Rochester School Board names its newest middle school

Chad Corey

[anvplayer video=”5058198″ station=”998128″]

ABC 6 News) – The newest middle school in northwest Rochester officially has a name.

At its Tuesday board meeting, Rochester Public Schools School board approved the name "Dakota" Middle School.

Dakota: A word meaning “friend or ally” that comes from the native people who lived in this area since at least the 1600s. A student nominator said, "I believe our new middle school should be named this to represent the first settlers of our area.

Last spring, RPS students were invited to submit ideas for what our new middle school, currently under construction, should be named. The criteria:

  1. Reflect the School District’s values and beliefs
  2. Represent the diversity within our community
  3. Instill inspiration in students

The School Board received and reviewed hundreds of submissions and a School Board subcommittee narrowed the list to five finalists.

Voting for the new school name was conducted online from September 8 to September 16.

Other names that were considered were Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King Jr., Unity, Dakota and Woksape.

RELATED: Voting now open to decide name of new RPS middle school

The new middle school is located at 5501 65th St NW, Rochester, MN.