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Ann Arbor Public Schools

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Ann Arbor Public Schools
Community High School in downtown Ann Arbor
Address
2555 S. State Street
Ann Arbor
, Michigan, 48104
United States
District information
TypePublic
MottoLead. Care. Inspire.
GradesPrekindergarten–12
SuperintendentJazz Parks (Interim)[1]
Asst. superintendent(s)
  • Dawn Linden
  • Bernerd Rice
  • (3 positions open)
[3]
School board8 elected members
Chair of the boardRima Mohammad
Schools32[2]
Budget$299,577,000
(2019–20)[2]
NCES District ID2602820[2]
Students and staff
Enrollment17,070 (2021–22)[2]
Teachers1,256.38 (FTE)[2]
Staff1,256 (as of 2015-16)[4]
Student–teacher ratio13.59[2]
Other information
Websitewww.a2schools.org

Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) serves the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan and parts of eight surrounding townships covering 125 square miles (320 km2). The district operates 20 elementary schools, 2 K–8 schools, 6 middle schools, 4 comprehensive high schools, 1 alternative high school, 3 preschools and 1 adult education program; the district maintains 640 acres (2.6 km2) of real estate and 3,300,000 square feet (310,000 m2) of building space. The Ann Arbor Public Schools is the 8th largest school district among 555 districts in Michigan. The district is one of the best in Michigan, and it has a statewide reputation for academic excellence.[5][6]

History

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The district was founded in 1905 by Geoff McEggson.[7]

In 2013, the voters approved maintaining the 1 mill sinking fund tax.[8] This rate had been levied since 2002.[9]

As of April 2015, the district's overall millage was 2.45 mills. It was scheduled to decrease, but the ballot for the May 5 election included an extension to the millage. District officials stated they would use the millage to pay for transportation and infrastructure upgrades, worth a total of $33 million.[10]

In 2015, Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Carol Kuhnke ruled that the Ann Arbor district can continue banning guns on its campus properties.[11]

In 2019, the district put up an election for a school bond worth $1 billion, the largest amount in the state post-1994 if passed, with the district's tax rate now being 4.1 mills, an increase by 1.65. Voters approved the measure on November 5.[12]

In July of 2023, local media began reporting that a school aide had assaulted a 7-year-old student on an AAPS school bus. The aide was convicted of child abuse, but a lawsuit from the family alleged that the school covered up the abuse.[13][14][15] By September, superintendent Jeanice Swift had resigned, and in October interim superintendent Jazz Parks was appointed by the Ann Arbor Board of Education.[16][17]

Demographics

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As of 2015 the district had 16,815 students. As of that year, there are about 64 languages and 85 countries of origin represented in the student body.[7]

Schools

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Elementary schools

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  • Abbot Elementary School
  • Allen Elementary School
  • Angell Elementary School
  • Bach Elementary School
  • Bryant Elementary School
  • Burns Park Elementary School
  • Carpenter Elementary School
  • Dicken Elementary School
  • Eberwhite Elementary School
  • Haisley Elementary School
  • King Elementary School
  • Lakewood Elementary School
  • Lawton Elementary School
  • Logan Elementary School
  • Mitchell Elementary School
  • Pattengill Elementary School
  • Pittsfield Elementary School
  • Thurston Elementary School
  • Wines Elementary School

Middle schools

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  • Clague Middle School
  • Forsythe Middle School
  • Scarlett Middle School
  • Slauson Middle School
  • Tappan Middle School
  • Ann Arbor Open School

High schools

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Other schools

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  • A2 STEAM (Previously Northside Elementary) (K–8)
  • Ann Arbor Open School (K–8)
  • Ann Arbor Preschool and Family Center
  • A2 Virtual+

Awards

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  • 2006: named to "Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America" list by AMC Music[18]
  • 2013: Sunny Award for website informational transparency[19]

Controversies

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Despite being ranked as having some of the best schools in America, AAPS has not been without controversy.[20]

Racial hostility civil rights complaint

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In 2020, a black student at Pioneer High School filed a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights alleging racism in Ann Arbor schools.[21][22] The filing came after an earlier petition from the school's Black Student Union requesting the teacher's dismissal.[23] In October, a local group protested in front of the school demanding action against the teacher. The school system hired its own attorney to perform an independent investigation of the allegations.[24] The next year, a parent filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against AAPS, claiming they withheld documents that would provide evidence of racial discrimination at the high school and uncover the teacher's history of racial antagonism.[25][26]

Student abuse cover up scandal

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In December 2021, an aide on a special needs bus to Carpenter Elementary in Pittsfield assaulted a 7 year old autistic child. In 2023, a lawsuit alleged that AAPS had covered up the incident.[13][14][15] By August, there were calls for the school system's superintendent Jeanice Swift to resign.[27][28] In a special meeting 2023, the Ann Arbor Board of Education voted 4-3 to approve a pre-termination letter. At the same meeting, the school board voted to approve the school system's attorneys entering into negotiations with Swift about a separation agreement.[29][30][31] In September, Swift resigned, and in October she was replaced with interim superintendent Jazz Parks.[16][1]

Gaza ceasefire resolution

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On January 18, 2024 Ann Arbor Public Schools approved a resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza, due to the Israel-Hamas War while also "encouraging its teacher to discuss the conflict" in classrooms. The approval came after 120 people gave commentary both in support, and opposition, of the resolution.[32]

References

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  1. ^ a b Slagter, Martin (October 12, 2023). "Longtime administrator appointed as Ann Arbor Public Schools interim superintendent". mlive. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Ann Arbor Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  3. ^ "Welcome / Superintendent's Office". www.a2schools.org. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  4. ^ Ann Arbor Public Schools Annual Reports to the Board, Staffing Report 2015-1016, by Janice Swift, 28 October 2015, http://www.a2schools.org/domain/2663
  5. ^ "See how Washtenaw County schools rank in state's top-to-bottom list". mlive. January 24, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "Ann Arbor Public Schools School District in Ann Arbor, MI. | GreatSchools". www.greatschools.org. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Enrolling." Ann Arbor Public Schools. Retrieved on July 6, 2015.
  8. ^ Biolchini, Amy. "Ann Arbor schools millage passes with strong voter support." MLive. November 5, 2013. Retrieved on July 6, 2015.
  9. ^ Biolchini, Amy. "On the ballot: Ann Arbor schools seeks to continue tax for property upkeep." MLive. November 5, 2013. Retrieved on July 6, 2015.
  10. ^ Knake, Lindsay. "If Ann Arbor voters say yes, what will $33M bond issue do for schools?" (Archive). Mlive. April 23, 2015. Retrieved on July 5, 2015.
  11. ^ Higgins, Lori. "Judge rules Ann Arbor school district can ban guns" (Archive). Detroit Free Press. September 23, 2015. Retrieved on October 20, 2015.
  12. ^ Slagter, Martin (November 5, 2019). "Ann Arbor school district voters OK $1 billion bond, largest in Michigan since 1994". MLive. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Baldas, Tresa (July 27, 2023). "'Help! Help!': How Ann Arbor schools allegedly covered up autistic boy's bus assault". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Letter to the Editor: A Tragedy at Ann Arbor Public Schools, and a Call for Accountability". Damn Arbor. August 3, 2023. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Slagter, Martin (July 31, 2023). "Autistic boy's assault on Ann Arbor school bus wasn't reported to parent for 5 weeks, lawsuit alleges". MLive.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Lin, Joey (September 14, 2023). "AAPS superintendent Jeanice Swift resigns after 10 years". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "Ann Arbor school board unanimously approves new interim superintendent". WEMU-FM. October 12, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  18. ^ "The 2006 "Best 100 Communities for Music Education" Roster". American Music Conference. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  19. ^ "ANN ARBOR: Sunshine Review salutes city's informational transparency". Ann Arbor Journal. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  20. ^ Bruckner, Meredith (May 4, 2022). "Ann Arbor ranked No. 4 city with best public schools in US". WDIV. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  21. ^ Slagter, Martin (August 24, 2020). "Black student alleges racially hostile environment at Ann Arbor high school in civil rights complaint". MLive.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  22. ^ "Civil rights complaint brought against Ann Arbor Pioneer High School". Michigan Radio. August 24, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  23. ^ Slagter, Martin (February 20, 2020). "Students raise issue with Pioneer High School teacher who grabbed student's arm". MLive.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  24. ^ Yu, Ann (August 25, 2020). "Black Students Matter protest demands action from Pioneer High School". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  25. ^ Hodder, Hannah Mackay, Paige (November 30, 2021). "Parent files FOIA lawsuit against Ann Arbor Public Schools, claims racial discrimination". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved January 7, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Staff, Ann Arbor Family (March 19, 2021). "Parents Push for Public Release of Pioneer High Racial Climate Investigation - Ann Arbor Family". Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  27. ^ Parlette, Sarah (August 10, 2023). "Ann Arbor Schools Board of Education moves to oust superintendent". WDIV. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  28. ^ "Letter to Dr. Swift". Google Docs. August 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  29. ^ Slagter, Martin (August 8, 2023). "School board approves 2 options toward removing Ann Arbor superintendent". MLive.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  30. ^ "Board of Education/Board Calendar". Ann Arbor Public Schools. 2023. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  31. ^ "BoardDocs® Meeting: 7:00 PM - Special Meeting - Earhart Building, 3700 Earhart Road, Ann Arbor Wed, Aug 30, 2023". go.boarddocs.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  32. ^ "Ann Arbor Public Schools approves Mideast cease-fire resolution that had stoked controversy". AP News. January 17, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
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