Another elementary school gets a reprieve

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Stewart Elementary School, a high performing school on the city’s west side that has consistently distinguished itself on standardized examinations like the MEAP, will stay open for the 2005-06 school year, CEO William F. Coleman III announced today.

Stewart is the second elementary school to be spared the ax. Last week, the District announced that Guyton, located in the city’s southeastern sector, will stay open for the coming school year after numerous supporters came together and pledged to increase the school’s enrollment. District officials hold up the Guyton story as a model for what parents and community groups can do to keep their schools from closing.

Plans to close Stewart similarly attracted the attention of community partners, alumni and neighborhood groups who showed up at board meetings and took their case to CEO William F. Coleman III. The school’s community partners include Don Bosco Hall, Wayne State Detroit Fellows Tutoring Project, Project SKIP/Hope United Methodist, and Metropolitan Baptist Church. These community partners have also submitted a marketing plan for increasing enrollment.

Stewart has long enjoyed a reputation as an academic powerhouse. Its test scores are way above the state average and more than double those of the nearby charter schools. In addition, the school offers Mediated Learning, a program designed to help students think critically, increase their level of thinking and promotes higher learning.

The agreement for keeping Stewart open includes a commitment on the part of the school community to increase enrollment to 350 students by Count Day, the fourth Wednesday of September. Stewart had 308 students at the close of the 2004-05 school year. The school will also keep its k-5 grade configuration. It will also be a school of choice. The school must increase its enrollment by a minimum of 25 students per year until it reaches its capacity of 392.

“The school’s supporters made a persuasive case,” Coleman said. “Not only is Stewart one of the finest elementary schools in the metropolitan area it also has potential for increased enrollment. Stewart is a fine example of the many excellent DPS schools whose stories have not been told. I am confident that as more people begin to learn about schools like Stewart they will come home to DPS.”