The Gardner School of Eagan

Burnsville Alternative High School is the alternative high school of Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191, on Diffley Road in Eagan. Students under 21 qualify under state criteria, for example being behind on credits, being a parent, experiencing homelessness or mental health challenges, or learning English, and each new student meets with a counselor to review their transcript before enrolling. Every student builds a Continuous Learning Plan with their advisory teacher, covering credits, course planning, a graduation timeline and personal goals, and it is reviewed each quarter with families and staff. Students can complete one Edgenuity credit recovery course per quarter during the school day, use summer school, or take after-school credit recovery at Burnsville High School. AVID strategies such as Cornell notes are used across classes. Our Student Support Team includes a school social worker, a school psychologist, behavior analysts, nurses, counselors, and Spanish, Somali and American Indian cultural liaisons. Licensed EL teachers support English learners, and special education follows the district's full continuum, with IEPs and access to Intermediate District 917 services. Each student receives a district Chromebook, and high schoolers can opt in to bus transportation.

The Area Learning Center opened in the fall of 1987 as District 196's alternative high school for students ages 14 to 21. With about 180 students and 20 staff, our small size lets staff build strong working relationships with students, and our administration team meets with each new student and family before they start. Our school year runs on 12 terms, with instruction designed around individual learning styles and social and emotional needs. Students can recover credit for a class failed at a home high school, design an independent study course at 16 or older, earn work-based learning credit if they work about 10 hours a week, or take college courses through Postsecondary Enrollment Options. Our special education program provides primarily Level 1 and Level 2 services, and our team meets with a student's current case manager to plan an IEP transition before classes begin. Transportation is available for students who live within District 196 boundaries.

10 Acre Wood Nature Preschool, located in Lakeville, Minnesota, is a nurturing and play-based educational environment designed for children aged 33 months through kindergarten. With a core mission centered on fostering a love for nature and environmental stewardship, the preschool offers both full-day and part-time enrollment options within a maximum group size of 12 students, ensuring an intimate learning atmosphere supported by a low student-to-teacher ratio of 6:1. The preschool's unique approach incorporates outdoor exploration across its expansive 10-acre property, which features woodlands, wetlands, and native prairie. This immersive setting allows children to engage in hands-on learning experiences that promote curiosity and discovery. The school's commitment to environmental education is reflected in its use of an environmentally-friendly converted pole barn as the main facility. What sets 10 Acre Wood apart is not only its dedicated focus on nature-based learning but also its emphasis on creating strong connections with families, fostering a community that supports each child's growth and development.