In a city where families and neighbors emphasize the well-being of children, it isn't surprising that quality education is highly valued. Aberdeen families have a public school system and a K-12 private (Catholic) system available for their children. There are also several private, religious-based elementary schools offering regular classes. Montessori programs and a variety of licensed daycare and preschool opportunities are also available.

The curriculum at Aberdeen schools blends traditional areas of study in the sciences and the arts, with additional study opportunities in subjects and topics that specifically prepare students for careers and occupations. The Hub Area Technical School provides technical training for students from both the public and parochial school systems.

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Aberdeen schools and teachers are known for their commitment to students and the community. In 1996, Redbook Magazine recognized Aberdeen Central as one of the best high schools in the country. Our teachers have been honored with state and national Presidential Awards for Excellence. Twice during the 1990s Aberdeen teachers won the South Dakota Teacher of the Year Award, and in 1998 a high school science teacher was a finalist for the Walt Disney American Teacher Award. In 1999, a junior high principal received the National Distinguished Principal Award. Two teachers from the Aberdeen Catholic School System also have earned national Presidential Awards in math and science. Student achievement from both the public system and the Aberdeen Catholic School System is high and academic involvement is impressive. In fact, nearly 90% of ACSS students pursue college or other forms of higher education. Extracurricular activities such as athletics, music, theatre and debate add to the students' overall education. Reflecting the positive and cooperative relationship between parents, teachers and schools is the exceptional participation rate in local PTA (Parent Teacher Association) chapters.

In the area of special education, progressive programs for students with special needs have been incorporated into the curriculums of all schools. Aberdeen is home to South Dakota's School for the Blind and the Visually Impaired, with its comfortable campus, dorm facilities, and highly trained faculty.

Northern State University (www.northern.edu)
Today's Northern State University is a twenty-first century institution, serving the state of South Dakota, the nation and the world with programs that are supported and supplemented with technology for the globalization age.

NSU has its roots in innovative and dedicated educational delivery and services. Founded in 1901 as a normal and industrial school to serve the northern part of South Dakota, Northern State University, today, is a multi-purpose, regional institution offering diversified course offerings to meet the emerging needs of the students, community and region. In 2001, Northern expanded its mission to include E-learning programs, offering certificates, a minor and two master's degrees in technological instruction.

While teacher preparation remains an important feature of Northern State University, so are programs in the arts and sciences, business and fine arts. Cited recently by U.S. News & World Report as the number one institution in the entire Midwest with the most education majors, Northern also provides excellent course offerings in business, arts and sciences and fine arts. Academically, Northern provides a variety of more than 40 major course offerings from which to earn either a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of science in education or bachelor of music education degree. Graduate programs are offered in teaching and learning, guidance and counseling, and leadership and administration, in addition to E-learning.

NSU's enrollment holds steady at 3,000-plus students each year. Students come from South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota, but the student body also represents students from more than 25 states and more than 20 foreign countries. More than 85 percent of the NSU faculty have attained the highest degree in their fields of study; the student-to-faculty ratio is 19-to-1. Northern also has one of the best student-to-computer ratios in the nation at 4.1 to 1.

All students enjoy use of the Johnson Fine Arts Center, which provides classroom space and a recital hall, lecture auditorium and a 1,000-seat theater; and the recently renovated and expanded Beulah Williams Library, which houses more than 200,000 titles and has seating capacity for 400 students.

The home of the NSU Wolves is the Barnett Physical Education and Convocation Center, which can seat more than 8,000 people and includes classrooms and laboratories for health, physical education and recreation classes, a 2,500-square foot weight room, and a six-lane swimming pool. The main arena, which was named Wachs Arena in 1990, honors the legendary men's basketball coach Bob Wachs.

The outdoor athletic facilities include an eight-court tennis complex and a 15-acre complex for football, track and baseball located just minutes from the residential campus. Swisher Field includes a 6,000-seat football stadium and artificial surface outdoor track. Recent additions include a new computer-operated scoreboard for football and lighted and paved parking lot.

At Northern, more than 80 percent of students receive some form of financial aid, totaling more than $10 million. The financial aid comes in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and college work-study. The Northern State University Foundation, through its annual "Northern Fund" campaign, and the NSU Wolves Club provide the vast majority of funding for NSU student scholarships.

Presentation College (www.presentation.edu)
Founded in 1951 as a two-year nursing school, Presentation College has broadened its curriculum and is South Dakota's newest four-year college. Presentation is ambitiously expanding its faculty, student opportunities and its facilities. New student housing has been built, and an indoor athletic complex was recently added to accommodate the PC Saints sporting events. The Saints compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. Sponsored by the Presentation Sisters, the College continues to be a leader in healthcare education, but now offers degrees in over thirty fields. In addition to baccalaureate degrees in nursing, the college offers degrees in business, communications, social work, and many areas of allied health.