Dakota Valley High School - 01

I graduated from Dakota Valley. Overall a good school, tho like every school spends too much money on sports and not enough on the other extracurricular activities. They do a lot of creative stifling with the stories the newspaper is allowed to print. They only have a single page for the paper and no circulated newspaper within the school. The English teacher Mrs. Michealson is brilliant a wonderful woman with extensive knowledge of her field. Some of the other teachers could use a little work. Most of the students are snotty little rich kids but there are good students to talk with. Overall if I had to choose where to school my kids it would be Dakota Valley the pros vastly outweigh the cons.

I have 2 children at DV, one in elementary, and one in high school. This is our 3rd year here at DV and I couldn't be happier! My children both went to a very expensive private school before moving to SD and I believe the education they have been getting here is much better than the thousands I was paying in tuition before. My kids were well accepted here, we are all very happy with the teachers (exception spanish the previous 2 years). The kids are eager to go to school everyday- teachers and principals are visible in the community and are extremely encouraging and genuinly concerned with thier well being. Prinicipal Rassmussen is outstanding! He is 100% there for all the right reasons and is very dedicated to his students and school. Activities and extra curricular could be better but as a smaller school I agree with the other poster.
--Submitted by a parent

I teach at Dakota Valley and have three children who have gone through the district. The facilities are second to none. The technology is the best I've seen anywhere. The student/teacher relationships are strong. The variety of classes offered for the size of the district is top notch.
--Submitted by a teacher

I believe I'm qualified to 'grade' these areas of Dakota Valley schools as I am the parent of two boys who attended Kindergarten through their senior year in the DV school system. Teachers: A+ Extracurricular Activities: B+ Note: There could be more available like photography classes, gymnastics, etc. but the student population couldn't support it. What is offered has qualified coaches. Parent Involvement: A Note: The booster club and PTA thrive. Academic Achievement: C Note: The students need to be pushed more to reach a higher expectation academically and to better prepare them for college. Facilities: A+ Note: The facilities are extremely well-kept and clean. Technology is very good - from tech classes offered to use of technology within the classroom. Administration: The staff is very hands-on and really knows the students. It's a very personable school. Students like Dakota Valley. They are proud to be Panthers. And they are very welcoming to new students.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has a high number of middle class white families with very stable incomes. Yet they are unable to achieve the high Academic standard that would seem to typify a school of this kind. This has to do principally with the low standards the leadership of the school has placed on the students and the staff.