Newsletters 24-25 Focus [2] Winter

Student voices influence school menus page 2
High school marching band excellence page 3
Budget gap for 2025-26 school year addressed page 5
“ Youth Teaching Youth ” partners high school and middle school students page 6

ON ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOLS

WINTER 2025
Students at Hoover Elementary School in Coon Rapids benefit from a biomedical , health sciences and engineering focus .
Six Anoka-Hennepin magnet schools earned Magnet Schools of America ( MSA ) national recognition in 2025 for their academic excellence , commitment to diversity and community engagement .
Hoover Elementary School - Biomedical , Health Sciences and Engineering was one of 94 schools nationwide to be named a 2025 Top Magnet School of Excellence .
2025 Top Magnet School of Excellence
• Hoover Elementary School - Biomedical , Health Sciences and Engineering .
2025 Merit Schools of Excellence
• Anoka Middle School for the Arts .
• Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy for Mathematics and Environmental Science .
• Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts .
Anoka Middle School for the Arts infuses arts programming into all subject areas .

National recognition for excellence presented to six district schools

2025 Merit Schools of Distinction
• Monroe Elementary School : Mathematics , Science and Children ’ s Engineering .
• University Avenue Elementary School - Aerospace , Children ’ s Engineering and Science .
MSA national merit awards are given to magnet schools that demonstrate a commitment to high academic standards , curriculum innovation , successful desegregation and diversity efforts , and strong parent and community involvement . To be considered for a merit award , member schools must submit an application scored by a panel of educators .
MSA is a nonprofit organization that supports and assists magnet schools nationwide and represents approximately 4,300 magnet and theme-based schools nationwide .
Anoka-Hennepin Schools provides family choice in education by offering 12 magnet and speciality schools including subject areas such as STEM , Biomedical , Engineering and Arts focus areas . n

Specialty and magnet school options provide families with choice

Explore in-demand educational options :
• Arts and Science , Technology , Engineering , Arts and Math ( STEAM )
• Science , Technology , Engineering and Math ( STEM )
• Biomedical and Health Science
• Environmental Science
• International Baccalaureate ( IB )
• Aerospace and Engineering
• Career and technical education programs ( STEP for secondary students )
Learn more ! Visit ahschools . us / specialtymagnet

The building blocks of education begins with reading instruction

By Superintendent Cory McIntyre
Over the past several years , reading instruction across the state and nation has increased in importance as schools work to build a solid foundation in literacy . Learning to read and maintaining reading competency for our students is an expectation and requirement , not an option .
At the start of this school year , I challenged our staff to focus on their individual and shared purpose or “ why ” they work in education . Further , I emphasized that “ it takes all of us ” working together to provide the best results for students . As we come to the midpoint of our school year , this is exactly what is happening when it comes to improving reading instruction across our system .
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board and state legislative leaders alike have both doubled down on reading instruction , providing resources and direction . At the state level , the Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act , known as the READ Act , is now in place
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