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La Crosse School District highlights Agra Science growth, new greenhouse and expanded FFA participation
Summary
District career and technical education staff showcased expanded Agra Science courses (middle and high school), student dual‑credit achievements, a one‑year Microsoft/National FFA grant, and plans for a new greenhouse at Central with an October projected opening.
District supervisors and teachers presented a wide overview of the Agra Science (Agriscience) pathway and the La Crosse FFA chapter, reporting growth in enrollments, dual‑credit attainment and partnerships.
"Our program growth and opportunities over the last two years" were summarized by Fred Roing, supervisor of career and technical education, who said the district now offers multiple pathways including animal care, greenhouse management, wildlife management, and plant science. Roing reported 57 students earned dual credit in the 2024–25 school year and said the district aims for about 75% of students in pathway classes to earn dual credit.
Presenters described a one‑year Farm Beats grant (Microsoft/National FFA) that provided 10 tablets and a $500 grant for kits, and noted recent hands‑on projects such as ice‑cream making, hatching pheasants and adopting guinea pigs. The middle‑school Agra Science rotation reached more than 300 seventh graders last year, they said, and the district secured building permits for a state‑of‑the‑art greenhouse at Central with a projected October opening.
Teachers Brooks Luke and Jared Mickelson described course-level enrollment numbers (for example, animal care had about 40 students first semester and 37 second semester) and partnerships with Western Technical College to transcript courses for college credit. The presenters highlighted community partnerships (Grow La Crosse, Renew the Block, Gundersen Community Garden and Western Tech) and student leadership opportunities through FFA conventions and career-development events.
