ZPS Announces Reward School Status!

Zeeland Public Schools is pleased to announce two schools have received status as a Reward School on the state’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report card.

Quincy Elementary and Innocademy both received the high designation for the 2011-2012 academic year. The results, posted today, gave the Reward School status to Quincy and Innocademy for their high performance.

AYP is a measure of student achievement calculated on an annual basis. Each year, Michigan public school students in grades 3-9 are required to take the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) and 11th grade students the Michigan Merit Exam (MME).

“Our hats go off to our Zeeland staff and families” said Ellen Kontowicz, Principal at Quincy Elementary. “They play a key role in our community, supporting our mission of Learning for Life.  We have great kids, dynamic learners.”

All schools can receive one of three designations along with a grade. Reward is the highest level of earned distinction.  This status is identified as either a top five percent of schools on the Top-to-bottom list, being the top five percent of schools making the greatest gains in achievement, or labeled as “beating the odds” in regard to overcoming traditional barriers to student achievement.

“This award exemplifies the hard work seen throughout the district” added Gary Feenstra, Interim Superintendent.  “We are proud of this achievement, and credit our staff, families, and most importantly, our students on a designation well earned.”

Zeeland Public Schools highlights this award at a time of continued district growth, including Adams Elementary opening this September, expanded preschool opportunities at the Early Childhood Center, and the start-up of Z-Quest, a year round multi-aged approach to learning.