White Bear Lake Area School District

White Bear Lake Area Schools
Location
United States
Coordinates45°05′20″N 93°00′44″W / 45.0889°N 93.0121°W / 45.0889; -93.0121 (District office)
District information
TypePublic
GradesPreK–12
NCES District ID2742360[1]
Other information
Websitewww.isd624.org

The White Bear Lake Area School District,[2] abbreviated WBLAS, is a public school district located in Ramsey County, Minnesota. It provides academic and educational services to the cities of Birchwood, Gem Lake, Hugo, Lino Lakes, Little Canada, Maplewood, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake and White Bear Township.[3] The District consists of nine elementary schools, two middle schools, a two-campus high school and an Area Learning Center.[4] The District also provides programs such as three locations for early childhood (birth-5), transition plus (special education 18-21) community services and senior programs.[5] The school district covers a population of approximately 50,000 residents and provides services for nearly 9,000 students ranging from early childhood education to high school graduation to adult education and senior programs.

White Bear Lake Area Schools[edit]

The District was recognized as a Top Performer in 2012 from the EPA for their portfolio of energy efficient buildings.[6] Additionally, the White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation[7] works with the district to support instruction by providing grants for new projects.

Elementary schools[edit]

There are nine neighborhood elementary schools in the White Bear Lake Area School District. The schools offer art lessons from professional artists through the White Bear Center for the Arts,[8] water safety lessons through the YMCA,[9] and nature experiences in cooperation with regional nature centers. World language experiences is also offered at all grades;[10] two schools offer Chinese, seven offer Spanish. Matoska International IB World School[11] offers an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. A gifted program is also offered.[12]

Middle schools[edit]

White Bear Lake Area middle schools, Central Middle School and Sunrise Park Middle School, offer world language and fine arts opportunities at each grade level,. Both are International Baccalaureate Candidate Schools for the Middle Years Program and in 2024 sunrise will move to south campus and become mariner middle school(MYP[13]).

White Bear Lake Area High School[edit]

White Bear Lake Area High School has a two-campus structure: WBLAHS - North Campus and WBLAHS - South Campus. WBLAHS's two-campus structure provides a wide range of opportunities available in a large school combined in a small faculty-student mentoring ratio. The students can choose from over 30 college-level course offerings through the University of Minnesota's College in the Schools (CIS), Advanced Placement (AP) and the University of Minnesota's Project Lead the Way (STEM) courses.[14]

Special education[edit]

WBLAS's special education department offers individualized and comprehensive programs of instruction for students with special needs.[5] The district also participates in a special education cooperative district, which serves students with special needs.

Extra-curricular[edit]

Hundreds of WBLAS students are recognized each year for state- and national-level participation and accomplishments. The district's youth development programs have gained both state[15] and national[16][17] attention.[18]

Stewardship[edit]

White Bear Lake Area Schools has received Excellence in Financial Reporting awards from both the Association of School Business Officials[19][20][21] and the Government Finance Officers Association[22] for 13 consecutive years.[19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for White Bear Lake School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "White Bear Lake Area Schools website". Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  3. ^ "Public School District Attendance Areas and Educational Facility Locations White Bear Lake 624". Minnesota Department of Education. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  4. ^ "Public schools". White Bear Lake, Minnesota#Public schools. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  5. ^ a b "White Bear Lake School District 0624-01".
  6. ^ "Energy Star". Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  7. ^ "White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation". Archived from the original on June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  8. ^ "White Bear Centers for the Arts". Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  9. ^ "White Bear Area YMCA". Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  10. ^ "Elementary schoolers to study Spanish, Chinese".
  11. ^ "Matoska International". Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  12. ^ "White Bear Lake Area School District reconfigures elementary gifted program".
  13. ^ "White Bear Lake Area: 2012 Year in Review". Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  14. ^ "Grants support Project Lead the Way, other STEM initiatives".
  15. ^ "Bear student athletes bike for the hills". Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  16. ^ "White Bear archers on to world championships".
  17. ^ "National honor". Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  18. ^ "White Bear Lake Area High School receives more theater honors". Archived from the original on June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  19. ^ a b "Education notes: News from schools near you". Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  20. ^ "Minnesota Association of School Business Officials". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.
  21. ^ "Minnesota Association of School Business Officials". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.
  22. ^ "White Bear Lake Area School District expands music partnership, plans tax levy increase".