Eden Prairie Schools

09/04/2026

Last month, our incoming kindergartners got a sneak peek of school life during KinderCamp! From meeting new friends and exploring their classrooms to coloring, playing and building confidence, it was great start to their kindergarten journey.

We loved having them with us and can't wait to welcome them back next week.

See you soon, kindergartners!

09/04/2026

The 2026-27 school year is almost here, and we are officially “Ready for Takeoff” at Eden Prairie Schools! 🦅

Our annual All-Staff Kickoff brought staff from across the district together for a morning of connection, celebration and inspiration — a chance to reconnect with colleagues, welcome a new school year and build excitement for another year together.

The morning took flight with a welcome from the amazing Eagle Band and our student emcees — 11th graders Makaney Fofana and Lauren Peterson, 9th grader MarShawn Gray, and 12th grader Maleah Holloway — followed by a message from Superintendent Dr. Josh Swanson about what’s ahead.

Then came the heart of the morning: our “Inspire Talks,” featuring short bursts of inspiration from staff and students across Eden Prairie Schools: Terrell Bellfield, Nikki Schandle, Theresa Marty, Jules Belmont, Joel Knorr, Linda Wallenberg, Heriberto Vargas, Reta Johnson and Sander Smaby.

The morning was sprinkled with performances from 12th grader Eliza Tippets and the cast of Central Middle School’s spring musical, “Newsies.”

We’re feeling energized, inspired and ready to take on a new school year together. Let’s make it a great one, Eagles!

09/03/2026

Applications are open for Cohort 2 of Citizens in our Schools! Across eight sessions, you’ll join about 25 Eden Prairie community members for an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at how Eden Prairie Schools operates — from teaching and transportation to safety, school finances and more. Citizens in our Schools is free and most sessions take place in the evening. Last year’s inaugural cohort left with a real, working understanding of how our schools run and became more active, connected voices in our community.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 13. Learn more and apply: www.edenpr.org/citizens

09/02/2026

Student safety is always a priority — and you can help! 🚌

As school buses return to the roads, remember: flashing red lights mean STOP. Under Minnesota’s updated law, drivers must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus as soon as its red lights begin flashing.

Please slow down, stay alert and help keep our students safe as they travel to and from school. Read more on Eden Prairie Local News: https://eplocalnews.org/2026/08/20/stop-for-school-buses-updated-law-requires-stopping-when-red-lights-flash/

Stop for the Stop Arm!

Eden Prairie schools are back in session next week! As a refresher, the EPPD would like to remind drivers of the importance of stopping for school bus stop arms.

Last April, a new school bus stop arm law went into effect which states that when a school bus driver activates the red flashing lights, vehicles must stop at least 20 feet away from the school bus, regardless of whether the stop arm is extended or not. Previously the law required drivers to stop for a bus’s red flashing lights AND extended stop arm. The previous version could have created a situation where some drivers might pass the bus when the lights were flashing but the stop arm wasn’t extended.

Red flashing lights indicate students are either entering or exiting the bus. Motorists must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying flashing red lights, regardless of whether the stop arm has been extended. This applies when approaching from behind the bus and from the opposite direction on undivided roads (see diagram).

In Eden Prairie in 2025, there were 98 reported violations and to date in 2026 there have been 38. In order to help prevent this number from increasing, this September the EPPD will conduct extra proactive stop arm patrol throughout the city.

Drivers who violate the law face a $500 fine and can face criminal charges for passing a school bus on the right, passing when a child is outside the bus, or injuring or killing a child.

Please help keep our students safe by stopping for the stop arm.

09/02/2026

Join us for the Eagle Excellence Showcase on Saturday, Oct. 3!

Hosted in partnership with the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools, the Eagle Excellence Showcase will be a celebratory evening at the Valley View Campus, complete with food and drink, mingling, and recognitions of the Hall of Fame inductees and Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools Legacy Award winners. Enjoy your own night out while your student celebrates at homecoming!

Saturday, Oct. 3 | 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Valley View Campus, Solarium
Tickets are on sale now!

Learn more and get your tickets: https://tinyurl.com/2hj8a97h

09/01/2026

In just one week, our schools will be filled with students, teachers, learning, laughter and all that back-to-school energy. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back on September 8!

See you soon, Eagles! ❤️

Need to enroll? There’s time! Visit edenpr.org/enroll to get started.

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

Help us spread the word! From 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. tomorrow night, September 1, and on Sept. 8 and 15, the Eden Prairie Police and Fire departments will be conducting an emergency response training at the Valley View campus. The goal of this training is to simulate a real emergency so our first responders can prepare for situations that may arise in our community, and there will be many police cars and other vehicles at the campus.

This is only a training, and there is no emergency. Thank you for your support as we partner with our local agencies to strengthen the safety of our entire Eden Prairie community! Please note: To allow for the proper space for emergency responders to safely train, this is a closed training and members of the public/district staff are not invited. Thank you!

08/30/2026

Ever wonder what it takes to keep a school district running?

Applications are open for Citizens in our Schools Cohort 2! Over eight sessions, you’ll go behind the scenes of Eden Prairie Schools and learn more about everything from teaching and transportation to safety, school finances and more.

The program is free, and most sessions are held in the evening.
Apply by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 13: edenpr.org/citizens

08/29/2026

School starts September 8, and we can’t wait to welcome our students back! There’s still time to enroll and start the school year with us. Enroll today! edenpr.org/enroll