Northville Schools to Consider Redistricting

District to consider redistricting

Northville Public Schools will begin to look into redistricting to alleviate congestion at some of its schools.

Superintendent Mary Kay Gallagher said at the school board's meeting Tuesday night that the findings of a district demographics study will be presented by the consulting group Plante Moran on Oct. 2.

She said that soon after the meeting, she will send a letter on the district listserv outlining what the study means and the district's plans. The process will include opportunities for community input, with community forums planned for February.

A redistricting proposal could be put before the board for approval as early as March or April, she said. The new districts would be implemented in the 2013-14 school year.

National Merit seminfinalists honored

The school board honored the 17 National Merit semifinalists announced earlier this month.

Northville High School principal Robert Watson told the board that on Tuesday, he learned 11 of those students earned commendations and will not be National Merit Finalists.

Several students were not in attendance to receive their awards, because they were taking college classes or were studying. Their parents were at the meeting, though. 

"That's just a testament to our students and their parents," Watson said.

Watson said that the school, with the exception of last year when there were nine named, has had high numbers of National Merit semifinalists.

"This is the largest number yet," he said.

He also told the board that in 2012, 538 students took 948 Advaced Placement (AP) exams to get college credit for classes. Some took exams in multiple subject areas.

He praised the students' teachers, saying that they prepared the students well for the test. He also praised the students' work ethic.

At NHS, 89 percent scored a 3 or higher on a scale of 1-5, which qualifies them for college credit. In Michigan, the number of students scoring a 3 or higher on the AP exam is 67 percent and 61 percent globally, he said.