Lakota Local School District (Butler County)

Lakota Local School District is a public school district of southwestern Ohio in Butler County's West Chester and Liberty Townships. It is the 7th largest school district in Ohio and largest in Butler County. The district currently serves over 17,000 students. The current superintendent is Mike Taylor.

Quick Facts & Figures

- 2004-05 Ohio School Report Card: Lakota met 22 of the 23 state indicators

- Lakota is Ohio's largest "Excellent" district five years running.

- Per-pupil spending: $8,026 ($992 less than the State average)

- 2006-07 National Merit Semifinalists: 10

- College attendance rate: 90%

- Student attendance rate: 96.2%

- Graduation rate: 96.1%

- Square miles in district: 68

- Enrollment: 17,422 (October 2005)

- 2004-05 student-teacher ratio: 1:22

_{(Student/teacher ratio is NOT the same as class size. Student/teacher ratio is an Ohio Department of Education statistic, and includes all employees with teaching credentials including art, music, and physical education teachers; librarians; counselors; reading specialists, etc. Actual average class size will be higher.)}

History

The district in its current configuration was established in 1957, after the Union and Liberty school districts were combined. The district was originally known as the Liberty-Union School District, and was renamed to Lakota Local School District in 1970.

Two of the district's schools, Union Elementary (1916) and Liberty Elementary (1928), were built prior to the consolidation and are still standing. In 1959, the Board of Education built a high school for the district; three years later, a third elementary (Hopewell) was added.

From 1969 to 1978, three junior schools were built. The first, Lakota Junior School (1969), was built next to the high school, and was later used as a freshman wing of the high school. It is now used to house the Lakota Early Childhood Center. Hopewell Junior was opened in 1973, and Lakota Junior was replaced by Liberty Junior when it opened in 1977. Adena Elementary became the district's fourth when it opened in 1978.

Freedom Elementary opened in 1988, the same year an addition was built onto the high school. Two years later in 1990, Woodland and Shawnee elementaries opened their doors. From 1992-1994, three new elementaries (Heritage-1992, Cherokee and Independence-1994), and a separate freshman building (1993) were built, as well as additions to six other buildings.

1997 marked the largest expansion to the Lakota district. In that year, two new high schools were opened (Lakota East and Lakota West). Freshman were moved to the old high school building, and the freshman building became a third junior school (Lakota Ridge). Kindergarten students from most of the elementary schools were consolidated into the Lakota Early Childhood Center, which also holds preschool classes.

In 2003, Van Gorden Elementary (named after the family that donated the land it sits on) and Lakota Plains Junior School were opened, along with a new Central Office Building.

Plans are currently being made to build additions on both of the high schools, as well as building a second freshman building which would send students to Lakota East. The current freshman building would be used for students who will attend Lakota West.

Starting from the school year 2007-08, there will be a lot of transfers throughout the district. New schools are being built and some students, as well as staff will be relocated to new schools.

Athletics

The Lakota district competes in the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) in 24 varsity sports.

Schools

High Schools

*Lakota West
*Lakota East
*Lakota East Freshman
*Lakota West Freshman

Junior Highs

*Hopewell Junior
*Liberty Junior
*Lakota Ridge Junior
*Lakota Plains Junior

Elementary Schools

*Union
*Hopewell
*Adena
*Freedom
*Shawnee
*Woodland
*Heritage
*Cherokee
*Independence
*Van Gorden
*Endeavor
*Liberty

Preschool/Kindergarten/Option Academy

*Creekside Early Childhood School
*Liberty Early Childhood School
*Shawnee Early Childhood School
*Wyandot Early Childhood School(new 2008 school)
*L.E.C.C. Lakota Early Childhood Center

External links

* [http://www.lakotaonline.com Lakota Schools]
* [http://www.lakotaeastbands.org Lakota East Bands]
* [http://www.lakotawestbands.org Lakota West Bands]
* [http://www.lakotaalumni.com/ Lakota Alumni]