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Ferndale Public Schools reports strong summer programs, highlights credit-recovery progress
Summary
District staff told the board the six-week elementary and middle school summer programs showed high engagement and attendance; high school credit-recovery efforts produced hundreds of completed credits and a small number of student graduations, and administrators said they will monitor academic integrity in online courses.
Ferndale Public Schools presented results of its summer programs and early enrollment data at the Aug. 19 board meeting. District staff said elementary and middle school summer offerings ran six weeks with full-day schedules (8 a.m.–4 p.m.), combining four hours of academics with four hours of enrichment, and reported robust community partnerships and positive student engagement.
The elementary program began with themed days and “celebration of learning” events. Staff said 140 students enrolled, about 100 attended in person and the program’s overall average participation was about 85 students, producing an average attendance rate reported in the presentation (transcript: “about 79% average attendance rate”). Presenters credited weekly field trips, library visits and community partnerships — including work with Wayne State University and Summer Discovery curriculum materials — with maintaining engagement.
Middle school programming for rising sixth through eighth graders also ran six weeks with a similar academic/enrichment split. The district reported 115 enrolled and 92 attended, with roughly an 80% average attendance. Staff said enrichment choices emphasized student voice and ranged from STEM and arts to physical activities.
At the high school level administrators reported credit-recovery activity: Ferndale High School (FHS) had 164 participants and University High School (UHS) 95. The two schools together completed 353 credits across multiple subjects (251 credits at FHS and 102 at UHS, as stated in the presentation). Staff said two students who entered summer school missing credits completed enough work to graduate. Board members asked that the district prioritize support for rising 11th graders who carried the most outstanding credits into the year.
Administrators also discussed academic integrity concerns tied to online course platforms. The district reported using audits to verify student work after noting some courses can be completed rapidly by automated tools; presenters said they have detection strategies and will continue auditing to ensure learning outcomes are authentic.
In addition to K–12 programming, district staff reported 169 adult education participants and 199 youth participants across summer sessions, totaling 368 attendees and 199 classes completed between the two groups. The district said 60 new pupils enrolled through summer programs and were retained for fall.
Board members and staff framed the summer work as a strategy to reduce learning loss and strengthen fall enrollment, and asked administration to follow up with detailed School of Choice and cohort data in committee.
