Muskegon Heights focused on raising student scores with ISD support

Business News |Jan 23, 2017|2 min read

Officials from Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System and the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District remain committed to improving student achievement in spite of a press release issued by the Michigan School Reform Office (SRO) that lists Muskegon Heights Academy as one of 38 schools in the state “at risk of closure.”

 

Because 7th through 12th grade student test scores remain in the bottom 5 percent in the state, Muskegon Heights Academy has been identified for the “Next Level of Accountability.”  According to the announcement, over the next 30 to 45 days the SRO will examine other public school options available to students in the 38 schools.

 

“I am confident that once SRO comes here to meet with us, they will see the steady progress our students are making and have a better understanding of the undue hardship school closure would cause,” said Alena Zachery-Ross, Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System Superintendent. “Our staff is focused on improving student achievement and this type of distraction only causes uncertainty,” she added.

 

Earlier this week Senator Phil Pavlov introduced legislation repealing the law that created the state’s School Reform Office. Pavlov cited SRO’s ineffectiveness over the past three years.

 

MAISD Superintendent John Severson said the process of educating children is incredibly complex. “Our measures of school and student performance need to reflect the complexity of this task, and solutions should be focused on research-based actions that address the specific challenges students and educators face.”

 

“Good things have happened in Muskegon Heights and we will continue to support the Academy,” said John Severson.