'Points of Pride in HVS showcase the district's successes

The Huron Valley School District (HVS) is beaming with pride as it looks back at the list of accomplishments achieved over the 2010-11 school year.

“I continue to say and am amazed by the number of achievements and marks of excellence we accomplish given we are a low-funded district,” said Huron Valley School Board President Sean Carlson.

“Points of Pride” are a culmination of Huron Valley achievements by staff, administration, students and student groups throughout the district.

The district recognized as Points of Pride the adoption of a new 21st century curriculum; purchasing technology to support programming; revising the Technology Education course; piloting online learning labs; and developing leadership programming.

In standardized testing, all district Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) scores exceeded state averages on all 18 tests, and exceeded or met county averages in 17 out of 18 tests. Moreover, 2010 district Michigan Merit Exam (MME) scores exceed Oakland County averages in all areas except math; however, even in math, the Huron Valley average matched the county average.

Student achievement can be gauged by the 116 AP scholars named, and included two Commended National Merit students and one National Merit Semi-Finalist.

Four student teams earned the accolade of state champion, including both the Milford High School (MHS) boys and girls boardercross teams; the MHS equestrian team; and the district’s HOT Team.

Moreover, the prestigious College Board noted the district’s role as a leader in the nation when it named it to the AP Achievement List for significant gains in achievement. HVS was one of only 388 school districts nationwide to be honored by the College Board.

Various staff members were also in the spotlight during 2010-11. White Lake Middle School teacher Chris Walker was awarded Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year honors, and the Lakeland High School counselors received, for the first time in Michigan, the top counseling award.

The district also realized significant gains in graduation rates while drop-out rates decreased thanks to the the continued efforts of the GRAD 100 program.

“We’re anchored by good administration, teachers and active parental involvement — those are the key ingredients why we’re so successful,” Carlson said.