The Dassel-Cokato School Board meets the second and fourth Monday of the month at the district office, located on the high school/middle school campus. School board members are Irene Bender, Bill Aho, board chair; Kathy Grochow, Chuck Nelson, Dave Sangren, and Andy Engh.
Updated June 2020
The Dassel-Cokato School District continues to be successful, due to the strong relationships it has with the communities of Dassel and Cokato, and families who live there.
In 2014, DC High School made the top 30 of 610 high schools in the state of Minnesota. For this achievement, the school received a silver medal from US News & World Report, which works with the American Institute for Research in Washington, DC to generate the report, based on “the key principle that a great high school must serve all its students well, not just those who are college-bound.” It uses state proficiency benchmarks as indicators. Schools were also assessed on the degree in which they provide college-level 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 and conservative, continuing a long tradition of sound governance.
In addition to maintaining and improving programs for students, the district is able to provide high-quality facilities for both academics and extracurriculars. In 2013, the district implemented 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 efficient 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 first 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 field 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.
As part of its mission, the Dassel-Cokato Middle School program is designed to meet the special needs of middle-level students, grades five 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.
Dassel-Cokato High School believes in promoting positive relationships, personal responsibility, and academic rigor in order to prepare students for success in a changing world.
Along with a range of academic opportunities, including advanced placement (AP) and college-credit courses, the high school offers a variety of extracurricular and cocurricular activities for those interested in participating in athletics and fine arts.
DCHS believes in being responsive to the needs of students, and challenging them to reach their potential. With this in mind, students in fifth through eighth grades use Chromebooks in the classrooms on a daily basis, which continues the district’s goal of providing students more learning opportunities through access to technology. Teachers also receive ongoing staff development training to help them make the best use of technology
The high school also offers courses taught at the school that equate to more than 50 college credits through Southwest Minnesota State University, St. Cloud State University, Ridgewater College, and the University of Minnesota.
The high school can be reached at 320-286-4100, ext. 1800.
Dassel-Cokato Community Education provides lifelong learning experiences for people of all ages, abilities, and cultures through programs and services offered year-round.
Programming includes youth enrichment and recreation, adult basic education, life-long learning, and recreation. DC Community Education also provides school-age child care through the Charger Kids Club before and after school, and all day in the summer.
Activities and enrichment courses vary throughout the seasons. Visit the community education website for details on programming, www.isd466.org, or call 320-286-4120.
The Dassel-Cokato Early Childhood Center is located on the Dassel-Cokato High School/Middle School campus, and its programming is under the umbrella of Dassel-Cokato Community Education.
Providing services to families with children ages birth through kindergarten, programming includes Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), school readiness Play ‘n’ Learn Preschool, and early childhood screening. More information regarding these programs can be found at www.isd466.org, or by calling 320-286-4120.