Simley High School
Simley High School is a public high school located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. The school opened in 1961 with a graduating class of 19 pupils. The school currently has approx. 1200 students enrolled in grades 9-12. The current principal is Gerald Sakala.
The school is a member of Independent School District 199 (Inver Grove Schools) and is a member of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). The school is a member of the Metro East Conference. For the last five years, Simley High School has been recognized by the Washington Post as one of the Nation’s Best High Schools.
Simley High School was named for I.T. Simley, the retired Superintendent of Schools from South St. Paul who served as a consultant to Inver Grove Heights during the District’s transition years. Simley’s first graduating class was the Class of ’61, with 19 graduates.
Today, Simley High School is a comprehensive secondary school with a student population of about 1,200 in grades nine through twelve. The school is staffed by more than 75 professionals.
Computers are used in both computer labs and in the classroom.
Advanced classes are offered in mathematics, science, English, social studies, art and more. Students in AP classes are tested in May and may become eligible to earn college credit depending on the results of their AP test. Special education services are available in the areas of learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, mildly/moderately mentally disabled, speech/language delays, and adapted physical education.
Simley’s Alternative Learning Program is a high school educational experience designed to meet the needs of students who, for a variety of reasons, are not successful in the traditional school setting. Challenge based learning opportunities drive the program. Collaboration and technology integration are the two main components of challenge-based learning. Students aged 16–21 are eligible to attend the alternative program.
Simley students are able to select activities from a variety of athletic and fine arts programs. In addition, students are challenged in academic organizations such as Knowledge Bowl, Quiz Bowl, Math Team, Speech and Destination ImagiNation.
The school year is divided into three trimesters, spanning approximately twelve weeks in length each. To be eligible for graduation from Simley High School, a student must have earned 66-trimester credits in grades 9-12.
Salem School
Salem School has a long history in Inver Grove Heights. The first Salem School was built in 1861 and served children of the district until 1953. The current Salem Hills Elementary School was built following a referendum in January of 1952. Three phases of building additions in 1987–1989 made Salem Hills the school it is today, providing a positive learning environment for approximately 390 students in grades K-5.
Salem Hills is also the district center for the Early Education Program for special-needs preschool children and houses several community Education programs, including Community Preschool, Kids’ Choice School-Age Care and after-school activities. Salem Hills offers all-day kindergarten as an option for parents.
Salem Hills is also the home of Atheneum, the newest addition to the district’s program of gifted services. It was created and implemented in the 2002-2003 school year as a result of program evaluation and the identification of a large number of highly-gifted individuals residing in and around Inver Grove Heights. This educational opportunity expanded in the 2003-2004 school year to include classes for third-, fourth- and fifth-graders. In 2006, the Atheneum program expanded once again, to include qualifying second-grade students.