POINTS of PRIDE: Harlan

"Joined as one we get the job done!"  Harlan Community School District joined 8 communities together in 1969 as one - Earling, Corley, Defiance, Harlan, Jacksonville, Panama, Portsmouth, and Westphalia.  Superintendent Justin Wagner is proud of their tradition of athletic excellence but more proud of their ACT and Iowa Assessment scores as well as other extra-curricular accomplishments.  Harlan is the only Blue Ribbon High School in Iowa based on ACT scores.  Since 1975 they have never placed lower than 8th place at the state Jazz Band competition and since they have moved in 3A competition - no less than third place.  Their Family Comsumer Science class placed 1st in the state in the area of desserts.  A commitment to excellence is part of the culture based on high expectations passed on through the generations.  It is the CYCLONE WAY - bringing out the best in students and staff.

District Demographics:
Enrollment 1500
40% Free & Reduced Lunch
Community support is manifested through the Education Foundation with the belief that as long as a need is shown, they will support it.  Some of the areas they have supported include starting Harlan's own STEM program ($450,000), restoration of the football field ($1.8 million ), and upgrades to the band and vocal facilities ($150,000), all done along with lowering the property tax levy over the past four years.

Because they are considered a "choice" school, they work hard to live up to those expectations.  Administrators here believe that one great teacher is better than two average teachers so they invest heavily in their staff.  Their motto - Happy Adults = Happy Kids!  They rank sixth in the state with their average staff pay.  They work hard to meet the needs of their adults including work through a Blue Zone Initiative.  The mental health of the staff is prime and a Wellness Committee provides a format to earn points throughout the school year by participating in reading books, attending social gatherings held four times a year, eating lunch with a colleague, taking designated number of steps daily, drinking water, participating in biometric testing, spirituality points for attending church, providing funds for having a wellness trainer, and paid wellness center memberships.  This district believes in order to take care of your people, you must invest in your people. 
Academically, the driving idea for instruction is connection with the real world.  Good to great conversations are held throughout staff meetings.  Two questions focused upon by staff in preparing instruction are:  Why are we learning it?  How will we use it?  This staff focuses not only on transition from class to class or subject area to subject area, but how to make learning transformational.  In order to accomplish this, there is a strong focus on inquiry-based instruction where critical thinking is valued.  This district offers 70 college credits on campus with technology being 1-to-1 in grades 6-12. 


There are many great things happening in this district.  Their Social-Emotional Committee has worked on the program Capturing Kids Hearts, incorporating civic projects completed for the community.  The Iowa School Board awarded the Harlan School Board the "Making a Difference" award because of the trust built between the board and school staff. 

Proudly displayed in the hallway at Harlan is a statement by Henry David Thoreau - "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."  When visiting Harlan, it is easy to see their commitment to their mission of preparing life-long learners and productive citizens.