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Ann Arbor Public Schools

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ann Arbor Public Schools
Community High School in downtown Ann Arbor
Address
2555 S. State Street[1]
Ann Arbor
, Washtenaw, Michigan, 48104
United States
District information
TypePublic
MottoLead. Care. Inspire.[4]
GradesPreK–12[2]
SuperintendentJazz Parks[3]
School board8 elected members[5]
Schools32[2]
Budget$384,901,000 (2021-2022) expenditures[2]
NCES District ID2602820[2]
Students and staff
Students16,978 (2023-2024)[2]
Teachers1,222.95 FTE (2023-2024)[2]
Staff2,605.29 FTE (2023-2024)[2]
Student–teacher ratio13.88 (2023-2024)[2]
Other information
Websitewww.a2schools.org

Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) is a public school district in Washtenaw County, Michigan. It serves Ann Arbor and parts of the following townships: Ann Arbor Township, Lodi, Northfield, Pittsfield, Salem, Scio, Superior, and Webster.[6]

History

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In 1825, the city's first public school opened. A union school district was organized in 1830 and a dedicated high school building was built in 1855 and opened on October 5, 1856.[7][8]

The high school and its 1871 and 1889 additions were completely destroyed by fire on December 31, 1904. Some equipment, including the library books, were saved from the fire.[9]

In 1908, a new high school building opened on the southeast corner of Huron and State Street. The building was replaced by Ann Arbor Pioneer High School in 1956 and bought by University of Michigan. It was torn down in 2007.[10]

In 1922 and 1923, the oldest schools still in use by the district were built: Bach, Angell, and Burns Park Elementaries, Mack School (now Ann Arbor Open School), and Jones Elementary (now Community High School).[11][12]

When Pioneer High School opened in 1956, it was still the only high school in the district. It was designed by the Cleveland architecture firm Fulton, Krinsky and Delamontte.[13] It was so impressive that a reporter for the Associated Press called it "a high school to end all high schools."[14]

Huron High School, designed by architecture firm Lane, Riebe, Weiland,[15] opened in September 1969.[16] Skyline High School opened in fall 2008.[17] The architect was TMP Associates.[18]

In 2015, Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Carol Kuhnke ruled that the Ann Arbor district can continue banning guns on its campus properties.[19]

In 2019, voters in the district passed a $1 billion bond issue to improve district facilities.[20]

Schools

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List of schools in Ann Arbor Public Schools district[21][2][22]
School Address Built Notes
Elementary schools (Grades K-5)
Abbot Elementary 2670 Sequoia Parkway, Ann Arbor 1962
Allen Elementary 2560 Towner Blvd, Ann Arbor 1961
Angell Elementary 1608 S. University, Ann Arbor 1923
Bach Elementary 600 Jefferson W, Ann Arbor 1922
Bryant Elementary 2150 Santa Rosa, Ann Arbor 1973
Burns Park Elementary 1414 Wells, Ann Arbor 1923
Carpenter Elementary 4250 Central Blvd, Ann Arbor 1953
Dicken Elementary 2135 Runnymede, Ann Arbor 1957
Eberwhite Elementary 800 Soule Blvd, Ann Arbor 1950
Haisley Elementary 825 Duncan, Ann Arbor 1954
King Elementary 3800 Waldenwood Dr., Ann Arbor 1969
Lakewood Elementary 344 Gralake, Ann Arbor 1961
Lawton Elementary 2250 S Seventh St, Ann Arbor 1963
Logan Elementary 2685 Traver Blvd, Ann Arbor 1977
Mitchell Elementary 3550 Pittsview Dr, Ann Arbor 1951
Pattengill Elementary 2100 Crestland, Ann Arbor 1957
Pittsfield Elementary 2543 Pittsfield, Ann Arbor 1944
Thurston Elementary 2300 Prairie, Ann Arbor 1963
Wines Elementary 1701 Newport, Ann Arbor 1960
Middle Schools (Grades 6-8)
Clague Middle School 2616 Nixon Rd, Ann Arbor 1972
Forsythe Middle School 1655 Newport Rd, Ann Arbor 1960
Scarlett Middle School 3300 Lorraine Ave, Ann Arbor 1968
Slauson Middle School 1019 Washington W, Ann Arbor 1937
Tappan Middle School 2251 Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor 1950
High Schools (Grades 9-12)
Huron High School 2727 Fuller Rd, Ann Arbor 1969
Pioneer High School 601 Stadium Blvd W, Ann Arbor 1956
Skyline High School 2552 N Maple Rd, Ann Arbor 2008
Pathways to Success Academic Campus 2800 Stone School Rd, Ann Arbor 1949
Community High School 401 Division N, Ann Arbor 1922
Other Schools
Ann Arbor STEAM 912 Barton Dr, Ann Arbor 1939 Previously Northside Elementary; K–8
Ann Arbor Open School 920 Miller, Ann Arbor 1923 Grades K–8
A2 Virtual+ Online learning platform
Westerman Preschool and Family Center 2775 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor 1990

Controversies

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Despite being ranked as having some of the best schools in America, AAPS has not been without controversy.[23]

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.[24][25] The filing came after an earlier petition from the school's Black Student Union requesting the teacher's dismissal.[26] 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.[27] 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.[28][29]

Student abuse cover up scandal

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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.[30][31][32] By September, superintendent Jeanice Swift had resigned, and in October interim superintendent Jazz Parks was appointed by the Ann Arbor Board of Education.[33][34]

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 Gaza war while also "encouraging its teachers to discuss the conflict" in classrooms. The approval came after 120 people gave commentary both in support, and opposition, of the resolution.[35]

References

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  1. ^ Ann Arbor Public Schools. "Ann Arbor Public Schools". Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Ann Arbor Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  3. ^ Ann Arbor Public Schools. "Jazz Parks". Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  4. ^ Ann Arbor Public Schools. "Ann Arbor Public Schools". Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  5. ^ Ann Arbor Public Schools. "Board of Education Trustees". Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  6. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Washtenaw County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  7. ^ "Ann Arbor Public Schools". Ann Arbor Courier. September 7, 1887.
  8. ^ Shackman, Grace; Cummings, Wil (September 2005). "A Century at State and Huron". Ann Arbor Observer.
  9. ^ Editorial staff of Ann Arbor High School Yearbook. The Omega 1905 (Ann Arbor High School Yearbook) (PDF).
  10. ^ Vosgerchian, Jessica (February 9, 2007). "The rise and fall of the Frieze Building". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  11. ^ Ann Arbor Public Schools. "Community High School". Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  12. ^ Ann Arbor Public Schools. "Facilities Infrastructure Condition Assessment" (PDF). Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  13. ^ Ziegler, Alice (December 14, 1954). "Building Nears Half Way Mark in Construction". Ann Arbor News. p. 28.
  14. ^ Barbour, John (May 12, 1955). "New Ann Arbor High School Most Up-to-Date in Nation". Bay City Times (Bay City, Mich.). p. 11.
  15. ^ "Huron High School's Blueprints and Plans, May 1966". Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  16. ^ AADL.org Old News. "Planner Says Huron, King To Open In Fall", The Ann Arbor News, Ann Arbor, 13 March 1969. Retrieved on May 13, 2025.
  17. ^ "Skyline High School opening culminates 10 years of efforts to deal with overcrowding". MLive. August 26, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  18. ^ TMP Associates. "Skyline High School". Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  19. ^ Higgins, Lori. "Judge rules Ann Arbor school district can ban guns" (Archive). Detroit Free Press. September 23, 2015. Retrieved on October 20, 2015.
  20. ^ Slagter, Martin (November 5, 2019). "Ann Arbor school district voters OK $1 billion bond, largest in Michigan since 1994". MLive. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  21. ^ Ann Arbor Public Schools. "Our Schools". Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  22. ^ Ann Arbor Public Schools. "Facilities Infrastructure Condition Assessment" (PDF). Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  23. ^ Bruckner, Meredith (May 4, 2022). "Ann Arbor ranked No. 4 city with best public schools in US". WDIV. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ "Civil rights complaint brought against Ann Arbor Pioneer High School". Michigan Radio. August 24, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ Yu, Ann (August 25, 2020). "Black Students Matter protest demands action from Pioneer High School". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  28. ^ 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)
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ Lin, Joey (September 14, 2023). "AAPS superintendent Jeanice Swift resigns after 10 years". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  34. ^ "Ann Arbor school board unanimously approves new interim superintendent". WEMU-FM. October 12, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  35. ^ "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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