At Chrysler Elementary School, students’ love for literacy is everywhere. This culture of reading – which can be found at schools across Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) – raises student academic achievements in English Language Arts (ELA), the foundation of a quality education.

Principal Wendy Shirley pointed to several initiatives that led to the school achieving one of the highest Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) scores in the District for grades 3 through 7 this past school year.

Staff reviews iReady data to identify areas for improvement. Teachers then sort students with similar reading proficiencies into small groups so that each student receives instruction at their own pace.

Bates Academy was also in the top five for M-STEP scores in ELA. Principal David Bailey pointed to data-driven and small group instruction as a crucial strategy for success, as well as explicit vocabulary instruction, the promotion of academic ownership, and professional development.

“We will continue to provide ongoing training to teachers on the latest ELA instructional strategies and technologies to ensure they are well-equipped to meet students’ individual needs this school year,” said Bailey. “Teachers will utilize assessment data to identify students’ strengths and areas for improvement, allowing for targeted interventions and personalized learning plans. Teachers will focus on implementing culturally responsive teaching practices that recognize and value students’ diverse backgrounds and experiences, making learning more relevant and engaging.”

Fostering a Culture of Literacy

Chrysler leans on its community partnerships – including the Detroit Public Library, Scholastic, the Detroit Red Wings, and local faith-based organizations – to host events designed to foster a love of reading and writing. Events include monthly bookmobiles, Scholastic book fairs, a poetry slam, and guest readers.

New initiatives include “Thoughtful Thursdays,” when students are encouraged to write uplifting messages to their peers and teachers,” said Shirley. “Fifth-grade students are paired with a kindergartener as a ‘reading buddy.’ Reading buddies read to and learn with each other.

Shirley said strong reading and writing skills are foundational to students’ academic and professional careers.

“Literacy is a lifelong skill students will need as they matriculate to middle school, high school, college, or if they go into a trade,” said Shirley. “You need to be able to read; you need to be able to communicate.”

“When we read books, we’re able to travel,” she added. “We learn history through our books, learn about other children all over the world. Students really have become immersed in reading and learning about different people and different countries. And they’re also able to read these stories and connect them with their personal experiences.”

Board of Education Recognizes Schools for High ELA Achievement

In addition to Bates and Chrysler, Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti recognized the following schools at the September 2024 Board of Education meeting for having the highest M-STEP scores in ELA in grades 3 through 7 in the 2023-24 school year:

• Edmonson
• FLICS
• The School at Marygrove

The following high schools were recognized for having the highest growth in reading and writing in the same school year:

• Cass Tech
• Renaissance
• The School at Marygrove
• Detroit School of Arts
• Virtual School