In August, we invited over 1200 staff from our district to our PLC at Work Institute with national presenters and a clear mission - coming together to meet the needs of students. District staff can access all handouts and materials on this interactive page.

Coeur d'Alene Public Schools is committed to investing in educational excellence and leveraging all available personal and financial resources to make an impactful difference in our children's current and future lives. Our 2023 — 2028 Strategic Plan serves as a lens of that promise and responsibility through a clear vision,  guiding values, a purposeful mission and vision, and measurable priorities under our four focus areas.

It's our goal that all 17 schools become certified as High-Reliability Schools at Level 1, emphasizing Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Learning Environments. We expect Coeur d'Alene High School, Lake City High School, Ramsey Magnet School, Sorensen Magnet School, Venture Academy, and Woodland Middle School to be certified in the coming weeks with the other 11 schools pursuing next year.

Lake City High School's Assistant Principal, Bryan Kelly was named the 2024 State of Idaho Assistant Principal of the Year by the Idaho Association of School Administrators board of directors. 

Coeur d'Alene High School seniors Isabella Le and Jameson Dale, were recognized as National Merit Scholar Finalists! Students are nominated for their performance on ACT, College Board Assessments and/or nominated by the Chief State School Officer.

Coeur d'Alene High School Seniors Isabella Le and Lachlan May have been nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program from the Idaho Department of Education for their broad academic achievement.

The Viking boys, with their usual strong pack running, won their first state 5A title in November at the Portneuf Wellness Complex in Pocatello with junior Max Cervi-Skinner (sixth), senior Jacob King (eighth), sophomore Mitchell Rietze (10th), senior Lachlan May (11th) and junior Zack Cervi-Skinner (16th) earning state medalist honors for finishing in the top 20.

Lake City High School and Kootenai Technical Education Campus KTEC construction student Dawson Spindler took First Place in the Idaho Skills USA Competition in construction trades.  Dawson will move on to the National Skills USA Competition in Atlanta, Georgia this June.

Coeur d'Alene Public Schools is fortunate to have amazing librarians serving our schools & students, encouraging students in their educational journey. Coeur d'Alene High School's Kiersten Kerr was named the 2023 Idaho Librarian of the Year.

Lake City High School student Adeline Smith co-founded "Growing the STEM," an organization that develops and runs math and science programs for students in underserved rural Idaho schools, was presented the Prudential Emerging Visionary.

Custodian Frank Ballardo at Fernan STEM Academy was recognized as a National Life Group "Life Changer" for his impact on others at the school.  The program celebrates those who are making a significant difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership. 

Coeur d'Alene High School visual art teacher Hannah Kuhns was recognized by the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences at the University of Idaho as a "Vandal Outstanding Educator," recognizing her profound impact on students' academic, social, and emotional development and contribution to their overall progress and well-being.

Coeur d’Alene High School repeated as 5A girls basketball state champions and won their 11th in program history with a 58-49 win over crosstown rival Lake City High School in February. Led by head Coach Nicole Symons, the Vikings now are tied with the most wins in Idaho history as a school.

Students competed through the evening in the annual Coeur d'Alene School District Spelling Bee. Here are the winners by grade level:

• Jeremy Bott, Hayden Meadows Elementary, 3rd Grade

• McKinley Crisp, Atlas Elementary, 4th Grade

• Dorian Beeson, Ramsey Magnet School, 5th Grade

• August Haws, Canfield Middle School, 6th Grade

• Logan Shaw, Woodland Middle School, 7th Grade

• Brody Newell, Canfield Middle School, 8th Grade

Fernan STEM Academy achieved national STEM Certification from Cognia (national accreditation agency) after 10 years of work and over 100 pages of best-practice evidence to the organization. Through leadership from Principal Kathy Livingston and Assistant Principal Sandy Doering, their staff was recognized by the Board of Trustees in September.

With a generous match from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, 51 Seniors from Coeur d'Alene and Lake City High Schools earned renewable $1000 scholarships at the Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber's annual scholarship breakfast on April 19th.

Coeur d'Alene High School: Julia Anderson, Lauren Bengtson, Silas Bosley, Grace Breisacher, Lola Burns, Cole Coppess, Christopher Gabbert, Simon Gage, Chet Hanna, Kiley Hart, Kendall Holecek, Maren Hover, Andi Jane Howard, Jacob King, Isabella Le, Maya Lowder, Lachlan May, Olivia Naccarato, Bailey Offutt, Harriet Owens, Ava Parkinson, Daniel Paterson, Alexander Patterson, Sage Pedersen, Aedan Reindel, Elliana Rietze, Emily Roah, Garrett Scheuermann, Finley Sjostrom, Eden Stephens, Grayson Storey, Jaron Voeller, Paige Wilton, and Ava Yates

Lake City High School: David Anderson, Evelyn Bennett, Mason Bentley, Nathaniel Edmonds, Gabrielle Garasky, Madison Halfhide-Burke, Hazel Howard, Ashley Kerns, Macie Lilyquist, Danica McCormick, Parker Morville, Trevin Murillo, Jasmine Quagliana, Shelby Sandford, Cooper Smith, and Aidan Stewart

Students in middle and high schools promoted their ideas and inventions at the Invent Idaho competition, targeting STEM goals for 21st-century learning and meeting dozens of state standards. Several students were recognized:

• • ADAPTATIONS

    • Third place, grades 5-6: Nora Owen, Bryan Elementary, "The Perfect Fit Safety Seat System"

  • GAMES AND GADGETS

    • First place, grades 1-2: Ben Harding, Hayden Meadows Elementary, "Car Crash!"

    • Second place, grades 1-2: Everett Talbot, Hayden Meadows Elementary, "Dog Poop Cleaner"

    • First place, grades 3-4: Marina Myers, Hayden Meadows Elementary, "Forest Trails"

    • Third place, grades 3-4: Magnolia Kim, Hayden Meadows Elementary, "Bunnyland"

    • Third place, grades 5-6: Cannon Randklev, Fernan STEM Academy, "Will You Survive?"

    • First place, grades 7-8: Lucas Schultz, Canfield Middle School, "Virtual Music Teacher"

  • JULES VERNE

    • First place, grades 3-4: Hadley Wood, Winton Elementary, "Animal Paloosa"

    • Third place, grades 3-4: Finn Kirkbride, Winton Elementary, "AirTrip"

  • NON-WORKING MODELS

    • First place, grades 5-6: Wilhelmina Kim, Hayden Meadows Elementary, "The No Spotty Potty" — advancing to nationals.

The North Idaho Cross Country team, made up of runners from Coeur d'Alene High School, won the boys Nike Northwest cross country title on Saturday at Eagle Island State Park (Eagle, ID), qualifying for the national meet on Dec. 2 in Portland. From left are North Idaho XC coach Emry Carr, Kyle Rohlinger, Lachlan May, Zack Cervi-Skinner, Jacob King, Mitchell Rietze, Wyatt Carr, Max Cervi-Skinner and Coeur d'Alene High School head coach Cathy Compton.

Members of the Lake City boys and girls swim team celebrate following the conclusion of Saturday's state 5A meet. Lake City won its third straight girls title, while the boys were second for the second straight year. In the front row, from left are coach Zack Castaneda, Tillie Sobek, Ben Linford and Steven Griffith. In the second row are Owen Bennett, Demi Blaylock, Riley Taylor, Quinn Taylor, Pema Anain, Ashly Craigie, Payton Goodwin, Maddy Wisdom-Mateous, Lauren Stephens, Brady Kelly and Joshua Atwood.

Assistant Superintendent Trent Derrick received word in April that he is being honored as an "outstanding alumnus" of Lewis-Clark State College. In their release, the university lauded his "professional accomplishments both inside and outside of the classroom; his total dedication to the North Idaho community; and being an outstanding role model for future LC State Warriors."

Both the Coeur d'Alene High School girls and Lake City High School boys girls swim teams were identified as the "Academic State Champions" at the annual swim meet in Boise, representing the highest total cumulative GPAs for all teams in the state.

On April 20th, Coeur d'Alene Public Schools sent six of our school bus drivers to the Idaho Region 1 & 2 Roadeo where they competed with sixteen others on a course centered around driving a school bus through 10 specific maneuvers that were timed and measured for precision. They also took a written test covering state law.

Two of the CDASD271 drivers, Tyeson Bennett and Racheal Imrie qualified to go to the Idaho State competition!

Fernan STEM Academy's library received a $5,000 School Library Access (SLA) grant from the Idaho Commission for Libraries for the 2024-2025 school year. Melissa Smith, Fernan's school librarian, wrote the grant and is thrilled the have been selected. The grant will be used to purchase books, organize a parent literacy event, and continue the Reading Challenge Program.

LCHS and CHS Outdoor Studies Program students got to see what Yellowstone National Park looks like in the early spring after CHS and LCHS faculty members Birgid Niedenzu and Jamie Esler and other staff arranged this great trip where students spent a week engaged in hands-on learning and visiting the Museum of the Rockies. The staff at both schools would like to thank their Booster Clubs for the financial support that made the trip possible. Their generosity helped students in financial need participate in a week of outdoor learning that will positively impact their lives for many years to come.

Former Lake City High School baseball star, Kyle Manzardo, made his first Major League Baseball start in May for the Cleveland Guardians. Kyle is the #2 prospect in the Cleveland organization and the #2 first base prospect in all of MLB. He had his first hit in his second game.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare recognized Lake City High School Senior Luke Sharon for his efforts to bring awareness to students' mental health in our region. Concerned with student struggles, Sharon helped to organize Olympic medalist Michael Phelps to speak to students about his own struggles and how he has been able to overcome them greatly. Sharon is shown in the Coeur d'Alene Press image with Principal Mrs. Deanne Clifford and Sources of Strength Coordinator Mrs. Azure Wilson as Sharon accepts his award.

Dalton's student council, Kids Corps, organized several impactful activities. In December, they held a Chain Link Fundraiser, raising almost $2,000 for gifts for CASA kids by selling chain links. The gifts were presented at the Holiday Sing-Along. In February, they hosted the Dalton Bake-Off with over 90 participants. Students entered baked goods for taste or creativity judging, and the bake sale raised funds for the Kootenai County K-9 unit. Kids Corps organized Kindness Week in May, featuring a Kindness Passport with daily activities. Students who completed it enjoyed a game day, and Kids Corps members set up a bookmark coloring station, hiding colored bookmarks in the school library books.

David Anderson, a 2024 Lake City High School graduate, won a Governor's Cup Scholarship from Idaho Governor Brad Little.

The board of directors of the Idaho Governor’s Cup Scholarship Fund assessed more than 3,000 applicants and recipients were chosen based on their demonstrated dedication to public service, academic excellence, leadership qualities, and community engagement. The Academic Scholarship offers $5,000 annually, renewable for a maximum of four years.

Anderson intends to enroll at the University of Idaho pursuing a degree in finance/business or engineering.

Jenna Nipp from the Idaho Forest Service and Smokey Bear presented certificates and drawing kits to Dalton Elementary fifth grader Faith Schultz, center, and fourth grader Claire Facciano during a presentation Friday morning. The students were first-place winners in Idaho and second-place winners in the Pacific Region for the National Garden Clubs, Inc. Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster Contest.