Our Goals
Our mission is to inspire, empower, and accelerate student learning
Strategic Priorities
In 2022, the Austin School Board approved a strategic plan to guide our district’s long-term planning. Our primary goals include:
Provide support and resources to ensure a safe and welcoming learning environment.
Create a “Packer Profile” for all learners, which includes building strong character qualities – responsibility, resiliency, learning, communicator, and contributor.
Ensure district-wide, multi-tiered systems of support for all learners.
Demonstrate efficient and equitable management of dollars and resources.
A plan shaped by our community
During the 2021-22 strategic planning process, students, staff and residents collaborated on five characteristics they want to see in graduates of Austin Public Schools. The "Packer Profile" reflects what our students, staff, and families desire for our students to prepare them to be college, career, and life ready.
Our Core Values
Responsible: Demonstrates accountability to self and others.
Resilient: Develops perseverance and self-confidence.
Learner: Challenges self to think critically.
Communicator: Listens actively and shares learning and experiences.
Contributor: Engages as a productive member of the community and global society.
Principles of the Packer Profile
The Packer Profile reflects 3 key principles to guide the student experience at Austin Public Schools:
Career Pathways Exploration: Students will leverage their interests and abilities to explore future careers and educational opportunities.
Meaningful Learning Experiences: Core content and instruction will engage students in authentic learning experiences with relevance beyond Austin Public Schools.
Packer Portfolio: Beginning with the class of 2027, students will celebrate by sharing a digital portfolio with the community that demonstrates their journey and growth in the Packer Core Values.
learn more about the results of our 2023-24 community survey
In the News
Check out the most recent coverage of the great things happening in Austin Public Schools and how the new strategic plan is already having positive impacts on student learning.
Austin Online Academy receives star of innovation award | Austin Daily Herald - Friday, May 3
Austin’s Elementary Schools receive national recognition for digital citizenship efforts | Austin Daily Herald - Wednesday, May 1
Thank you for helping shape the future of Austin Public Schools | Austin Daily Herald - Friday, April 26
Letter to the Editor: Proud of APS’s commitment to safety, welcoming | Austin Daily Herald - Tuesday, April 23
Hometown Food Security Project, Hormel Foods Present student art exhibit | Austin Daily Herald – Tuesday, April 9
APS Column: Importance of family engagement | Austin Daily Herald – Friday, April 5
Austin Public Schools receives national recognition for music programming | Austin Daily Herald – Friday, April 5
Breaking through: Austin native has committed to play Division I basketball | Austin Daily Herald – Thursday, April 4
‘When we work together, we can do a lot of things’ | Austin Daily Herald – Tuesday, April 2
Austin Special Education Department welcomes New 7-12 SPED supervisor | Austin Daily Herald – Friday, March 29
APS Column: Austin Public Schools Transition Program prepares students for the next chapter | Austin Daily Herald – Friday, March 29
Despite drop in state grad rates, APS shows numbers on the rise | Austin Daily Herald – Thursday, March 28
Austin Online Academy receives national recognition | Austin Daily Herald – Monday, March 25
APS Column: An update from Austin Public Schools | Austin Daily Herald – Friday, March 22
Hands of our Future: Youth Institute gives AHS students a stake in food security | Austin Daily Herald – Friday, March 22
Sumner Elementary PE teacher honored | Austin Daily Herald – Tuesday, March 19
APS Column: PBIS Model and Practices at the Middle School Level | Austin Daily Herald – Friday, March 8
Austin Aspires continues mission with free Aspire Tutoring Program | Austin Daily Herald – Tuesday, March 5
APS Column: The Packer Pantry at Austin High School is there to help students | Austin Daily Herald - Friday, March 1
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PS’s Hovland named Outstanding Educator of SE Minnesota - Austin Daily Herald - Feb. 22, 2024
APS Column: Looking back at a busy January - Austin Daily Herald - Feb. 9, 2024
Minnesota Department of Education Visits Austin High School - ABC 6 - Jan. 24, 2024
APS Column: A message from Austin Public Schools - Austin Daily Herald - Jan. 12, 2024
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APS Column: STEAM days at IJ Holton Intermediate School — Austin Daily Herald — Dec. 1, 2023
New program at APS showing early optimistic Results — Austin Daily Herald — Nov. 17, 2023
APS Column: Adjustments benefit students at I.J. and Ellis - Austin Daily Herald - Nov. 9, 2023
Letter to the Editor: Take an active role in the APS district - Austin Daily Herald - Nov. 3, 2023
Austin Soccer Team’s Growing Diversity - PBS - August 22, 2023
Strategic Community Partnerships
Austin Public Schools is grateful to our many community partners who enrich and expand the student experience in areas such as music, science, business development, technology and more. These partnerships include:
MacPhail Center for Music
Pi Academy
The Mower County CEO Program
The Hormel Foundation
The Hormel Foundation Austin Assurance Scholarship
The Hormel Foundation Gifted and Talented Symposium
The Hormel Institute
Post-Secondary Enrollment Opportunity (PSEO) and Concurrent Enrollment (CE)
Austin Aspires
Strong Resource Management
Our district is focused on organizational fiscal health through fiscally responsible budgeting and streamlining of programming and staffing.
Austin Public Schools was named a recipient of the 2023 School Finance Award by the Minnesota Department of Education. The award is given annually by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Division of School Finance, to recognize schools for meeting statutory deadlines for submission of audited fiscal financial data and reporting criteria.
As a district, we continue to receive exemplary ratings from independent audits by the Minnesota Department of Education, which are the most desirable audit results expected by taxpayers, the school board, and regulators.
In 2022, the Austin community passed a referendum that will help Austin Public Schools continue our strong financial position as we head into the future.