MSAD is a bilingual school where the students are taught through American Sign Language and use English in writing and reading. It offers programs ranging from infants to high school specialized for deaf children.
Campus
Preschool and elementary students are in Quinn Hall. Middle school and high school students are in Smith Hall.
Residency
MSAD is a residential school. It has two dormitories where students reside throughout the week. Students typically arrive on Sunday evenings and depart on Friday afternoons. Transportation is provided by the students' respective school districts. Parents can choose to pick up and drop off their child at the campus. Dormitories are for students who live more than 20 miles from the campus. Students who live within 20 miles of the campus are called "day students." MSAD residential programs offers extracurricular activities, peer interaction, student growth and development, achievement, and more.
Athletics
MSAD offers several athletics activities in all grade levels.
Sports for boys
Football
*National 11 man deaf football Champ in 1950 and 1977.
*Centennial Conference Champ in 1977.
*National 8 man deaf football Champ in 1992, 1997, 1998, 2003, and 2012.
*GPSD Champ in 1989, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2006, and 2012.
*Midwest/GPSD Champ in 1984, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Basketball
*National deaf basketball Champ in 1981, 1982, 1995, 1996 and 2005.
*District 13 Champ in 1981-1982.
*Centennial Conference Champ in 1981-1982 and 1982-1983.
*Central States School for the Deaf Tourney - 26 wins and 5 losses - 7 time champs in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2004 and 2005.
*Great Plains School for the Deaf Tourney - 43 wins and 10 losses - 17 time champs in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
*Clerc Classic Tourney - 5 wins and 1 losses - 1 time champ.
Cheerleading
*GPSD Champ in 1996, 1999, 2010 and 2011
*GPSD Spirit Stick winners in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Track and Field
*GPSD Champ in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007.
MSAD original mascot was the Gophers. MSAD changed its mascot to Hilltoppers. In 1972, the students voted to change from Hilltoppers to Trojans because the students felt that Hilltoppers doesn't have a definite logo for its name. MSAD belongs in the Great Plains School for the Deaf conference for football, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and the academic bowl competition. The Great Plains School for the Deaf conference was started in the fall of 1989 and contains Iowa School for the Deaf, Kansas School for the Deaf and Missouri School for the Deaf. Trojans sporting events are hosted in either the Wesley Lauritsen Gymnasium or the Potter Field. Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf was host spike out 2015.
