Kentwood Public Schools Revenue and Competitors

Over the last decade, the Kentwood Public Schools has continued to develop and grow into a world class organization. Our teachers and staff members challenge students to excel academically, in the arts, and on the athletic field. The outcome of this commitment to excellence is evidenced by outside recognition: Last year alone, the class of 2007 received over three million dollars in scholarships, the highest amount ever. We regularly receive feedback from our graduates about how well prepared they are for their post secondary experiences. One teacher shared with me a call of appreciation he received this summer from a parent whose daughter just completed the MCAT test for admission to medical school. She scored 41 out of a possible 45! The average score for admission is 33-35. This Kentwood graduate will literally be able to choose which medical school she wishes to attend. That is world class. Our graduates compete head to head with the very best from around the world. This occurs because we have a staff that gives an unwavering effort aimed at excellence and student achievement. While more than two thirds of our instructional staff have master's degrees, 100% of our staff want and expect your child to be a productive and successful student in Kentwood. We are committed to being data driven, customer focused, and continually improving. This is evident in how decisions are made. We continually measure and evaluate our efforts to ensure that student and parent needs are being met, and so we know the areas to target for improvement. You can expect to see round table meetings and superintendent forums to ensure that parents and community members have a voice in the future and ongoing work of the district. We will continue to monitor community perceptions along with district and building trends to ensure that every school is student-centered and achievement focused. Finally, this is a district committed to creating a positive and safe environment driven by clear expectations and strong relationships. We expect the attitudes and behaviors of our students to reflect the values of the district and our community. This year, the teachers in all our secondary buildings have been trained in "Capturing Kids Hearts" to assist them in creating positive and meaningful relationships within the school community. We know the first step in creating a safe and positive school environment is to create a strong connection between teachers and students. In addition to strong teacher/student relationships, our commitment to shared community values continues to be demonstrated in the ongoing work of the Board of Education. Our board members demonstrate mutual respect, hard work, and a desire for ongoing learning and improvement in their efforts to create a strong school system. One example of this is the work of long time board member, Bill Joseph,who was recognized as an outstanding volunteer by the Governor this past year. He has worked hard to create a mentoring program for middle-school at-risk students. These efforts mirror the high expectations of the district and reflect his own commitment to the values of the community. I am pleased to start this year as superintendent of the Kentwood Public Schools and look forward to listening, learning, and continually seeking ways to improve the education we provide our students. Together we can make the 2007-08 school year one of excellence and outstanding accomplishments!