While classes won’t begin again for the fall semester until next month, students at Patrick Hamilton and Sister Lakes elementary school are already due for a treat.

The Michigan Department of Education has recently designated the Dowagiac schools as two of their state “Reward Schools,” with each performing strongly on the department’s top-to-bottom
ranking lists. The title is given to schools that are either rank in the top 5 percent or that are outperforming schools with similar risk factors and demographic makeup.

“This is probably some of the best data I’ve seen on our district in the 28 years I’ve been here,” said Deputy Superintendent Dawn Connor.

Connor presented the results of the annual study to the members of the Dowagiac Union Schools Board of Education during their meeting Monday night.

The top-to-bottom ranks are determined by comparing each school in the state among a group of 29 other schools with similar demographics. The schools are then placed based on their student achievement scores.

Patrick Hamilton came out on top of its comparison group, beating out schools from larger districts such as Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Detroit. It was also placed in the top 55 percent of all schools across the state, well above both predicted rank and the average rank of its comparison group.

“In this case, [Pat Ham] met two of the criteria for being a reward school,” Connor said. “I just wanted to have the opportunity to say to the board and to the committee how unbelievably awesome that is.”

Compounding to this achievement is the progress the school has made in recent years, Connor said. Three years ago, Patrick Hamilton ranked in the bottom 10 percent when the study was finished, she said.

“I think it’s amazing that in three years it had such a turnaround,” said Board President Michelle Helmuth-Charles. “I think they truly took on the mission in spite of this and really made it happen, and think they need to be commended for it.”

Sister Lakes performed almost as strongly, coming out in second among its comparison group, losing out the top position to North Godwin Elementary School, part of Godwin Heights Public Schools. However, the school ranked even higher than Patrick Hamilton among all schools in Michigan, as they were ranked in the 69th percentile.

As reward schools, both Patrick Hamilton and Sister Lakes will not only receive special recognition from the state, but also have their practices highlighted at educational conferences. The Department of Education is also seeking other support for recipients, such as assistance with federal grants and corporate and philanthropic support.