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92 Lowest Achieving Schools Identified; and Latest "Top-to-Bottom" School Rankings Released

Contact:  Martin Ackley, Director of Communications (517) 241-4395
Agency: Education

August 16, 2010 Ninety-two schools identified by state law as the Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools will be required to develop Redesign Plans approved by the newly-formed State School Reform/Redesign Office in the Michigan Department of Education, or risk being placed in a statewide School Reform District.

The Michigan Department of Education released today the most up-to-date "Top-to-Bottom" ranking of all schools, based on a federally-approved measure of student achievement and academic growth over the past four years.

The Top-to-Bottom ranking list was developed using student testing data for math and reading on the MEAP and Michigan Merit Exam from the 2006-07 through 2009-10 school years.

 "The lowest performing schools in the state are in distress," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan. "Students in these schools are not receiving the education they need and deserve. That has to change and we will work together to bring about that change."

Flanagan explained that Michigan needs every school to succeed and work at putting in place instructional strategies that will raise student achievement.

"Even some of our higher ranked schools are not adequately preparing students for the next level, and ultimately - college and career," Flanagan said.  "We need to improve outcomes for all students across the state, but most especially in our lowest ranked schools."

As required by state law, the 92 schools on this Persistently Lowest Achieving list were identified using the federally-prescribed and federally-approved formula used for the federal School Improvement Grant. That formula considers student proficiency levels, academic improvement rates; whether a school made Adequate Yearly Progress; and whether a secondary school had a graduation rate below 60 percent.

Districts with schools on the Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools list must submit a Redesign Plan to the Michigan Department of Education's School Reform Officer by November 16, using one of four improvement models required by the U.S. Department of Education. Schools may begin to implement their Redesign Plans immediately, but must begin implementing them no later than the 2011-12 school year.

The four federally-required school improvement models from which the schools must select, are:

Transformational Model- Districts would address four specific areas: 1) developing teacher and school leader effectiveness, which includes replacing the principal who led the school prior to commencement of the transformational model; 2) implementing comprehensive instructional reform strategies; 3) extending learning and teacher planning time and creating community-oriented schools; and 4) providing operating flexibility and sustained support.

Turnaround Model- This would include among other actions, replacing the principal and at least 50 percent of the school's staff, adopting a new governance structure and implementing a new or revised instructional program.

Restart Model- School districts would close the school and reopen it under the management of a charter school operator; a charter management organization; or an educational management organization selected through a rigorous review process. A restart school would be required to enroll, within the grades it serves, any former student who wishes to attend.

School Closure- The district would close a failing school and enroll the students who attended that school in other high-achieving schools in the district.

For more detail, including the 2010 Top-to-Bottom ranking for all school buildings in Michigan and Frequently Asked Questions; go to www.michigan.gov/mde-reform.

Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools List

  School District                                                School Building

Aisha Shule/WEB Dubois Prep. Academy

Aisha Shule/WEB Dubois Prep. Academy

Albion Public Schools

Albion High School

Beecher Community School District

Beecher High School

Benton Harbor Area Schools

Benton Harbor High School

Bloomingdale Public School District

Bloomingdale High School

Buena Vista School District

Buena Vista High School

Camden-Frontier Schools

Camden-Frontier Middle School

Cassopolis Public Schools

Ross Beatty High School

City of Harper Woods Schools

Harper Woods High School

Clintondale Community Schools

Clintondale High School

Conner Creek Academy East

Conner Creek Academy East-MI Collegiate High

Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences

Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences HS

Detroit City School District

Southwestern High School

Detroit City School District

Fleming Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Scott, Brenda Middle School

Detroit City School District

Phoenix Elementary

Detroit City School District

Beckham, William Academy

Detroit City School District

Western International High School

Detroit City School District

King High School

Detroit City School District

Earhart Middle School

Detroit City School District

Bethune Academy

Detroit City School District

Jemison School of Choice

Detroit City School District

Vetal Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Schulze Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Farwell Middle School

Detroit City School District

Hutchinson Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Murphy Elementary-Middle School

Detroit City School District

Duffield Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Cooley High School

Detroit City School District

Trix Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Lessenger Elementary-Middle School

Detroit City School District

White Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Mumford High School

Detroit City School District

Nolan Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Stewart Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Coffey Elementary/Middle School

Detroit City School District

Kettering High School

Detroit City School District

Cody College Prep Upper School of Teaching and Learning

Detroit City School District

Crockett High School

Detroit City School District

Parker Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Pershing High School

Detroit City School District

Burns Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Law Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Central High School

Detroit City School District

Osborn Upper School of Global Communications and Culture

Detroit City School District

Southeastern High School

Detroit City School District

Denby High School

Detroit City School District

Northwestern High School

Detroit City School District

Fitzgerald Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Ford High School

Detroit City School District

Holmes, A.L.  Elementary School

Detroit City School District

Finney High School

Detroit Community Schools

Detroit Community Schools-High School

Ferndale Public Schools

University High School

Fitzgerald Public Schools

Fitzgerald Senior High School

Flint City School District

Northwestern High School

Flint City School District

Northern High School

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools

Lee High School

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Union High School

Highland Park City Schools

Highland Park Community H.S.

Kalamazoo Public School District

Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts

Kalamazoo Public School District

Milwood Middle School

Kent City Community Schools

Kent City High School

Lakeview Community Schools (Montcalm)

Lakeview High School

Lansing Public School District

Eastern High School

Lincoln Park Public Schools

Lincoln Park Middle School

Marion Public Schools

Marion High School

Michigan Health Academy

Michigan Health Academy

Mt. Clemens Community School District

Mount Clemens High School

Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools

E.A. Johnson Memorial H.S.

Muskegon Heights School District

Muskegon Heights High School

New Haven Community Schools

New Haven High School

Oak Park City School District

Oak Park High School

Pontiac Academy for Excellence

Pontiac Academy for Excellence - High School

Pontiac City School District

Pontiac High School

River Rouge School District

River Rouge Middle College HS Academy

Roseville Community Schools

Eastland Middle School

Roseville Community Schools

Roseville Middle School

Ross Hill Academy

Ross Hill Academy-Elementary

Saginaw City School District

Thompson Middle School

Saginaw City School District

Saginaw High School

Saginaw City School District

Ruben Daniels Middle School

School District of the City of Inkster

Inkster High School

School District of Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti High School

Southfield Public School District

Southfield Regional Academic Campus

Taylor School District

Truman High School

Van Dyke Public Schools

Lincoln Middle School

Waldron Area Schools

Waldron Middle School

Waverly Community Schools

Waverly Middle School

Westwood Community Schools

Robichaud Senior High School

Westwood Heights Schools

Hamady Community High School

Willow Run Community Schools

Willow Run High School

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