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Prior Lake News Compass

Prior Lake News Compass

Informed. Engaged. Connected.

Prior Lake News Compass

Schools

The video board at Dan Patch Stadium honors the PLHS Class of 2025. Jill Kufrin / PL News Compass

PHOTOS: The PLHS Class of 2025 has their day in the sun

Staff report
June 7, 2025

The Class of 2025 has finished its journey through high school, with nothing but promise and potential awaiting them. Prior Lake High School graduated nearly 700 students on Thursday at Dan Patch Stadium, with another 56 seniors graduating from Bridges...

Brian Nutter (left), assistant principal and leader of the MnCAPS program at Prior Lake High School, visited with students Danea Dahlberg and Sean Souriya, participants in the construction trades pathway during the 2024-25 school year. Laurie Hartmann / PL News Compass

Curriculum puts students ahead of the pack

Laurie Hartmann
June 5, 2025

Hundreds of Prior Lake High School students will be well ahead of their peers in planning their future following graduation. Not only have they had the opportunity to experience hands-on learning about different career paths they may wish to pursue as...

New officers of the Prior Lake Junior Optimists were sworn in by Scott Carlson. PL News Compass/Prior Lake Optimist Club

Junior Optimist Club celebrates an active year of community service

Staff report
June 4, 2025

The Prior Lake High School Junior Optimists wrapped up a successful year of community service at the Horse and Hunt Club on May 22. Optimists enjoyed dinner, awards, speeches and the swearing in of its new board of directors for the coming year. They...

Prior Lake High School fine arts students pose during an athletic-style signing day. Twenty-six students celebrated their next steps to perform in the arts at the collegiate level. Courtesy photo / Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools

PLHS fine arts students hold signing day

Staff report
May 28, 2025

Signing days aren't just for the athletes any more. Prior Lake High School hosted its first Fine Arts Signing Day in the auditorium on May 14. The athletics-style ceremony celebrated 26 of PLHS's own that will be taking their passions to the collegiate...

Prior Lake High School is located at  7575 150th St W, Savage.

Prior Lake to celebrate Class of 2025

Staff report
May 27, 2025

Nearly 770 seniors will receive a diploma on June 5 during Prior Lake High School's commencement ceremony being held at Dan Patch Stadium. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. The program...

WestWood Elementary School. Laurie Hartmann / PL News Compass

District officials explain choice of WestWood as school to close

Renee Winick
May 22, 2025

More details came to light on the Prior Lake-Savage Area School district’s plan to shuffle education buildings as part of the ongoing efforts to tighten its budget. Dan Powers, director of operation services for the district, and Superintendent Michael...

PLHS activity fees, tickets may be on the rise

PLHS activity fees, tickets may be on the rise

Renee Winick
May 22, 2025

A series of proposed changes would offset more than $200,000 in activities spending for the Prior Lake-Savage Area School district. Activities director Jeff Marshall presented proposed increases in activities fees and ticket prices. The new rates...

Dan Edwards

PLSAS administrator leaving for superintendent role

Robb Jeffries
May 20, 2025

A top administrator for Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools will be leaving the district for a superintendent position. Dan Edwards, the executive director of academic services for PLSAS, will become the superintendent of the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted...

Prior Lake students attending DECA's international conference in Orlando included, from left to right: Dhruv Japa, Madi Banas, Liv Zirbel, Lena Johnson, Grace Cullen and Josh Pascanik. (Prior Lake High School)

Six attend DECA international conference; Pascanik places in top 10

May 14, 2025

Six students from the Prior Lake High School's Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) program attended the organization's annual International Career Development Conference held in Orlando, Fla., in late April. Prior Lake students attending...

WestWood Elementary School. Laurie Hartmann / PL News Compass

PLSAS proposing to close WestWood Elementary in 2026-27

Robb Jeffries
May 12, 2025

In a letter to staff and families in the district, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools superintendent Michael Thomas laid out a series of building closures designed to balance the district's budget amid rising costs and a failed levy vote. WestWood Elementary,...

Prior Lake's Dallas Handevidt and Lukas Aidas rally in an early season doubles match this spring. Courtesy photo / PL Boys Tennis

District gets USTA grant to upgrade tennis courts

Robb Jeffries
May 7, 2025

The United States Tennis Association announced Monday, May 5, that the governing body and its affiliates have awarded Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools a grant of nearly $50,000. The funds, totaling $48,075, will be used to resurface the eight tennis...

Three PLHS students earned perfect scores when taking the ACT test. They are, from left to right, Meredith Clemens, Trevor Zwart, and Olivia Zirbel. (Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools)

3 PLHS students earn highest score on ACT test

Staff report
May 7, 2025

Three Prior Lake High School students —Meredith Clemens, Olivia Zirbel and Trevor Zwart — have each earned the highest possible composite score of 36 on the ACT, the standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Earning...

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