EP Schools to celebrate 100 years

Eden Prairie Schools will hit the century mark during the upcoming 2023-24 school year.

To celebrate this landmark, the district will host a series of community activities and events with the City of Eden Prairie and the Eden Prairie Historical Society.

“This is really a celebration of community,” said Josh Swanson, EP Schools’ superintendent. “I’ve been a part of this district since 2012, and to see the continuous partnership between our schools and our community over those 11 years has been beyond inspiring.

“For our 100th anniversary, we want to recognize and honor the legacy of our growth, achievement, and excellence together,” he added.

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Event calendars and notices will be sent out to the community throughout the coming year, and will also be posted on the EP Schools website.

EP Schools’ past, present, and future

Looking at the multi-campus top-rated district of 9,000 students today, it’s hard to discern its roots in a humble one-room schoolhouse.

That schoolhouse was the location of the city’s first town board meeting held on May 11, 1858, the same day Minnesota became a state. As Eden Prairie grew (and outgrew a one-room schoolhouse), its students joined a combined area school district.

In March 1924, Eden Prairie students began attending the newly built Eden Prairie Consolidated School, now the district’s Administrative Services Center site at 8100 School Road.

The new school became an important community hub that hosted movies, voting, and weddings. Community members could even go there to iron clothes since it was one of the city’s first electrified buildings.

Flashing forward 100 years to today, EP Schools boasts a district-wide preschool, six in-person elementary schools, including a Spanish immersion option, a newly-renovated and expanded middle school, and a 750,000-square-foot high school equipped with classrooms and co-curricular spaces.

Students ages 18-22 with additional learning needs can continue their learning after graduation in the TASSEL Transition Program. EP Online has also enabled over 500 students from across the state to earn their education through virtual learning.
 
“This exciting growth would not have been possible without partnership from the broader Eden Prairie community, which after 165 years still believes in the value of an excellent education for its children,” the district said in a statement about the upcoming milestone.

The anniversary coincides with the launch of the district’s 2023-28 strategic plan, which was crafted over the past several months with input from community stakeholders and EP Schools students and staff.
           
The plan is designed to emphasize personalized and authentic learning experiences, well-being among all students and staff, and inclusive learning environments that foster a sense of belonging. 

“The timing of our strategic plan couldn’t be more perfect,” Swanson said. “Building on our community’s deeply held belief in the important of education, and looking to our next 100 years, we’re honoring the successes of our district while also seeking ways to constantly do the best we possibly can for our students. It’s an exciting time to be an Eagle.”