About Sunset Terrace
Established in 1960, Sunset Terrace is a cornerstone of the Rochester community. Home of Wilson the Wildcat, our school is defined by a caring, inclusive, and collaborative spirit. We are a "family" of long-serving educators and diverse learners who speak more than 13 different languages. At Sunset Terrace, we do more than teach—we build the strong relationships and resilience every student needs to pursue their own fulfilling path.
What Makes Sunset Terrace Special
We pride ourselves on being a school where inclusivity isn't just a word, it's how we live every day.
A leader in inclusion - Unified Excellence: Sunset Terrace is proud to be the only elementary school in the district recognized as a Special Olympics of MN Unified School. This means we intentionally bring students with and without disabilities together through shared activities and play. This culture of belonging teaches all our Wildcats empathy, leadership, and the true meaning of a supportive community.
A global neighborhood: Our hallways reflect the world. With over 13 languages spoken by our students, we celebrate the diverse traditions and backgrounds that enrich our community. Our long-serving staff is intentional about fostering a culture of respect, ensuring that every student—regardless of their starting point—grows in knowledge and independence.
The power of connection: We believe that schools and families are partners in a student’s success. From our high-turnout Family Engagement Nights to our annual PTA Color Run, we create spaces for families to connect. We are a tight-knit community where people truly care about their work, their neighborhood, and, most importantly, each other.
Our Mission at Sunset Terrace
Our mission is to equip every student with the knowledge, independence, and resilience to pursue a fulfilling path.




Challenged to Strive. Supported to Thrive.
Our Districtwide Values

Providing exceptional opportunities to succeed
We offer an extraordinary level of opportunities, classes, and experiences. Our standard of excellence ensures more than one path to success.

Building belonging and connection
By celebrating differences and embracing individual perspectives, we cultivate a vibrant sense of community and culture that benefits students, staff, and families.

Ensuring excellence through evidence
Guided by research and data, we enrich student learning and wellbeing through intentional decisions supported by proven practices.

Supporting the whole student
Through nurturing social skills and emotional wellbeing, we meet each student’s needs to help them flourish on their unique path.

Digging deeper for real-world application
We go beyond convention by fostering critical thinking skills, emotional intelligence, and deeper learning for success here in Rochester and beyond.

Investing in our community’s future
As the heart of a community focused on lifelong learning, we prepare the next generation of thinkers and doers.
