Lincoln K-8 Choice School

Lincoln K-8 Choice School evolved from a grassroots effort by parents and teachers who wanted an alternative elementary school for their children in Rochester. Since 1975, Lincoln K-8 Choice School has provided Rochester students and parents with a choice. In 1994, Lincoln expanded its offerings from a K-6 to a K-8 program. Technology has emerged as focus over the last five years but it is not the only focus. Lincoln has a strong commitment to classroom themes, classroom productions and a focus on students developing their own learning goals with guidance from teachers and parents.

Classrooms are multi-aged except for grade 1 and kindergarten. We have four teaching teams meeting the needs of four hundred students. The Primary team is made up of students in grades kindergarten, one and two. The Middles team is composed of students in grades two and three. The Intermediate team houses students in grades four and five and the Uppers team is made up of students in grades six, seven and eight.

The heart of our K-8 outreach effort in InSciEd Out is the development of exciting new curriculum that directly addresses national and state standards. Moreover, the InSciEd Out learning modules include horizontal integration into history, writing, reading, mathematics, and social studies. All modules include activities that replace debate with dialogue to teach the value and validity of many voices in shaping scientific policy. Finally, all modules include student-led extensions: novel scientific explorations designed and carried out by the students themselves. Our new fish habitat holds 84 two liter tanks. When completely online it will hold about 1,600 zebrafish.

Demographics of Lincoln K-8 Choice School are as follows:
      Students enrolled: 366
      % free and reduced lunch: 22%
      % students of color: 16%
      Students/FTE Teacher: 18
      Average teacher experience: 15 years
      % teachers with Master's Degree or higher: 93%

School Information
      Lincoln K-8 Choice School
      1122 8th Avenue Southeast
      Rochester, Minnesota 55904
      Phone: (507)-328-3550
      Fax: (507) 328-3545
      General Email: Lincolnchoice@rochester.k12.mn.us
      James Sonju - Principal (jasonju@rochester.k12.mn.us)