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

h school English language arts (ELA). High school scores in math and social studies were ahead of the state and COP, while science was even with the state and behind the COP. “In ELA, we took a little dip and we are below the state average. It’s something you can make excuses about, or you can dive into it head-on and get some plans in place to address it and do all we can to make sure our students our successful.” The ELA figure is 44 percent, compared to the state at 52 percent. HUBER SAID the good grades are what everyone is aiming for, but maintaining the success will be no simple chore.

“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.

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