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Rapid City, SD – Stevens High School continues to build on a long standing tradition of academic excellence, student involvement, and strong community support, according to Principal Jocelyn Hafner.
Hafner said Stevens stands out because it combines strong academics with meaningful relationships and school pride, creating an environment where students feel supported and challenged.
“We are a place where students can succeed academically while also feeling like they belong,” Hafner said. “Every student has a place here.”
Stevens serves more than 1,400 students and offers a wide range of opportunities, from Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses to fine arts, athletics, and career focused programs. Hafner said academic success at Stevens is driven by high quality instruction and intentional student engagement.
This year, Stevens students posted an average ACT composite score of just over 21, well above the national average for schools with full participation. Hafner credited that success to teacher collaboration, focused curriculum standards, and a school wide effort to increase student participation in the classroom.
“We want students to understand what they are learning and feel confident participating,” Hafner said. “When that happens, learning improves for everyone.”
Enrollment in Advanced Placement courses has also grown significantly, with nearly 950 AP course enrollments this year. Stevens also partners with Western Dakota Tech to offer dual enrollment classes on campus, giving students early access to college level coursework.
Beyond academics, Hafner emphasized the importance of real world learning. Students at Stevens gain hands on experience through career and technical education programs, including graphic design, engineering, and environmental science.
Community partnerships play a key role in expanding those opportunities. One of the most impactful is the Johnson Trust, an endowment created by Stevens graduate Theresa Johnson and managed through the Rapid City Public School Foundation. The trust supports science, world language, and music programs and has helped fund advanced microscopes, 3D printers, binoculars for outdoor science classes, graphing calculators, and travel opportunities for students.
“These resources give our students access to college level tools and experiences,” Hafner said. “They make a real difference.”
Stevens also recently implemented a school wide cell phone protocol that limits phone use during class time. Hafner said students, staff, and parents have responded positively, with teachers reporting increased engagement in classrooms.
The school has also redesigned common areas to create more welcoming spaces for students, including new furniture, study nooks, pianos in hallways, and a student designed commons area.
“We want students to want to be here,” Hafner said. “We want Stevens to feel like a second home.”
Looking ahead, Hafner said she is especially excited about a new senior service day planned for the spring. Instead of a traditional testing schedule, seniors will spend the day volunteering throughout the community on projects that benefit local organizations.
“I want this to become a tradition,” she said. “Something students are proud of and remember as part of their legacy.”
As students graduate, Hafner hopes they leave Stevens with confidence, a sense of belonging, and the skills to succeed beyond high school.
“I want them to know they matter,” she said. “And that they are ready for what comes next.”
