Mayo High School

Your family may qualify for $120 per child in SUN Bucks, reduced sports and activity fees, and other valuable benefits!

It takes less than 5 minutes to complete the confidential Application for Educational Benefits. Even if your child already receives free school meals, we encourage you to apply!

Your family may qualify for:

$120 per eligible child in summer SUN Bucks benefits
Reduced sports and activity fees for athletics, clubs, and extracurricular activities
Discounted home internet through participating programs
Reduced testing fees for college entrance exams and AP tests

Apply today: bit.ly/appforbenefits. Paper applications are also available at your school's main office.

The RPS School Board on Tuesday, October 20, approved RPS 2030, the district's new strategic plan. The plan sets the direction for the district's work over the next four years and is organized around four priorities: Challenging Learning, Purposeful Pathways, Supportive Communities, and Organizational Excellence. Read the full plan: https://www.rochesterschools.org/rps-2030

Do you need a new mattress? Are you looking for a way to support our high school bands? Come get a better night's sleep AND support the 6th Annual Rochester High School Band Mattress Fundraiser! We carry BRAND NEW, fully warrantied, quality name-brand mattresses like Simmons, Beautyrest, and Therapedic, priced below retail. This one-day event will have an entire mattress store set up in the Rochester John Marshall High School Gym, and profits go directly to the bands!

Join us on Sunday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at John Marshall High School (1510 14th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901)

Did you know that every public school student in Minnesota is part of a trust fund? Minnesota owns state public lands that generate revenue from timber, mining, and land leases. That money is placed into a protected investment trust dedicated strictly to supporting public school districts across the state. Due to investment growth, the fund has expanded from $675 million in 2010 to more than $2.3 billion today, but distributions have not kept pace because of outdated constitutional restrictions. This November, Minnesota voters can vote to increase the fund.

What does this ballot question change?

• Sends more money to classrooms: Current constitutional rules limit payouts primarily to interest and dividends, restricting how much money reaches schools. The amendment modernizes the formula to increase the annual distribution from 2-2.5% to 4.5% of the fund's total value, significantly increasing payments to all Minnesota public schools.

• Zero tax increase: It does not raise property, income, or sales taxes. It uses money already sitting in an existing investment fund.

• Bipartisan agreement: The update was unanimously recommended by a nonpartisan task force and received strong bipartisan support in both the Minnesota House and Senate.

Under Minnesota law, a constitutional amendment must receive approval from a majority of all voters. Skipping the question has the exact same mathematical impact as actively voting against it. To support the amendment, you must vote "YES." Leaving the question blank counts as a "NO" vote. You can learn more about this at www.mnpsfamendment.org.

Reminder: there is no school on Wednesday, September 23. RPS staff will participate in a Curriculum and Development (CAD) Day to plan instruction and engage in professional development. We will see students back in school on Thursday, September 24.

Due to the forecasted inclement weather for Friday, we are adjusting the homecoming games schedule for John Marshall and Mayo High Schools as follows:

• ⚽ Varsity Girls' Soccer Game: Thursday, September 17, at 4:30 p.m.

• 🏈 Varsity Football Game: Thursday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m.

We are continuing to monitor the weather regarding Friday's parades. Because permits are valid only for Friday, the parades cannot be rescheduled and will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. We will make the decision about the parade on Thursday based on the weather forecast and will communicate any updates as early as possible.

All other homecoming activities will take place as planned.

The school year is in full swing, and so is your chance to grab some RPS gear! Our Apparel Shop is open through Friday, September 18, 2026, and items will be available for pick up at your school at the end of October. Shop here: https://rps26mayo.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Reminder: there is no school on Friday, September 4, for all schools except Longfellow Elementary, which will have a regular school day. Additionally, there will be no school, and RPS offices and buildings will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

Please see the MHS daily bell schedule (which is the same as last year).
8:45 - first bell
8:50 - second bell; classes begin
3:30 - school day ends

In the event we have an alternate schedule, it will be posted on our website events calendar for that date.

Mayo HS families: We are canceling school today, Friday, March 13, 2026. The high winds in our area have caused several power outages in the neighborhood. As a result, the building is currently without the necessary power and systems to operate school as scheduled. We will send a follow-up message by midday today regarding the status of after-school activities and athletics.

Rochester Public Schools is the heart of a community focused on lifelong learning. Whether you are three years old or eighty-three, we believe in investing in our community's future by providing exceptional opportunities for everyone to grow.

➡️ We help our youngest learners flourish through 177 Preschool Enrichment classes, 105 Early Childhood Family Education classes, and 26 RPS Preschool classrooms.

➡️ Our youth students stay engaged and inspired through 767 Youth Enrichment and 21st Century programs designed to help them find their spark.

➡️ Learning doesn't stop at graduation. We host 655 Adult Enrichment classes, 241 Adults With Exceptional Abilities classes, and 116 unique offerings at Hawthorne Education.

Learn more about our Community Education program at https://www.rochesterce.org.