35 West Michigan schools 'beating odds'

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Nearly three dozen West Michigan schools are being hailed by the state for "beating the odds"  by outperforming schools with similar risk factors or student population.

"These beating the odds schools are helping students make progress and finding ways to overcome traditional barriers to academic achievement," state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said in a news release.

Among the 35 schools, 12 succeeded because they outperform "predicted" levels based on the percent of students who are low-income, the percent of students with disabilities, the percent of students learning English as a second language and the percent of students who are racial or ethnic minorities.

They are:

• Battle Creek Public Schools' Urbandale School
• Covert Public Schools' Covert Middle School
• Godfrey-Lee Public Schools' Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center
• Godwin Heights Public Schools' North Godwin Elementary School
• Grand Haven Area Public Schools' Griffin Elementary School
• Grand Haven Area Public Schools' Lake Hills Elementary School
• Grandville Public Schools' Grandville West Elementary School
• Kentwood Public Schools' Glenwood Elementary
• Kentwood Public Schools' Southwood Elementary
• Kentwood Public Schools' Townline Elementary
• Mona Shores Public School District's Ross Park Elementary School
• Three Rivers Community Schools' Andrews Elementary School

The other list identifies schools for performing "better than a comparison group of schools with similar demographics," according to the release.

Four of the schools on the first list are also on the second: Godfrey-Lee's Early Chidhood Center, Godwin Heights' North Godwin Elementary and Kentwood's Glenwood and Southwood schools.
 
Another 23 West Michigan schools appeared on the second list:

• Byron Center Public Schools' Countryside Elementary School
• Byron Center Public Schools' Marshall Emenetary School
• Caledonia Community Schools' Dutton Elementary School
• East Grand Rapids Public Schools' Wealthy School
• Forest Hills Public Schools' Ada Elementary School
• Forest Hills Public Schools' Central Middle School
• Forest Hills Public Schools' Central Woodlands 5/6 School
• Forest Hills Public Schools' Eastern High School
• Forest Hills Public Schools' Goodwillie Environmental School
• Grand Haven Area Public Schools' Peach Plains School
• Grandville Public Schools' South Elementary School
• Hamilton Community Schools' Bentheim Elementary School
• Hamilton Community Schools' Hamilton Middle School
• Hastings Area School District's Star Elementary School
• Hudsonville Public School District's Baldwin Street Middle School
• Hudsonville Public School District's Jamestown Elementary School
• Hudsonville Public School District's Park Elementary School
• Kent City Community Schools' Kent City Middle School
• North Muskegon Public Schools' North Muskegon High School
• Portage Public Schools' Portage West Middle School
• Saugatuck Public Schools' Saugatuck Middle School
• Spring Lake Public Schools' Holmes Elementary School
• Spring Lake Public Schools' Jeffers Elementary School