Original Research by School Decision on 917 Dcals Main
917 DCALS Main is an alternative school in Rosemount that serves students in grades eight through twelve. It is part of Intermediate School District 917, which is an intermediate district providing special education, career and technical education, and alternative learning services to nine member districts. The school’s small enrollment draws students primarily in their junior and senior years, with no students in the lower grades. It is not a charter school.
The student body is racially and economically diverse. Just over half the students are white, roughly a fifth are Hispanic, and the remainder are Black, Asian, or multiracial. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs or English learner status was not available in the records reviewed.
State testing results for the most recent year show a zero percent proficiency rate in both English language arts and math. This is a single year of data, and it is worth noting that the school’s nature as an alternative setting serving older students who have not succeeded in traditional schools may mean that these results reflect the population it serves rather than the instruction it provides. A parent may want to discuss the school’s academic expectations and how it measures student progress with staff directly.
The housing context for the Rosemount area shows home values and rents that are above national averages but somewhat below the most expensive parts of the metro. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has hovered in the mid-six percent range recently, and the local unemployment rate has been stable at just over four percent. Median household income nationally has risen modestly in recent years.
Rosemount itself is a rapidly growing community. The city is a mix of heavy industry in the northeast and expanding residential neighborhoods in the west, with an older downtown commercial center. Major employers include the Pine Bend oil refinery, several industrial firms, and the Minnesota Army National Guard. The city has preserved substantial parkland, including acreage along the Mississippi River, and hosts community amenities like an ice arena and a community center. Growth has been pronounced, with hundreds of new homes under construction and industrial land set aside for development. The city is auto-oriented, with multiple highways connecting it to the Twin Cities, and it has a historic downtown that developed around a railroad line.
Overall, 917 DCALS Main is a small, alternative school for high school students in Rosemount who need a different academic environment than a traditional comprehensive high school provides. The available state assessment data shows very low proficiency rates, which parents should understand in the context of the school’s mission. The school is part of a specialized intermediate district, and families considering it should seek detailed information about the curriculum, graduation pathways, and student support services directly from the school.
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