How Data Drives Reading Growth at Ferndale Public Schools

How knowledge drives studying development in Ferndale Public Colleges

(Camille Hibbler, Superintendent of Ferndale Public Colleges, October 29, 2025)

Ferndale, MI – Third grade studying proficiency at Ferndale Public Colleges has grown 37% to 48.4% previously yr.

In 2025, our third graders outperformed the state common, demonstrating that our younger college students have gotten robust readers regardless of the challenges of pandemic studying gaps. It’s no small feat; our progress was simply acknowledged by Bridge magazine in a set of faculties which have flipped the script on Michigan’s declining third-grade studying scores.

We attribute our success at Ferndale Colleges to a number of collaborative efforts, akin to our grant-funded Ok-12 Literacy Coach and our devoted literacy instructor coaching efforts. However what has made the largest distinction to our studying scores is how carefully we observe scholar progress by way of knowledge.

Quite than ready for end-of-year check outcomes to information tutorial approaches, we take a look at grade- and student-level knowledge all year long. This tells us precisely the place college students are making progress and the place they might want further assist. With this info, lecturers can shortly adapt to maintain college students on observe. Knowledge turns into motion, and motion results in progress.

On the coronary heart of this progress are our lecturers. Their dedication, mixed with our perception into scholar progress, offers college students the perfect alternative to develop as readers.

We’re pleased with the progress our college students have made, however we all know the work is just not accomplished but. We are going to proceed to spend money on early literacy, assist lecturers, and depend on knowledge to offer our college students the assist they should succeed. Our purpose is obvious: to make sure that each youngster leaves third grade assured and able to learn.

Camille Hibbler is superintendent of Ferndale Public Colleges, and this column is a part of a month-to-month collection of updates concerning the district. Study extra about Ferndale faculties at https://www.ferndaleschools.org/

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