Dassel-Cokato
SCHOOLS
The Dassel-Coka ato School District cont ntinues to be success-ces
ful, due to the strong rela ationships it has with the communities
muni
of Dassel and Cokato, and famili
lies who live there.
In 2014, DC High School made the top 30 of 610 high schools s
in the state of Minnesota. For this achievement, ent the school
received ed a silve ver medal from US New
ws & World Report, whic
ich
works with the Americ ican Institute for Resear rch in Washington,
DC to generate the report, based on “the key princ ciple that a
great high school must serve e all its students well, not just those
who are college-bo ound.” It uses state profi ciency benchmarks
as indicators. Schools were also assessed on the degree in
which they provide college-level l coursework.
To achieve its goals, the DC School District strives to keep a
healthy fund balance, competitive contracts, and reasonable
class sizes. The school board’s leadership is student-centered
ed
and conservative, continuing a long tradition of sound gover-
nance.
In addition to maintaining and improving programs for stu-
dents, the district is able to provide high-quality facilities for
both academics and extracurriculars. u In 2013, the district im-
plemented a new controlled access policy, installing a buzzer
and camera systems at the entrance of each building as an
added measure of security.
“Our students perform at a high level and receive an excellent
opportunity for a low cost,” explained Superintendent Jeff
Powers. “We are an effi cient and effective school system.”
The school district’s K-12 population is about 2,300. Schools
include Dassel Elementary, located in the heart of Dassel; Cokato
Elementary, located next to Peterson Park near downtown
Cokato; the Dassel-Cokato Alternative Learning Center (ALC),
located on Highway 12 in Cokato; and the Dassel-Cokato High
School/Middle School, and the Early Childhood Family Education
Center, all located between Dassel and Cokato on US
Highway 12.
The Cokato and Dassel communities combined schools in
1972, building a new high school facility on Hwy. 12. In addition,
the middle school was built connected to the high school
facility, opening its doors to its fi rst students in 1990.
The performing arts center (PAC), an 800-seat auditorium
used for a variety of school and community events, was the
most recent addition to the complex in 2004. Along with the
PAC came a 2,000-seat gymnasium, and a new football fi eld
and track.
In all levels of learning, Dassel-Cokato Schools teach the pillars
of character education: respect, responsibility, resiliency,
integrity, compassion, and understanding diversity.
Along with the pillars, the schools have adopted the Olweus
anti-bullying program, teaching students to step up and stop
bullying inside and outside of school.
Every educational room throughout the school district is
equipped with SMART boards, which are interactive white
boards that provide more learning opportunities for all teaching
styles.
Strong partnerships and a dedication to every student are
at the foundation of the DC Public School’s tradition of excellence.
The school can be reached at 320-286-4100. Visit www.
isd466.org for further information on each school, and a staff
directory.
Elementary schools
Both Dassel and Cokato elementary schools were named
2004-05 Schools of Excellence by the Minnesota Elementary
School Principal’s Association.
Cokato Elementary has an enrollment of about 500 in kindergarten
through fourth grade. It is located at 200 Fifth Street
SW in Cokato. To contact Cokato Elementary, call 320-286-
4100, ext. 1300.
Dassel Elementary has about 350 students enrolled. It is located
at 131 William Avenue E in Dassel. To reach Dassel Elementary,
call 320-286-4100, ext. 1500.
Both elementary schools participate in the Minnesota Reading
Corps program, which provides trained literacy tutors for
children ages 3 through third grade. In 2014, the elementary
sites began offering all-day kindergarten fi ve days per week.
All schools encourage parents to volunteer by getting involved
in their children’s school experience. They can do so during a
number of events and activities throughout the year.
Additional information is at www.isd466.org.
Middle school
As part of its mission, the Dassel-Cokato Middle School
program is designed to meet the special needs of middlelevel
students, grades fi ve through eight, with a program that
strives to be “transitional in nature.” It provides students with a
“bridge between the self-contained classroom of the elementary
school, and the departmentalized curriculum of the high
school.”
To open enroll in Dassel-Cokato Middle School, call 320-286-
4100, ext. 1600.
High school
Dassel-Cokato High School believes in promoting positive
relationships, personal responsibility, and academic rigor in or-
24 | Dassel-Cokato Visitors Guide 2020-21