BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON AND KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOLS

Principals: Steve Hill and Andy Beaton

Expected enrollment: 1,700 at Jefferson and 1,600 at Kennedy

What's new: At Jefferson, about 50 laptops have been replaced to increase the number of mobile computer labs from two to three or four labs this year, said Assistant Principal Deb Holman. "We definitely want students to be prepared for the 21st Century."

At Kennedy, new Principal Andy Beaton is settling in.

"Hopefully I'll be bringing some new ideas," said the former Columbia Heights High School principal.

The school is also controlling access to the building by reducing the number of public entrances to one to improve safety.

Both schools' athletes will have new artificial turf fields to use this year. In addition, new Activities Director Brian Fell replaces Ted Schultz, who left to work at Minnetonka High School.

CHANHASSEN HIGH

Principal: Tim Dorway

Expected enrollment: 1,476

What's new: Last year the school was new; this year, it's the principal.

Dorway already is making his mark, starting a principal's blog and a Twitter account.

His is not the only new face around.

This fall, there will be seniors for the first time at Chanhassen High, which means 35 new staff members moving into the school.

"We can say the team's all here," Dorway said.

CHASKA HIGH

Principal: David Brecht

Expected enrollment: 1,220

What's new: In a big change, both Chaska and Chanhassen High have moved from the Lake athletic conference to the Missota Conference.

Chaska High will be smaller, too, serving only students in Chaska instead of from all over the district. Last year -- the first for its sister high school, Chanhassen High -- Chaska still housed all the school district's seniors.

A bevy of new courses will be offered this year, including AP Music Theory, Global Climate Issues and Emerging World.

EDEN PRAIRIE HIGH

Principal: Conn McCartan

Expected enrollment: 3,230

What's new: Eden Prairie High is getting more global.

Two sections of Mandarin Chinese will be offered along with the usual German, Spanish, French and American Sign Language courses.

For those students who want to chat with students in China or anywhere else, they'll be able to do so using high-end video conferencing equipment.

The school's media center also has a new interactive technology lab.

EDINA HIGH SCHOOL

Principal: Bruce Locklear

Expected enrollment: 1,903

What's new: Edina High School staff are dedicating more attention to at-risk students this year.

One class will bring in mentors while another class will provide struggling students with a small group and individual learning setting.

"We want to do anything to reach and teach all students," Locklear said.

A new hybrid class also will be offered this year in American literature, giving students instruction from both a teacher and an online class.

HOPKINS HIGH SCHOOL

Principal: Willie Jett

Expected enrollment: 1,892

What's new: Hopkins students will have to master more skills in order to graduate.

Hopkins High has just added world language and financial literacy to its list of graduation requirements.

"In the time we are living, we felt it was imperative," Jett said.

The school just remodeled its small theater and its business education labs.

Students also will see a familiar face return to the main office. Traci Meyer, who was out on maternity leave last year, is back as dean of students.

MINNETONKA HIGH SCHOOL

Principal: Dave Adney

Expected enrollment: 2,800

What's new: Minnetonka students have latched onto the "green" movement, fundraising to give their building a "green footprint."

This month, students will see several trees and bushes planted in the mall area near the student union. "We want to embrace nature," Adney said.

The school also has embraced the concept of encouraging students to be more well-rounded, hoping to boost the number of students who are involved in activities and volunteering, Adney said.

Staff will begin tracking the hours students volunteer, with hopes to eventually include that on transcripts.

ORONO HIGH SCHOOL

Principal: David Benson

Projected enrollment: 900

What's new: Returning students will find a larger cafeteria, a revamped auditorium and other major building improvements.

The school just completed a two-year renovation project.

"At the end of this summer, we will have virtually brand-new everything in the building," Benson said.

Students also can take two new Advanced Placement courses, in physics and accounting.

RICHFIELD HIGH

Principal: Stephen West

Expected enrollment: 1,201

What's new: Security at Richfield High is ramping up this fall.

The school has added 19 new security cameras and closed an entrance so there's only one entrance into the building.

Four flat-screen TVs were also added throughout the building to project announcements.

"I want to welcome kids more," West said. "I want kids to feel good about being here."

The new principal moved from Richfield Middle School, where he was principal for the last four years. "I can't wait to meet the whole staff," he said. "We're excited."

ST. LOUIS PARK HIGH

Principal: Robert Metz

Expected enrollment: 1,375

What's new: Struggling students will get more attention.

Starting first semester, each ninth-grade teacher will monitor the grades of a group of ninth-graders.

If they see that one of their students' grades are slipping, they'll get directly involved.

Metz says he hopes to reduce the percentage of students failing a class to under 20 percent.

"The sad and happy story is if you get through ninth grade without failing a class, odds are in your favor that you'll graduate on time and go on to do good things," he said.

Also, Oscar Reed, a former Minnesota Viking who now works at the high school, will begin holding restorative justice meetings with teachers and misbehaving students.

"We're trying to dramatically reduce the number of in-school suspensions," Metz said.

WAYZATA HIGH

Principal: Mike Trewick

Expected enrollment: 3,350

What's new: To accommodate growing enrollment, 18 new teachers will start this month.

In addition, students will see new classes, such as one on military strategies and another on Advanced Placement accounting -- the 27th AP course the school will offer.

Security at the school also will be ramped up with the completion of a three-year project. The new security system at the athletic-wing entrance will require students to buzz in and show their IDs. A similar system was installed previously at the school's front entrance.

"We didn't have any issues [with safety], but we don't want any, either," Trewick said. "It's more for the future than right now."

Allie Shah • 612-673-4488 • ashah@startribune.com Kelly Smith • 612-673-4141 • kelly.smith@startribune.com