.
  • Kindergarten Orientation – Aug. 28, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Westview Elementary (952-431-8380)

  • Kindergarten Curriculum Open House – Aug. 28, 6-7 p.m.
  • 1st Grade Parent Curriculum Meeting – Sept. 18, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Curriculum Information for Grades 2-5 – online presentation 

Woodland Elementary (651-683-6990)

  • Open House – Aug. 28, 4:30-6 p.m.

Middle Schools

Black Hawk Middle (651-683-8521)

  • Virtual Back-to-School Day – Aug. 21 (7th and 8th grades only; complete back-to-school information online)
  • 6th Grade Parent Meeting – Aug. 21, 5-5:30 p.m.
  • Jamboree – Aug. 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m.  (6th Grade Only)
  • 7th Grade Parent Night – Aug. 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • 8th Grade Parent Night – Aug. 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Dakota Hills Middle (651-683-6800)

  • Virtual Back-to-School Day – Aug. 22 (view schedules and complete registration online; computer access and assistance available from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Media Center)
  • 6th Grade WEB Day – Aug. 21, 9 a.m.-noon
  • 6th Grade Parent-Student Afternoon – Aug. 28, 1-5 p.m.
  • 7th Grade Parent Night – Aug. 26, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
  • 8th Grade Parent Night – Aug. 27, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Falcon Ridge Middle (952-431-8760)

  • Fall Rally Day (student photos) – Aug. 20, noon-6 p.m.
  • 6th Grade WEB Orientation – Aug. 28. 9-11:30 a.m.
  • Curriculum Night for Grades 6-8 – Sept. 17, 7-9 p.m.

Rosemount Middle (651-423-7570)

  • Back-to-School Kickoff – Aug. 27, noon-7 p.m.
  • 6th Grade and New Student Open House – Aug. 20, noon-6 p.m.

Scott Highlands Middle (952-423-7581)

  • 6th grade Back-to-School Day – Aug. 22, 2-6 p.m.
  • 6th Grade WEB Day – Aug. 22, 8 a.m.-noon
  • 7th and 8th Grade Back-to-School Day – Aug. 27, 2-7 p.m.
  • All School Parent Information Night – Sept. 12, 6-8 p.m.

Valley Middle School of STEM (952-431-8300)

  • Back-to-School Day – Aug. 28, noon-7 p.m.

High Schools

Apple Valley High (952-431-8200)

  • Back-to-School Night (grades 9-12) – Aug. 28, 6-8:30 p.m.

Area Learning Center (952-431-8720)

  • New Student/Parent Meeting – Aug. 28, 3-4 p.m.
  • Returning Student Registration – Aug. 28, 3-4 p.m.

Eagan High (651-683-6900)

  • 9th Grade Student/Parent/Guardian Orientation – Aug. 28, 6-8 p.m. (last names A-M) and 7:30-9:30 p.m. (last names N-Z)
  • New Student Orientation (grades 10-12) – Aug. 28, 5-6 p.m.
  • Walk Through Your Student’s Schedule (for parents/guardians) – Sept. 16, 6-8 p.m.

Eastview High (952-431-8900)

  • 9th Grade and New Student Orientation – Aug. 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Open House – Sept. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Rosemount High (651-423-7501)

  • New to District Student Orientation – Aug. 21, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. (call the school to schedule an appointment)
  • 9th Grade Student Orientation – Aug. 28, 6 p.m.
  • Parent/Guardian Orientation – Sept. 11, 6 p.m.

School of Environmental Studies (952-431-8750)

  • Back-to-School Day – Aug. 28, 2-7 p.m.
  • Open House – Sept. 12, 6-8 p.m.

Transportation

Postcards will be mailed beginning Aug. 19 to families of students eligible to receive transportation to and from school during the 2019-20 school year.

The postcard includes information on bus stop locations and pick-up/drop-off times. Parents and guardians who do not receive a postcard and believe their child is eligible to receive transportation can call the Transportation Department at 651-423-7685. The district also offers optional transportation service for a fee for students who do not qualify based on the current service distances; for more information, visit the Transportation Department page.

Bus stop information is also available through the Campus Parent portal, click on “More,” then “Transportation”. This information is updated nightly to reflect any changes to bus routes and stops.

Optional transportation service for a fee is available to families whose children are not eligible for free transportation based on current service distances.

Optional bus service is $300 for the entire school year

The annual cost is $300 per student, with a $600 family maximum. Families whose children qualify to receive free or reduced-price school meals receive the service for a discounted rate. State law requires districts to provide transportation for students living two miles or more from their school and for students who receive special education services and require transportation as part of their individual education program. Districts are allowed to charge a fee for transportation provided within the two-mile minimum radius, except transportation for individuals with special needs.

District 196 offers better service than required by state law. The starting point for elementary service is one mile from school and for middle school and high school service it is one and one-half miles. Students living within these distances from their school are not eligible for free transportation, except those who would, if they were to walk to school, need to cross a railway or roadway defined by district regulation as hazardous. Families whose children are not eligible for free transportation service based on distance or hazardous crossings have the option to purchase it.

For more information, visit the Transportation Department page or call 651-423-7685.

School start and end times

High Schools               

  • Apple Valley High School – Start: 7:30 a.m. | End: 2:20 p.m.
  • Area Learning Center – Start: 8:30 a.m. | End: 1:45 p.m.
  • Eagan High School – Start: 7:25 a.m. | End: 2:15 p.m.
  • Eastview High School – Start: 7:30 a.m. | End: 2:25 p.m.
  • Rosemount High School – Start: 7:30 a.m. | End: 2:20 p.m.
  • School of Environmental Studies – Start: 7:35 a.m. | End:2:05 p.m.

Middle Schools                       

  • Blackhawk Middle School – Start: 8:00 a.m. | End: 3:00 p.m.
  • Dakota Hills Middle School – Start: 8:00 a.m. | End: 3:00 p.m.
  • Falcon Ridge Middle School – Start: 8:00 a.m. | End: 3:00 p.m.
  • Rosemount Middle School – Start: 8:03 a.m. | End: 3:03 p.m.
  • Scott Highlands Middle School – Start: 8:03 a.m. | End: 3:03 p.m.
  • Valley Middle School of STEM – Start: 7:40 a.m. | End: 2:40 p.m.

Elementary Schools                

  • Cedar Park Elementary School (Magnet) – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Diamond Path Elementary School (Magnet) – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Deerwood Elementary School– Start: 8:20 a.m. | End: 2:40 p.m.
  • East Lake Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Echo Park Elementary School (Magnet) – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Glacier Hills Elementary School (Magnet) – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Greenleaf Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Highland Elementary School – Start: 8:25 a.m. | End: 2:45 p.m.
  • Northview Elementary School – Start: 8:35 a.m. | End: 2:55 p.m.
  • Oak Ridge Elementary School (Magnet) – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Parkview Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Pinewood Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Red Pine Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Rosemount Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Shannon Park Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | 3:45 p.m.
  • Southview Elementary School – Start: 8:40 a.m. | End: 3:00 p.m.
  • Thomas Lake Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Westview Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.
  • Woodland Elementary School – Start: 9:25 a.m. | End: 3:45 p.m.

Alternate Education Facilities            

  • Cedar Valley Learning Center – Times vary, call your child's specific program      
  • Dakota Ridge – Start: 9:10 a.m. | End: 3:40 p.m.
  • Dakota Valley Learning Center – Times vary, call your child's specific program      
  • Transition Plus Special Education – Start: 8:00 a.m. | End: 2:30 p.m.