School District 197

School District 197 Welcome to the School District 197 page. We are close-knit community of schools located just minutes south of both Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Paul, serving all or parts of the communities of Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, and West St. We have five elementary schools (K-4), two middle schools (5-8), and one high school (9-12). In addition, our birth-to-5 Early Learning Program serves families and children during the most critical early developmental years, and our partnership in the Northern

Dakota County TriDistrict Community Education Program encourages, assists, and empowers all people in the pursuit of lifelong learning. Approximately 4,600 students are learning in our schools every day. Our eight schools all focus on moving students forward by putting students first:

• Five Elementary Schools (grades K-4): Garlough Environmental Magnet School, Mendota Elementary School, Moreland Arts & Health Sciences Magnet School, Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School, and Somerset Elementary School

• Two Middle Schools (grades 5-8): Friendly Hills Middle School and Heritage E-STEM Magnet School

• One High School (grades 9-12): Two Rivers High School

We are so excited to kick off the school year next week! 🎒✨Our staff have been working hard this summer to get our schoo...
09/04/2026

We are so excited to kick off the school year next week! 🎒✨

Our staff have been working hard this summer to get our schools ready to welcome our students back. It was wonderful seeing so many families at our back-to-school events this week!

We look forward to welcoming students back on these start dates:
- Tuesday, September 8: Kindergarten, Fifth Grade, Ninth Grade
- Wednesday, September 9: Grades 1-4, 6-8, 10-12
- Monday, September 14: Preschool - PreK Students and ECFE Classes
- Tuesday, September 15: Preschool - ThreeSchool Students

Enjoy the long weekend. We can't wait to see you next week!

09/02/2026

This fall, voters will decide whether to approve a School District 197 levy to help support the schools, programs and services our community relies on.

The district has already cut more than $3.2 million from its budget over the past two years while working hard to protect classrooms. If approved, the levy would help reduce the need for additional cuts in the coming years.

Learn more in the video below or at isd197.org/vote2026.

08/25/2026

This week's School Board meeting recap report (for Monday, August 24, 2026), brought to you by Board Vice Chair Jon Vaupel and Superintendent Peter Olson-Skog.

For more information about school board meeting agendas and minutes, please visit: isd197.org/district/school-board.

08/11/2026

This week's School Board meeting recap report (for Monday, August 10, 2026), brought to you by Board Chair Sarah Larsen and Board Director Morgan Steele.

For more information about school board meeting agendas and minutes, please visit: isd197.org/district/school-board.

School District 197 alum Andrew Zuckerman, Dillon Orth, and John Cronin (Class of 2017) are bringing their latest film, ...
08/07/2026

School District 197 alum Andrew Zuckerman, Dillon Orth, and John Cronin (Class of 2017) are bringing their latest film, "Good Sport," to theaters in Edina from August 13-20.

The film was shot at locations around West St. Paul—including scenes at Heritage E-Stem Magnet School!

Read our 2024 alum spotlight to learn more about Andrew, Dillon, and John's filmmaking journey and see behind-the-scenes photos from filming at Heritage: isd197.org/news/district-dispatch-summer-2024/alum-feature

Summer parade season is in full swing for the Two Rivers High School Marching Band and Winterguard, and there are just t...
06/26/2026

Summer parade season is in full swing for the Two Rivers High School Marching Band and Winterguard, and there are just three chances left to see them perform this summer!

Come cheer them on at:
Friday, June 26, 6:30 p.m., Kaposia Days Parade
Sunday, June 28, 12 p.m., Vikingland Band Festival
Saturday, July 11, 12 p.m., Mendota Days Parade

We hope to see you along the parade route!

🎓 Alum Spotlight: Miriam LeTexier Mandujano 🎓 Meet Miriam, a graduate of Henry Sibley (now Two Rivers High School) and a...
06/25/2026

🎓 Alum Spotlight: Miriam LeTexier Mandujano 🎓

Meet Miriam, a graduate of Henry Sibley (now Two Rivers High School) and a co-owner of a local Culver's. Her journey reflects the meaningful ways our graduates continue to contribute to and strengthen our community. We asked Miriam to reflect on her time in School District 197 and share what she's doing today.

Q: What schools did you attend in School District 197?
A: I attended Friendly Hills Middle School and then Henry Sibley, graduating in 2010. I now live in the community and have two children in the district.

Q: What experiences or classes as a student had the biggest impact on you?
A: I always loved school and had great relationships with my teachers, but my ESL (English as a Second Language) experience really stood out. The ESL community is very close-knit and supportive, and that made a big difference for me.

Q: What has your path looked like since graduation?
A: I started working at the Culver’s in West St. Paul when I was 14, and that experience really shaped my path. I attended Inver Hills Community College for accounting, but realized I wanted to stay in the food industry. It’s a people business, and I love being part of that. Today, I’m a Culver’s co-owner/operator and help lead the West St. Paul location alongside our general manager.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?
A: Helping people grow. I enjoy doing for others what was done for me. I currently mentor several employees as they work toward leadership roles. Supporting their development and seeing them succeed is the most rewarding part of my job.

Q: What advice would you give to current students?
A: Focus on growth so you can be better for the people around you. It’s also okay to change your mind and try new things—just make sure you’re always kind to others.

Congratulations to recent Friendly Hills Middle School graduate and incoming Two Rivers High School ninth grader Liam Sa...
06/20/2026

Congratulations to recent Friendly Hills Middle School graduate and incoming Two Rivers High School ninth grader Liam Sahli on winning the national championship in extemporaneous speaking at the National Speech and Debate Association Middle School National Tournament! We are so proud of you, Liam, and grateful for the guidance and support of Coach Ben Geiger. Way to represent School District 197 on the national stage!

Photo by Studio Mendota Photography

School District 197 is proud to celebrate Pride Month!Grounded in our Strategic Framework, we believe people thrive when...
06/10/2026

School District 197 is proud to celebrate Pride Month!

Grounded in our Strategic Framework, we believe people thrive when they feel connected, trusted, and affirmed. Our diversity makes us stronger, and seeking to understand one another strengthens both the individual and the community.

This month and every month, we're committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all, including our 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, and families.

Let’s give a round of applause to our School District 197 retirees! We extend our warmest wishes to our fellow staff mem...
06/08/2026

Let’s give a round of applause to our School District 197 retirees! We extend our warmest wishes to our fellow staff members who are moving on to new adventures.

Jeff Turner is retiring after nine years as a teacher and behavior specialist at Heritage E-STEM Magnet School.

Jeff values the opportunity to support students by offering a steady, welcoming space where they can talk things through, reset, or take a breather when needed.

He also appreciates the strong sense of community at Heritage—where staff, students, and families came together to support one another, especially during challenging times.

In retirement, Jeff is looking forward to more time with family, the dog park, and plenty of pickleball and golf.

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1897 Delaware Avenue
Mendota Heights, MN
55118

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Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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