Prior Lake High School

Prior Lake High School
Address
Map
7575 150th St W

Savage
,
Minnesota
55378

United States
Coordinates44°43′55″N 93°22′29″W / 44.7320°N 93.3747°W / 44.7320; -93.3747
Information
TypePublic
MottoHome of the Lakers
Established1968
CEEB code242-035
PrincipalJohn Bezek
Grades9–12
Number of students2,857 (2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio21.44[1]
Campus typeSuburban
Athletics conferenceSouth Suburban Conference
MascotLaker
Team nameLakers
NewspaperThe Wave
YearbookVoyageur
ColorsNavy Blue and Gold   
Websitewww.plsas.org

Prior Lake High School (PLHS) is located in Savage, Minnesota, United States and enrolls students in grades 9–12. The school is part of the South Suburban Conference. It has approximately 2,900 students currently enrolled. The students and teams at Prior Lake High School are known as "Lakers".[2] A book, "Another Planet: A Year in the Life of a Suburban High School", was written by author Elinor Burkett and paints a controversial portrait of life in the school and around the city of Prior Lake.[3] In 2003 when the new high school building opened in Savage, the decision was made to keep the name "Prior Lake" High School because of the rich history of the school. The principal's name is John Bezek.[4] The school currently utilizes a 6-period system.[5]

Growth

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In 2009 the school faced issues with overcrowding, with about 200 extra students over capacity enrolled in the high school. A Growth Task Force was created to find solutions to the issue, which included closing open enrollment.[6] During the 2013–14 school year, PLHS enrolled 405 students over capacity.[7] To address short-term spatial issues, a 4th wing of PLHS was opened for the 2014–15 school year to combat overcrowding.[7] Just one year later during the 2015–16 school year, however, PLHS saw enrollment numbers above 100% capacity again.[7] In 2017, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools passed a referendum that allocated $46.8 million for construction on Prior Lake High School to combat growing enrollment.[8] Some new classrooms will be ready halfway through the 2019–20 school year, but as of 2018-19 the schools is operating at 115% of its enrollment capacity.

Construction

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Prior Lake High School was originally designed by Wold Architects and Engineers in 2003.[9] Wold continued to be involved in the later additions to the school, with the assistance of Nexus Solutions.[10] The 2018 referendum renovations included the expansion of Towers A-C, a cafeteria expansion, a new north entry, new weight and locker rooms, updated toilets and showers, a café, a new classroom wing with flexible learning spaces, and an expanded auto shop. [11][12] The construction was carried out by H+U Construction,[13] and was completed in July 2020.[14]

Awards and honors

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Prior Lake High School was ranking 197 out of 500 in Newsweek's best high schools in the country in 2016.[15]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "PRIOR LAKE HIGH SCHOOL". Search for Public Schools. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Prior Lake High School Activities".
  3. ^ Jones, Hannah. "'Another Planet': Looking back at book written about Prior Lake High". SW News Media. SW News Media. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  4. ^ "PLHS Staff Directory". Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  5. ^ "PLHS Daily Class Schedule". Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  6. ^ Minelli, Pat (29 November 2009). "School Board accepts task force's solutions to overcrowding at Prior Lake High". SWNewsMedia.com. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "May 8 Board Presentation - Facilities Task Force Options" (PDF). Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools. May 8, 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Proposed Referendum Projects" (PDF). Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Prior Lake High School". Wold Architects and Engineers. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "Prior Lake-Savage Area School District". Nexus Solutions. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  11. ^ Maggie Standwood. "Prior Lake-Savage school board approves design plans for high school additions". swnewsmedia. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  12. ^ "PRIOR LAKE HIGH SCHOOL ADDITIONS" (PDF). Nexus Solutions. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  13. ^ "Prior Lake High School". H+U Construction. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  14. ^ "Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Referendum Construction Phasing Plan" (PDF). PLSAS. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  15. ^ Bornhoft, William (10 August 2016). "17 Minnesota High Schools Make Newsweek's Top 500". Stillwater, MN Patch. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Meet Eric Pratt". Pratt for Minnesota. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
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