Keystone Academy in top 12% of schools in State of Michigan

At the Dec. 8 regular meeting of the Keystone Academy Board of Directors, Principal Jorvonna Drain announced that Keystone had another honor.
She said previously she had shared how Keystone’s M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) test results outperformed all the surrounding districts in the area.
“Now I want to communicate how our school ranked statewide since the MI School Index results were released last week from the Michigan Department of Education,” Principal Drain said.
“On Michigan’s School Index, Keystone scored in the top 12% of all schools in the state!” she said.
“Additionally, Keystone’s proficiency index was in the top quartile and our growth index was in the top 3% of all schools statewide, which is the highest growth index score possible.
“I am extremely proud of our academic performance as we strive to achieve academic success for ALL!” Drain said.
“This is really, really good for us. This is really, really great for us,” Drain told the board. She said besides that, the parent-satisfaction survey had high scores as did the staff-satisfaction survey.
The school also received five Eagle awards in August from National Heritage Academies, the most awards won by a school of the 100 NHA schools throughout the country.
“This is one of those pinch-me moments,” Drain said. “I feel very blessed.”
Drain also presented the NWEA test results that showed fall achievement was at or above grade level for reading and math for the average achievement within the school, except for new students.
“If you stay at Keystone, over time your results will be high,” said Shane Wilson, NHA representative.
The chart presented by Drain showed that new students who stay at Keystone for three years are at grade level or above.
Board president Vesta Losen said she wasn’t satisfied that they aren’t testing for science and social studies.
“We are teaching as to Michigan standards,” Drain said, noting that there are new science curricula that have been taught in grades 3-5 for two years and grades 6-8 for three years.
“It takes time to turn the scores around,” Drain said. “We do test our kids for science and social studies and we’re already improved.”
President Losen said she was not referring only to NHA, but to schools in general.
Wilson said the government cares most about math and ELA and that’s why they test it. He said social studies and science are important, as well.
He said he would look into more things NHA might be doing.
Board member Kim Kowalski asked where the new students are coming from and Drain said most are coming from Van Buren Public Schools, but now many are also coming from the Lincoln Consolidated School District.
“If a student stays for three years, there is a huge increase in learning,” Wilson said. “It’s just a matter of them sticking around.”
Drain said the 3rd through 8th grade students recently finished taking ELA and math interim 1 tests and proficiency scores on both assessments increased from last year. She said teachers are using the data during workshops to address misconceptions and to extend learning.
In other business at the one-hour meeting, the board:
• Approved $7,201 to pay for two soccer nets that were in the 2021-22 budget that weren’t put in until the 2022-23 budget. The money is rolled over into the new budget. For the spring season, the soccer team will be able to practice with the nets on their own field;
• Was reminded a Board Development session will be held at 5 p.m., Jan. 12, with the board’s attorney to discuss board responsibilities as board members. A second session will be set in February with the board’s attorney and this time the principal and deans will be involved to talk about other background information;
• Approved the 2023-24 Prior Approval Checklist required by Bay Mills Community College, which granted the school charter to Keystone. All the answers to the checklist questions were no, meaning no changes are being planned at the school;
• Presented results of the Fall 2022 survey on employee satisfaction with a 88% response rate. Responses were: I feel a sense of belonging at my location, 91%; I have good opportunities to learn and grow, 90%; I feel physical safe, 98%; My location is focused on meeting our students’ and families’ needs, 90%; My location has a great culture, 93%; and I have confidence in my leadership team, 92%. All the scores were higher than the spring scores. Wilson said he sees a lot of scores because he goes to a lot of NHA meetings, and, “These are the best I’ve seen. Keystone is blowing it away. To say these scores are extremely high … These are fantastic.” He said the fall scores are usually lower than the spring scores because school is just restarting;
• Heard Drain say parents are being informed that their students may be retained because of reading scores. She said the school has to inform parents three times, starting in December and then in March and May before the final evaluation. She said the amount of retentions looks about the same as last year;
• Learned plans are being made for the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. This class had been unable to take the usual fieldtrips over the last two years because of COVID; and
• Learned an anonymous donor gave $2,100 in Meijer gift cards to the school for Christmas distribution. Drain said five students are being taken by Van Buren Township police to Shop with a Cop, and another group is sponsoring Christmas for ten children, anonymously.