District Points of Pride

Did you know that...

Wayne-Westland Community Schools was featured on WXYZ Channel 7 "Best Schools in Michigan" on May 28, 2009. Among the programs highlightered in the show were the many high tech courses offered at the William D. Ford Career-Tech Center, the on-line and dual enrollment opportunities available at our high schools, the new high school fitness centers, and the reading and hands-on science programs at our elementary schools.

Two Wayne-Westland educational programs received 2009 Education Excellence Awards from the Michigan Association of School Boards. Both "Tech-n-More," a technology training program, and "Freaky Friday," a parent visitation program at the middle schools, have been recognized as exemplary state programs.

Prestigious Golden Apple recipients Edison, Elliott, PD Graham, Hamilton, Hicks, Hoover, Jefferson-Barns, Patchin, Roosevelt-McGrath, Schweitzer, Taft-Galloway, Vandenberg, and Walker-Winter as well as Adams Middle School have all received the Golden Apple Award for "most improved school" for MEAP scores.

The class of 2009 was awarded in excess of $4 million in scholarship monies from universities and colleges, local scholarships, merit, and competitive awards.

Kettering Elementary School Teacher Jane La Porte was named Elementary Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Wayne County Regional Educational Services Agency. She works with first graders in the Reading Recovery program and assists all grade levels as a literacy leader.

The WM. D. Ford Career-Technical Center was named a "Center of Science and Engineering Excellence" by the Convergence Foundation, one of only seven schools in the Midwest to receive this honor. Students received three first place honors for their IVD car at the Science and Technology competition at Cobo Hall.

WayneRESA (Regional Educational Service Agency) produced a video highlighting the successes of Adams Middle School in their transitioning to a Professional Learning Community.

MEAP scores continue to rise in Wayne-Westland. Reading and math scores exceed county and/or state averages in multiple grades at the elementary and middle school level. Every elementary and middle school in the district met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) threshold in 2008-2009 under "No Child Left Behind."

Two delegates from Wayne Memorial High School were selected by the Conferences Institute of Wayne State University to spend three weeks in China last summer following up on the Chinese Language Curriculum taught on-line during the school year. Students spent two weeks in Beijing and one week in Hunan Province experiencing Chinese culture, including school visits.

Over 2,000 students, parents, and community members attended "College Night" hosted by Wayne Memorial High School, with 60 colleges providing representatives to meet with families.

For the ninth consecutive year the district's Business Department has been honored for excellence in financial reporting by the Association of School Business Officials and the Government Finance Officers Association of US & Canada.