Grand Haven High School was recently named one of Bridge Magazine’s 2017 Academic State Champs. This designation was given to 54 of the 620 high schools examined in the state of Michigan, based on the proficiency on statewide ACT tests, percent of graduates who moved on to higher education, and percent of graduates with degrees or still actively pursuing a higher education degree four years after high school of the classes of 2009, 2010, and 2011.

“To me, Bridge magazine is something, a group that’s well known in the state for their coverage of a variety of important topics: politics, business, education and they’re pretty reputable in terms of their even and fair reporting,” Superintendent Andrew Ingall said.  

Principal Tracy Wilson sees this as an indicator of more widespread success and what is being done effectively.  

“When you look at this one being the success beyond high school, obviously there’s things that we’re doing as a K12 institution to prepare kids beyond being in a public school, being in here and being educated every day by us,” Wilson said.

Ingall and Wilson did not hold their current positions at the time that the classes of 2009, 2010, and 2011, but still feel that this recognition is good for the school and for the district as a whole.  

“I like to always remember that it’s those kindergarten, elementary, middle school, intermediate teachers that help support the student success, and students don’t come to 9th grade all of a sudden and become successful, the foundation was laid earlier,” Wilson said.  “Yes, they say Grand Haven High School, because this is where you end and this is your last stop before you go on to life.  We really have to remember that it started when you started in the district as a kindergartner, or as a first grader, or when you move here from somewhere else”  

Though the rankings reward academic success in the school, Ingall believes that some of Grand Haven’s biggest contributions to its students’ success are not academic at all.  

“We have APs, the courses we offer, the curriculum and instruction, but we also want to slow down and talk about the things that we’re doing around our school culture that set up the variables for those success,” Ingall said.Doing things like “Show Up”, doing things like your school improvement lesson.”

The recognition showcases Grand Haven High School’s comparative proficiency in academics in the state of Michigan.  

“Any time you get an affirmation or an accolade that you’re doing things right it gives you pause to say, ‘we’re having success,’” Ingall said.  “This one is great because it’s about college and career readiness so it’s not only an indicator of the success you guys are having at school but it’s an indicator that those who have left school are having positive success.”