[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6503123,"mediaKeyId","5604090-134eb1a6a52a8897addce32095f91801","parentId",5604090,"title","Hopkins fall data report: graduation rates steady, gaps on ACT math persist; AP participation rises","audioSeconds",72691,"startMs",72691000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5604090-134eb1a6a52a8897addce32095f91801&start=72691&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5604090-134eb1a6a52a8897addce32095f91801/thumbnail_72691000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6503123/Minnesota/Hopkins-fall-data-report-graduation-rates-steady-gaps-on-ACT-math-persist-AP-participation-rises","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503123-b3fa563b962d067f0e4041f85b99c152/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137853&Signature=NSU15Mnh0JWuSbUGVbBaVc92l4MBFwBgXXjegaU6HcxMDPaipK8b91~E78VjfnRLHj9xmy30Gl2Ev4nLOUnwugX28BYe5bNCRIviF4EMyvm-rB0qBdhcdnBMh-98Q6PpltNnhxSxQ46PsARgGRmIgHsT6-fXul8F0J-M0Si4TSYFoREENwXYG3W~nOss5x4uW3noEIm6~3NsB5h0Goli1W4CpAeMYA4F~NoW-1zlUEGykEqke3OLtZN3VUB5TDhHpvqm4qlIZcxd4vjcVTfe5SRpEiLxLtcGcX87hNhyzKIGkDY4YFElo4B8~293c7KCzRtjAXoFMdq2OpzXf6A2GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hopkins Public School DIstrict","date","2025-08-20T03:28:26.597Z","article","Hopkins Public Schools presented its fall student-achievement report at the Aug. 19 board workshop, highlighting graduation, ACT and Advanced Placement (AP) results and outlining next steps to improve outcomes and data accuracy.

Superintendent Mary Pirie Reid opened the presentation by noting the district’s new rhythm of quarterly achievement updates to increase transparency and enable staff, board and community to track growth. “These quarterly updates will allow us to report progress over time,” she said, introducing the district’s approach to combining summative and growth measures.

Graduation rates
District staff reviewed the state’s 2023–24 four‑year graduation rate of 85.6 percent as reported by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Data specialist Iya Vang and Dr. Anne Ertle explained that internal calculations can show different rates depending on coding rules and whether students who moved or transferred are excluded. Vang illustrated the point with two internal projections for the current cohort: a 79.3 percent rate when all seniors who enrolled are counted and an 89.0 percent rate when students who transferred or dropped are excluded. Vang emphasized the importance of consistent Infinite Campus end‑status coding and said the district will standardize practices and run cohort-level analyses (for example: students who entered in ninth grade and graduated from Hopkins) as a next step.

ACT and AP results
The report showed 529 students participated in the spring ACT; Hopkins matched the state’s composite score of 20.7. District staff pointed out pronounced racial disparities in benchmark attainment: substantially higher percentages of white students met ACT benchmarks in math and science compared with Black/African American students. Dr. Ertle and data staff called for a multi-pronged response: program review (with secondary math a priority this year), targeted classroom and test‑prep supports (including in-class daily practice options and the district’s Maya Learning college‑readiness platform), and better identification of students who are taking the exam while not enrolled in concurrent math instruction.

AP participation rose sharply. The district reported 1,166 AP exams administered in 2025 — a 32 percent increase from the prior year — with participation and pass rates also up; staff credited intentional recruitment, inclusive access and strong teacher supports for that rise.

Next steps
District leaders outlined immediate next steps: refine graduation‑coding practice in Infinite Campus; hold targeted data review sessions with math and college-readiness staff; use peer‑ambassadorship (student leaders) and in-class ACT prep to improve outcomes; and continue quarterly reporting. Dr. Ertle said the district will provide follow‑up analyses, including cohort graduation trends and disaggregation of AP and ACT participation by course enrollment.

What board members asked
Directors pressed for finer breakdowns (for example, which math course sequences were completed by students scoring above benchmarks on the ACT) and asked whether the district collects post‑test student reflections; staff committed to follow up. Directors also asked for AP demographic breakdowns and said they want the district’s slide decks archived in one place for year‑over‑year comparison.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hopkins School Board Meeting August 19th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Hopkins Public Schools officials presented a fall achievement briefing showing a 2023–24 MDE graduation rate of 85.6%, a 32% jump in AP exam participation to 1,166 tests, and ACT results that matched the state composite but revealed significant racial gaps in math and science benchmarks.","taxTitle","HOPKINS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",38591,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":46,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6503131,"Hopkins board approves organizational items, legal counsel and modest pay increase; approves $13.29M in summer disbursements",736,736408,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5604090-134eb1a6a52a8897addce32095f91801&start=736&end=0","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5604090-134eb1a6a52a8897addce32095f91801/thumbnail_736408.jpg","/articles/6503131/Minnesota/Hopkins-board-approves-organizational-items-legal-counsel-and-modest-pay-increase-approves-1329M-in-summer-disbursements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503131-b1fff142f412fc1b8dd03f53963f17c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137853&Signature=QfjK8dsMamrt~EImsZnxZxpH6ULkc4l0n88MEXFcxBsT4bX6b-v9Ao8FeELlDsiPU09MMH1PhWUUGrrXFwbX88jqGfVQZiN4ZCTWE5yU-42XSiqIgDnFFAncdLTF7oUqhlr7YXQhFbMLKIvTqElSEtcUkBuNNPGQXtPiS80m3QQSyN-84uadek7SV1Q3lJhHiBBhXtNv30yMMIepIxJAy~4iVE7UmHYMVqO66J~c-bbUfMdFTr390raXdWHXPn7sux4iAOQ7CYe~QSwpGBFUt0DaCf1IJZxFst~gv~ll04jZFebESSNIhZwXdteSpI8Rtt4IcpdAhBVP~YY2i-nEDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hopkins Public Schools Board of Education handled a cluster of annual organizational items and routine approvals at its Aug. 19 meeting, including naming the district’s official newspaper, appointing outside counsel, renewing two statewide memberships and approving a fiscal disbursement report covering June–July 2025.

At the organizational portion of the meeting the board unanimously approved the agenda and then designated the Sun Sailor/SunPost group as the district’s official newspaper for 2025–26. The board then approved retaining Ratwick, Roszak & Maloney as the district’s outside legal firm; officials said the firm’s long experience with special-education matters and district history informed that choice.

The board voted to continue membership in the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD) and the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA). It also approved a routine consent calendar and the treasurer’s recommendation to authorize total disbursements of $13,289,183.79 for the period June 1–July 31, 2025. The treasurer noted the timing of summer purchases and large facilities projects explains the high dollar total.

In a contested discussion the board approved a 2% increase to director stipends for 2025–26 (the motion passed; one board member recorded opposition in the voice vote). The board also continued $50,000 term life insurance for each director (cost $75 per person, $525 total annually).

Other routine votes included approval of the consent calendar and a motion to appoint the district’s outside auditing partner to continue year-end audit work. Several votes were by voice; where votes were recorded the board used roll call. A list of formal motions and outcomes follows below.

Votes at a glance
- Agenda approval — approved (voice vote).
- Official newspaper: designate Sun Sailor/SunPost publications — approved (voice vote).
- Retain outside legal firm: Ratwick, Roszak & Maloney at hourly rates as noted — approved (voice vote). Board comments cited the firm’s special-education and long-term district experience.
- Board member compensation and term life insurance: approve 2% stipend increase for 2025–26 and continue $50,000 term life insurance ($75/person; $525 total) — approved (voice vote; one recorded opposition).
- Renew district memberships: Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD) and Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) — approved (voice vote).
- Approve disbursements of $13,289,183.79 for 06/01/2025–07/31/2025 — approved (motion carried; treasurer’s report accepted).
- Consent calendar (routine personnel, minutes, contracts, etc.) — approved (voice vote).

Why it matters
These organizational and financial votes set the district’s basic operational framework for the coming school year: who the board consults for legal advice, where public notices are published, and the short-term budget posture reflected by summer purchases and facilities work. Though individually routine, together they frame how the district will operate while it executes the year’s academic and capital priorities.

What the board said
“We are lucky that we actually still have a local paper,” Chair Andreessen said while introducing the newspaper designation. Treasurer Hartland and other directors discussed the stipend increase in the context of equity and the increasing demands of board work; one director noted the district’s constrained budget as a countervailing concern.

Looking ahead
Board members noted the district will continue to monitor shifting fiscal pressures this fall — including potential federal and state funding changes — and that several of the agenda items approved tonight (notably vendor and audit relationships) support the district’s capacity to respond.

","The Hopkins Public Schools Board of Education handled a series of annual organizational votes Aug. 19, approving the district’s official newspaper, retaining outside counsel, renewing statewide memberships, approving $13.29 million in summer disbursements and adopting a 2% increase to director stipends for 2025–26.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":46,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6503118,"'Strong School Start' briefing: enrollment above projections, childcare demand and major facilities, IT upgrades ready for fall",67765,67765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5604090-134eb1a6a52a8897addce32095f91801&start=67765&end=0","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5604090-134eb1a6a52a8897addce32095f91801/thumbnail_67765000.jpg","/articles/6503118/Minnesota/Strong-School-Start-briefing-enrollment-above-projections-childcare-demand-and-major-facilities-IT-upgrades-ready-for-fall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503118-0bf57ae962dcac110c1b202cd671ca96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137853&Signature=IIIgLZUixy25RCPWs1KCYjO7sokfRrx7v2vX1qSmjXMNUjJO0lQXAsiq1ND4WvuNzlgtZ8JSv5jPMtluU0wVa0AfLXl5GGLuX6HvtXxIs050jGzduQWUQjIrjcW344M7RNL3AHFpWoFiV4oFZLYIamqPCW9NQSOjRYk0dfTuahvyGzpfZwkorlD4-OYwc3CSzCizS8Knkxl1m0xJpPqSfG1e-Quc-xiU63nV1yjnlojsnWp~dkoMwc~HlRWUMwp~ZMFcmgVJu-ctglgB51Wmq9mHCZskRGdTakHh5bdvL3LJunDjkpmYHGdy333VTbmTeZdigSIQrl~W3fRBAyJnoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District leaders used the Aug. 19 workshop to provide a cross‑department “Strong School Start” briefing that covered enrollment, staffing, before‑ and after‑school childcare (Kids and Company), transportation routing, facilities work at Hopkins High School, network and wi‑fi upgrades and preparations for the new school year.

Enrollment and choice programs
Director of Communications and Enrollment Jolene Goldotti told the board that enrollment on Aug. 18 was about 99 students above projections but cautioned that late summer movement remains common. She said the district’s strongest growth is at the secondary level and in choice programs (dual‑language immersion and virtual EDU). Jing Jing (Chinese immersion) and Juntos (Spanish immersion) enrollment was roughly at projections; Virtual EDU remained above projection and historically spikes further after the school year begins.

Staffing and recruitment
Assistant Superintendent Lightfoot and Human Resources reported most sites are fully staffed or nearing full staffing. The district has a few remaining paraprofessional and special-education openings, and administrators said they made targeted additions (including an elementary section at Glen Lake) where enrollment shifts required new sections.

Childcare (Kids and Company)
Program manager Daliza reported Kids and Company expected to start the year serving roughly 808 students across six sites, up from 668 last year; at the time of the briefing about 136 students were waiting for contract approval. The program had about 85–90% staff retention from the prior year and was hiring additional supervisors and activity assistants; team leaders said they would continue to offer non‑school‑day options and experiment with shared‑site models to expand capacity. Staff said the district will waive some fees when families are moved off wait lists due to transportation changes and encouraged the community to help recruit staff.

Transportation
Director of Transportation said routing moved to a new routing platform over the summer; the department adjusted routes to align with the district’s third-tier bus structure and plans to send finalized bus assignments to families on Aug. 22. The department is using contracted providers (MTN and Lake Country) to help address driver shortages.

Facilities and IT
Director of Buildings & Grounds and the facilities team reported a major high school infrastructure project this summer: roughly $17.5 million in work replacing substantial domestic water and heating/cooling piping and upgrading HVAC and controls, with substantial completion reached and system stabilization underway. The district also completed a broad network‑infrastructure and wi‑fi upgrade across all schools (new access points and improved power/backups); IT staff said the system will be tuned further once classrooms are occupied.

Why it matters
The briefing linked operational readiness — busing, childcare, staff assignments, building systems and network reliability — to academic success on day one and through the term. Board members pressed staff about wait‑list disparities by school, fee waivers tied to transportation changes and the district’s ability to continue expanding childcare capacity.

Next steps
Administration will finalize bus routing notifications, continue targeted hires for paraprofessionals and childcare staff, and tune wi‑fi and HVAC systems during early occupancy periods and fall break. Staff will return to the board with more precise enrollment counts after the official fall snapshot date.

","Administrators reported that, ahead of the 2025–26 school year, Hopkins enrollment was modestly ahead of projections on Aug. 18, demand for before‑ and after‑school care remained strong with site‑specific wait lists, and district infrastructure upgrades — including a $17.5M high‑school mechanical project and system‑wide wi‑fi/network upgrades — were substantially complete.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6503126,"Hopkins board passes resolution urging paid family‑engagement leave, calls for local and state action",0,56290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5604090-134eb1a6a52a8897addce32095f91801&start=56290&end=56290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5604090-134eb1a6a52a8897addce32095f91801/thumbnail_56290000.jpg","/articles/6503126/Minnesota/Hopkins-board-passes-resolution-urging-paid-familyengagement-leave-calls-for-local-and-state-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503126-23e132965f80692cf8dd1f62b3912405/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137853&Signature=XN2YGwoJH98gwgWJzftyujN5e-osH090G8Js534vrgHfZWFu7cSr62eAXpX~4ofbWeti3nkWkkmQJeIYK6ivCUGIxBykEhIJ3bBXuErmlK1vtDRbpUXu9B3AY20hK~fU3t7xzRVtQEjCTp~S2s--YJJyjLpOuG0LSeDp7QokJZ~9YXoeLHAYhd3FN6qM4mQHM7uftkyCv54hOP4Rgu5gr7p9UJEh3EQRj136R~jYscTuzUJA~1HEeGvR9Sa6DlamyjPdzqOI69E42N3aW5A7F3sHRpx~-E3AbZqSIZhs3PFkysjZJK8i19VowDYTPAPep6Fip3VB66NMS9X4xAzPVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hopkins Public Schools Board of Education voted Aug. 19 to adopt a resolution urging local and state policymakers and community partners to reduce a prominent barrier to family participation in schools: lack of paid leave.

The resolution asks district administration to create a district family engagement plan and calls on municipalities in the district to consider ordinances and on the Minnesota Legislature to adopt a law that would guarantee caregivers of pre-K–12+ students access to up to 16 hours of paid leave annually for school-related activities. The measure passed by roll call; the minutes record aye votes from Chair Andreessen, Director Brooke Roper, Treasurer Rachel Hartland, Director Westmoreland, Director Zhou and Director Ross.

Board members framed the measure as an equity‑focused strategy to increase participation and improve outcomes. “Students with engaged caregivers are twice as likely to earn higher grades and graduate on time,” Director Roper said when introducing the resolution, citing research she summarized for the board. Roper described the measure as an invitation to local employers and city governments to co-design a practical approach, not a unilateral mandate.

Why it matters
District leaders and research cited at the meeting linked family engagement to improved attendance, higher academic achievement and better behavioral outcomes. The board emphasized the resolution’s intent to build collaborative local approaches — from municipal ordinances to voluntary business policies — and to elevate the issue for MSBA and the state legislature.

What the resolution asks
- District administration: develop a family engagement plan that sets goals at district and site levels.
- Municipal partners: consider ordinances that provide family‑engagement leave options for employees in their jurisdictions.
- Minnesota Legislature: adopt a statute guaranteeing up to 16 hours of paid leave for caregivers to attend school‑related events.

Board reaction and next steps
Board members from across the table supported advancing the concept, but they and administration acknowledged that passing enabling legislation or local ordinances will require broader engagement with businesses, chambers of commerce, municipal governments and state lawmakers. The board directed staff to pursue partnerships and to begin work on the family engagement plan.

The resolution passed with recorded aye votes by roll call; the board scheduled no legislative or ordinance text tonight but signaled plans for broader coalition building and MSBA engagement.","The Hopkins Public Schools board unanimously passed a resolution calling on cities and the Minnesota Legislature to create options for up to 16 hours of paid leave to enable caregivers to participate in school meetings and events and directed district staff to develop a family engagement plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hopkins fall data report: graduation rates steady, gaps on ACT math persist; AP participation rises

Hopkins board approves organizational items, legal counsel and modest pay increase; approves $13.29M in summer disbursements

'Strong School Start' briefing: enrollment above projections, childcare demand and major facilities, IT upgrades ready for fall

Hopkins board passes resolution urging paid family‑engagement leave, calls for local and state action