Rogers City Area Schools receives impressive state tests scores
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor Rogers City Area Schools impressively passed one of the state’s measuring sticks in nearly every subject when results were released last month by school officials. Both the Rogers City High and Rogers City Elementary Schools met their adequate yearly progress goals for the 2008-09 school year. Michigan Merit Exam results indicated the elementary received an “A” from the state, while the high school received a “B.”
The elementary saw a jump of five percentage points from results this time a year ago. “That’s really, really good,” said Katy Makowski, into her first week of the school year as elementary principal. Last year’s score was 89 percent, but is now 94 percent. “WHEN I saw (the score), it gave me goose bumps,” said superintendent Jamie Huber. “I had to keep it under wraps because it was embargoed. You can’t let it out until they let it out, because they want to be the ones that pull the rabbit out of the hat. I’m extremely impressed and proud to be a part of it.”
The district outperformed the state and other schools in the Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Intermediate School District with the exception of hig
“We had a three-year window to grow between eight and 10 percent,” he said. “We basically have one more year before that starts to jump by 10 percent every year until we get to 100 percent (proficient). Students have to be 100 proficient in all areas by the school year of 2013-14. “I do have to say it will be increasingly difficult,” said Huber. Board member Tim Horn commended the staff for the accomplishment. “This reflects the hard work of our students and staff and I would like to congratulate them on this accomplishment,” added Huber. Tests are taken in October and March.