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Welcome to the Anoka-Hennepin School District
The Anoka-Hennepin School District is one of Minnesota's largest, serving approximately 38,000 students and 248,000 residents. Spread out across 172 square miles, the district is made of 13 suburban communities north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Anoka-Hennepin has 25 elementary schools, six middle schools (grades six through eight), and five traditional high schools, plus alternative middle and high school sites, in addition to an award-winning Community Education program.
A proud history of tradition
Community leaders from small towns and rural areas recognized the need to provide students with the best education possible back in 1952 when they voted overwhelmingly in favor of consolidating into Anoka-Hennepin School District. Prior to that time, students throughout the area were educated in many small schools scattered throughout a largely rural area. Most went into the city of Anoka for high school.
As population growth spurred development of the suburban communities of Anoka-Hennepin, the school district grew rapidly in size, from approximately 4,000 students at the time the district formed, to more than 38,000 today.
Mission statement
It is the primary mission of the Anoka-Hennepin School District to effectively educate each of our students for success.
To fulfill this mission, the school district is accountable for:
- Providing a caring, highly trained and effective staff who use research-based best practices.
- Providing learning opportunities that meet the individual learning needs of each student.
- Monitoring student achievement to maximize each student's learning.
- Promoting high achievement for all students.
- Acknowledging parents' roles as their children's primary educators and partnering with them to increase student success.
- Improving connections with the community to foster public involvement with an understanding of our educational programs.
- Providing a safe and respectful learning environment.
- Using all resources efficiently and effectively.
Vision statement
It is the vision of the Anoka-Hennepin School District to be a public school system of excellence, with high quality staff and programs and successful graduates.
More information
View current enrollment statistics and the district's enrollment projection information.
Academic programs
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Elementary school
The elementary school experience
Anoka-Hennepin's elementary school program is based on the belief that all children are valuable and unique individuals, and that children learn best when the home, school and community work together.
Reading proficiently no later than the end of grade 3 is a key academic success milestone in Anoka-Hennepin's Building Futures strategic plan. Third grade reading proficiency is important because it sets the stage for future learning and school success. Many steps are being taken to ensure grade three reading proficiency for our students.
Elementary math, science and social studies instruction provide students with knowledge to understand and explore the world around them. Students learn and apply mathematics every day, and math and science curriculum make extensive use of hands-on activities. Specialists teach art, music, physical education and media.
Unique elementary school opportunitiesAnoka-Hennepin currently has two magnet schools at the elementary level, which are offered through Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD):
- Evergreen Park STEM School of Innovation.
- University Avenue Elementary School - Aerospace, Children's Engineering and Science.
Anoka-Hennepin's four other specialty elementary schools are open to Anoka-Hennepin students via in-district transfer:
- Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy for Math and Environmental Science.
- Hoover Elementary School - Biomedical, Health Sciences, and Engineering.
- Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts.
- Monroe Elementary School - Mathematics, Children's Engineering and Science.
For more information please contact your child's school.
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Middle school
The middle school experience
In middle school students begin to explore, test and challenge the world around them. Anoka-Hennepin's six middle schools have a supportive structure in which students are part of a "team," with each team sharing the same group of teachers all year for core subject areas.
Each middle school student is assigned an advisor and is given regular time to meet with the advisor during the week.
The comprehensive middle school curriculum includes math, reading, writing, social studies and science. Further opportunities in reading and math are available for students to focus on essential skills and for those who need advanced coursework.
Students can choose a number of electives in art, family and consumer science, music, world languages, physical education and industrial technology. More information on these classes can be found in the middle school registration guide.After-school activities and athletics for middle school students are organized through Anoka-Hennepin Community Education.Unique middle school experiencesAnoka-Hennepin currently has two specialty schools at the middle school level:
- Anoka Middle School for the Arts - Fred Moore Campus (grades seven and eight) and Washington Campus (grade six). AMSA is a magnet school offered through Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD).
- Jackson Middle School - A Specialty School for Math and Science.
For more information, contact your child's school.
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High school
The high school experience
Anoka-Hennepin high schools have a five-period day structure with three trimesters each school year. A one credit course is earned by completing that class over two trimesters.
Some classes are a half-credit and one trimester. Our high schools provide more than 200 courses and electives, which are outlined in the registration guide.
To graduate, students must pass all required courses and earn passing marks in state tests required for graduation. Students have several opportunities to take and pass state required tests.
Grading is a 4.0 scale, with weighted grades awarded to students who earn "C" or better in honors or selected advanced courses. In addition, high schools offer Advanced Placement, College In the Schools (CIS), concurrent enrollment and Articulated Credit (AC) coursess.
Unique high school opportunities
There are a number of unique opportunities available at Anoka-Hennepin high schools:
- Anoka High School – Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics – A magnet program that integrates technology and the arts using the design thinking model.
- Blaine High School – Center for Engineering, Mathematics, and Science - A magnet program offering an integrated and rigorous, in-depth mathematics, science and engineering program.
- Champlin Park High School – International Baccalaureate Diploma Program - A rigorous, two-year program for college-bound students.
- Coon Rapids High School – Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering – A magnet program offering an integrated and rigorous, in-depth focus on science, math and medical or engineering courses.
- For students in grades 11 and 12, career and technical education is available in a college setting at the Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP).
- Programs combining study and work are available through internships and work experience.
- Students can choose vocational training and career exploration classes at their high school.
- Students can also attain a World Language Certificate and Bilingual/Multilingual Seal.