Join us Saturday, May 16, from 1 to 5 p.m. for this free community event! Learn more about our upcoming powwow: https://www.facebook.com/events/2158314524916380
Under our new strategic plan, Superintendent Pekel is ensuring that Rochester Public Schools prioritizes middle school initiatives that broaden students' perspectives on postsecondary life. We’re not just preparing students for graduation; we’re preparing them for what comes next. Listen in as Dr. Pekel talks with Andy Brownell: https://krocnews.com/middle-school-career-exploration-rochester-schools/
Are you interested in running for the RPS School Board in 2026 or learning more about how the school board considers issues and makes decisions? At the RPS School Board Academy, you can learn about the responsibilities, resources, policies, and practices related to being a member of the Rochester ISD #535 School Board. These sessions will be very informative for potential school board candidates or community members seeking a deeper understanding of the school board's work. Workshops will be led by current school board members.
School Board Academy sessions will be offered on:
Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Edison Building Board Room
Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Edison Building Board Room
Register at https://forms.gle/EQmEWm2L831HehXQ6
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.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) today released graduation rate data for the Class of 2025, including data for Rochester Public Schools (RPS) students. Results for RPS show sustained improvement over the past three years in the district’s overall graduation rate and significant progress for students from multiple demographic subgroups. From 2023 to 2025, the district's four-year graduation rate increased from 83.99% to 86.20%, a gain of 2.21 percentage points. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/2802986
This is a reminder that there is no school on Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3, for Spring Break.
Using the simplest tools (just paper, a straight edge, and a pen), we’re diving into the geometry of mandalas. It’s rhythmic, grounding, and the ultimate hack for quieting mental noise. Join us on Wednesday, March 25: https://rochester.ce.eleyo.com/course/26084/2026-adult-winter-spring-catalog/mindful-mandalas-cultivating-calm-through-creativity#7032-232
Our students at Gibbs are celebrating the end of the week with this amazing weather! Playing outside in the sunshine, in class celebrating their hard work and accomplishments, students building carnival games, and even some good reading to end the day.
Join us in celebrating the amazing people who make our schools a place where every student thrives in school and in life. As a small gesture of gratitude, we're continuing our annual tradition by inviting you to share a few words of encouragement with a staff member who has made a positive impact on you or your student. Your message can go a long way in brightening someone's day and reminding them just how appreciated they are. This year's cards are a nod to Rochester landmarks.
Visit www.rochesterschools.org/staff-appreciation and choose a card (or two) to send a brief, heartfelt message. We'll make sure your words are delivered to staff members during the week of May 11-15. Submissions will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10.
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.
RPS is canceling school tomorrow, Monday, March 16, in anticipation of the blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service.
Here’s what this means:
Due to the anticipated severity of the storm, this is a complete district building closure. We will not be clearing parking lots until the storm has passed.
School Age Child Care will be closed.
All PAIIR, Preschool Age Child Care, Preschool, and Community Education daytime and evening classes for early childhood, youth, adults, and adults with exceptional abilities are canceled.
Hawthorne Education Center is closed.
All community building rentals are canceled.
All Professional Growth Academy classes are canceled.
All after-school activities and athletics are canceled.
Century students and staff showed resolve of steel as they took the plunge in windy, 42-degree weather. The 103 plungers raised $7,767 for Special Olympics and their Unified School Program. All three high schools braved the Polar Plunge this week. We are so proud of you, students and staff...oh, and Superintendent Kent Pekel too!
Mayo High School families: Power has been restored to the building. After-school activities and sports will run as planned.
Even our tiniest lobbyists are getting involved! Check out this video of Ms. Heil's kindergarteners making their formal plea to Jaycob: https://youtu.be/sIDZXtotrkA
Now, with a "historic winter storm" potentially hitting this Sunday into Monday, the whole district is asking the same question: WHAT WILL JAYCOB DO?
Stay tuned... the forecast is looking interesting...
Mayo HS families: We are canceling school today, Friday, March 13, 2026. The high winds in our area have caused several power outages in the neighborhood. As a result, the building is currently without the necessary power and systems to operate school as scheduled. We will send a follow-up message by midday today regarding the status of after-school activities and athletics.
