Our Schools
Our schools create an environment that fosters positive teacher-student-parent relationships, allowing for individualized attention. Small class sizes help create an opportunity for all students to participate in activities and in their communities.
Our District
Independent School District 2687, serving the communities of Winsted, Waverly, and Howard Lake, provides a high-quality education for its youth. With that commitment, we strive for excellence and opportunity for each student in every offering and activity.
Our Community
Located just west of the Metro, Howard Lake, Waverly, and Winsted have a strong sense of pride and accomplishment. Our schools are at the center of many things our communities celebrate.
Welcome to Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Public Schools
Transition Team Work Leads to Board Approval of Grade-Level Building Plan
Since January, a dedicated Transition Team of teachers, staff, and leaders has worked together to plan for the shift to grade-level elementary buildings in our district. The team met monthly to analyze data about our students, staff, and community. They explored many options and focused on how to best support student learning and meet the needs of our families.
Their hard work and collaborative spirit have moved us forward. On Monday night, the School Board approved the team’s recommendation:
- Grades K-2 to Humphrey Elementary
- Grades 3-4 to Winsted Elementary
This change will take effect starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It will not impact the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
It is important to clarify that the Herald Journal recently reported this change will occur next year. That information is incorrect. Our district will take the next year to prepare and ensure a smooth and successful transition in 2026-2027.
We thank the members of the Transition Team for their careful study and thoughtful recommendations. Their work reflects the best of what can happen when we come together to plan for our students’ future.
Stay tuned for more updates as we move forward with this important work.
Help Us Define What It Means to Be a Laker
Dear Laker Students, Staff, Parents, and Community,
As part of our Strategic Plan—Goal 2: Foster a Strong Sense of Belonging—we are launching a short survey to better understand our school identity and what it truly means to be a Laker. This service is provided to us, free of charge, through our partnership with Jostens.
To support this effort, we are partnering with an outside expert to guide the process. The survey will be open for five days, and we encourage all students, families, staff, and community members to share their thoughts. Your input will help us shape a clear and unified Laker identity that reflects who we are and what we value.
Once the survey closes, a committee will review the results and use your feedback to guide next steps.
We are always looking for your input. Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability. We look forward to sharing the results and thank you, as always, for your partnership.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HowardLakeHS
It’s a GREAT day to be a LAKER!
Superintendent Search
The Howard Lake Waverly Winsted School Board is conducting a thorough search for its next Superintendent. To help facilitate this search, the School Board has contracted with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA). The School Board believes this will help us find the best fit for our school district and communities. We expect to have a strong applicant pool identified by the end of April. We will select the candidates to interview on May 6th and have 2 rounds of interviews. The goal is to have a new superintendent named by the end of May. If we don’t find the right fit we will look to have an interim superintendent and reopen the search during the 2025/2026 school year. Please stay tuned to the district website for updates throughout the search process.
