EGR Schools, FHC fall from US News High School Rankings Due to Average Performance
This year, in order to be ranked or to receive gold, silver, or bronze medals, a high school had to pass a couple of preliminary tests. The first test was that the high school’s student reading and math scores needed to be above the high school’s expected performance range, given each school’s percentage of economically disadvantaged students. The ranking methodology sought to level the playing field among high schools and look beyond raw test scores.
Read MoreEast Grand Rapids School Board Candidates Summary
We’ve put together a page for each candidate competing for an open seat on the EGR school board. On those pages, we summarize what we heard at the Candidate’s Forum, what we can see from the candidates’ websites and social media properties (e.g., Facebook), and reader comments on the candidates, as they relate to the issues on this blog.
Read MoreAnd the Candidates Said…
See what the candidates had to say about the six questions we posted on this blog.
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We Need Your Help in the Next Four Days
Many of you learned about this blog via a postcard you received. Or perhaps, someone who received a postcard told you about it. While the response to the postcards was great, less than 20 percent of the households in the district received one. We’d like to ensure every household in the district receives information about the issues on this blog. We’d like to change that. We also think voters need to know this information before November 6. But that costs money. We need roughly $1000 to make that happen. Will you help?
Read MoreAnd the School Board said…
…Nothing Even though every member of the board received a postcard highlighting special education information, highlighting the fact...
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Is this Important to Share with ALL Voters Before the Election?
Countless people still don’t know about these issues. Does the whole district need to know? Is it important all district residents are aware of these issues and candidates’ responses before the election? Does it matter? Will it matter? What are your thoughts?
Read MoreSchool Board Meeting is this Monday Oct 22
Reminder: The EGRPS School Board is meeting this Monday, October 21, at 6pm. Location: Community Board Room, Administration Center. 2915 Hall Street SE. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting. There is a period of public comment, generally at the start of the meeting, if you wish to make a comment. Please let your friends know.
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6 Important Questions for Board Candidates
Dear Candidates: Your constituents are interested in the issues on this blog, which has had more than 1000 visits in the last 10 days. We’re trying to decide whom we should elect as the people’s representatives in governing the Administration. While there was a Candidates’ Forum, the Administration controlled what questions were asked and which questions were posed to whom. There were no unfiltered questions from constituents. Also, your allotted response time for answers was very short. So we’re inviting each of you to answer a few more questions to help voters make decisions.
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Are EGR School Improvement Plans Secret?
PA 25 requires each school district to complete, submit, and publish a District Improvement Plans and School Improvement Plans for each school within the district. A search of the EGRPS website for the District and School Improvement Plans yielded no results. In the interest of transparency, let alone compliance with the law, why doesn’t East Grand Rapids Public Schools publish both the District Improvement Plan and the individual School Improvement Plans on its website? Parents, for certain, would like to know how the District plans to improve things for their kids.
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Candidate and Forum Reviews
Here’s what we learned at the EGR School Board Candidates’ Forum Tuesday October 9. A review of the Forum itself and the competing candidates, including Mark Hessler, Michelle Rabideau, Peter Ruppert, and Elizabeth Welch-Lykins
Read MoreCheck Back for Candidate Reviews
The Candidates’ Forum was Tuesday night. A forum moderated by the School. We’ll be Posting Candidate Reviews. Based on what we saw and heard at the candidates’ forum, we’ll give you our opinions of the candidates and the forum itself in the next day or two. If you’re concerned about East Schools and the issues on this blog, you’ll want to check back for these. Sign up on the right-hand side of this page, and you’ll be automatically notified when we post those reviews. (Your email address will not be shared with anyone.)
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EGR Schools of Choice at New Highs
EGR residents choosing to switch to other public schools and private schools will likely eventually leave the district to pay lower taxes and be able to buy more house for less money. If we can’t attract and keep our own residents, property values will go down. You won’t need to live in East to go to East. We need to pay attention. People are voting with their feet. They’re increasingly choosing to go elsewhere.
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Tests Show 1 in 3 EGR Students Failing Math
One in three East Grand Rapids Schools students aren’t proficient in math. These aren’t special ed results; these reflect the entire district. It’s time to stop talking about a “tradition of excellence.” It’s time to start delivering it.
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Science, Soc. Studies EGR MEAP Scores Low, Trending Down
While Math and Reading MEAP proficiency rates for East Grand Rapids Public Schools are higher, there’s more to a good education than math and reading; those are the basics. As kids prepare for college, they need to excel in other, focused subject areas as well. The scores in those other areas aren’t great—and they’re trending down.
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East Grand Rapids High School Down
263 Notches in National Rankings
EGR High School slipped 263 notches in the Newsweek’s 2012 national rankings of the best high schools. East Grand Rapids High School also slid several notches among ranked Michigan schools.
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98% College-Bound. Only 43% College-Ready.
While parents’ influence and income mean 98% of EGR kids are college-bound, ACT scores show only 43% of EGR kids are college-ready. EGR’s college-readiness hasn’t improved over what it was five years ago. Yet, Forest Hills moved 16 points in a single year.
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