Ann Arbor Public Schools

Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) serves the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan and parts of eight surrounding townships covering 125 square miles (320 km²). The district operates 20 elementary schools, 2 K–8 schools, 6 middle schools, 4 comprehensive high schools, 1 alternative high school, 3 preschools and 1 adult education program; the district maintains 640 acres (2.6 km²) of real estate and 3,300,000 square feet (310,000 m²) of building space. The Ann Arbor Public Schools is the 8th largest school district among 555 districts in Michigan. The district is one of the best in Michigan, and it has a statewide reputation for academic excellence.^[5][6]

Ann Arbor Public Schools
Community High School in downtown Ann Arbor
Address
2555 S. State Street Ann Arbor , Michigan, 48104 United States
District information
Type	Public
Motto	Lead. Care. Inspire.
Grades	Prekindergarten–12
Superintendent	Jazz Parks (Interim)[1]
Asst. superintendent(s)	Dawn Linden Bernerd Rice (3 positions open) [2]
School board	8 elected members
Chair of the board	Rima Mohammad
Schools	32[3]
Budget	$299,577,000 (2019–20)[3]
NCES District ID	2602820[3]
Students and staff
Enrollment	17,070 (2021–22)[3]
Teachers	1,256.38 (FTE)[3]
Staff	1,256 (as of 2015-16)[4]
Student–teacher ratio	13.59[3]
Other information
Website	www.a2schools.org

History

The district was founded in 1905 by Geoff McEggson.^[7]

In 2013, the voters approved maintaining the 1 mill sinking fund tax.^[8] This rate had been levied since 2002.^[9]

As of April 2015, the district's overall millage was 2.45 mills. It was scheduled to decrease, but the ballot for the May 5 election included an extension to the millage. District officials stated they would use the millage to pay for transportation and infrastructure upgrades, worth a total of $33 million.^[10]

In 2015, Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Carol Kuhnke ruled that the Ann Arbor district can continue banning guns on its campus properties.^[11]

In 2019, the district put up an election for a school bond worth $1 billion, the largest amount in the state post-1994 if passed, with the district's tax rate now being 4.1 mills, an increase by 1.65. Voters approved the measure on November 5.^[12]

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.^[13][14][15] By September, superintendent Jeanice Swift had resigned, and in October interim superintendent Jazz Parks was appointed by the Ann Arbor Board of Education.^[16][17]

Demographics

As of 2015 the district had 16,815 students. As of that year, there are about 64 languages and 85 countries of origin represented in the student body.^[7]

Schools

Elementary schools

• Abbot Elementary School
• Allen Elementary School
• Angell Elementary School
• Bach Elementary School
• Bryant Elementary School
• Burns Park Elementary School
• Carpenter Elementary School
• Dicken Elementary School
• Eberwhite Elementary School
• Haisley Elementary School
• King Elementary School
• Lakewood Elementary School
• Lawton Elementary School
• Logan Elementary School
• Mitchell Elementary School
• Pattengill Elementary School
• Pittsfield Elementary School
• Thurston Elementary School
• Wines Elementary School

Middle schools

• Clague Middle School
• Forsythe Middle School
• Scarlett Middle School
• Slauson Middle School
• Tappan Middle School
• Ann Arbor Open School

High schools

• Huron High School
• Pioneer High School
• Skyline High School
• Pathways to Success academic campus
• Community High School

Other schools

• A2 STEAM (Previously Northside Elementary) (K–8)
• Ann Arbor Open School (K–8)
• Ann Arbor Preschool and Family Center
• A2 Virtual+

Awards

• 2006: named to "Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America" list by AMC Music^[18]
• 2013: Sunny Award for website informational transparency^[19]

Controversies

Despite being ranked as having some of the best schools in America, AAPS has not been without controversy.^[20]

Racial hostility civil rights complaint

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.^[21][22] The filing came after an earlier petition from the school's Black Student Union requesting the teacher's dismissal.^[23] 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.^[24] 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.^[25][26]

Student abuse cover up scandal

In December 2021, an aide on a special needs bus to Carpenter Elementary in Pittsfield assaulted a 7 year old autistic child. In 2023, a lawsuit alleged that AAPS had covered up the incident.^[13][14][15] By August, there were calls for the school system's superintendent Jeanice Swift to resign.^[27][28] In a special meeting 2023, the Ann Arbor Board of Education voted 4-3 to approve a pre-termination letter. At the same meeting, the school board voted to approve the school system's attorneys entering into negotiations with Swift about a separation agreement.^[29][30][31] In September, Swift resigned, and in October she was replaced with interim superintendent Jazz Parks.^[16][1]

Gaza ceasefire resolution

On January 18, 2024, Ann Arbor Public Schools approved a resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza, due to the Israel-Hamas 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.^[32]