Back-to-School UPdate

Admittedly, one of the things I love most about August is the start of a new sports season. The Friday night lights and marching bands are pretty cool. But, seeing coaches and athletes set standards, push themselves to exceed the standards, and overcome all the obstacles that get in the way…well, to me, that is what life is all about. (I also like to mix in some fun with family and friends.)

If you are new to the district or have been here for a while, these UPdates allow me to share the standards WLPS sets and where we succeed and surpass these standards. Like athletes, our teachers and students set standards and aim to go beyond them in many cases. Our focus is on getting things done with the highest standards because that is what drives us forward. I look forward to seeing how our students and staff rise to the challenges and carry the momentum of a new season/school year into the classrooms, hallways and beyond.

That’s right, WLHS did it again. Another year of being rated as one of the top high schools in Michigan. This year, WLHS ranked 81st of over 1,000 schools statewide AND among the top 10 schools in our region.

Why is this important? At the August Board of Education meeting, Principal Jill Henry gave a presentation on the 24-25 school year Advanced Placement (AP) performance. The AP curriculum is an excellent preparatory curriculum for students who plan to attend college. Most WLHS graduates identify college as the next step in their journey. Approximately 80-90% will attend some form of higher education. Our top universities of choice for graduates are typically the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Grand Valley, Western or Central Michigan, and Michigan Tech.

With such a high percentage of students interested in higher education, preparation is a key standard for WLHS. WLHS offers eight AP courses. Participation and success on AP exams are proven to prepare students for college courses. This success is also what earns our high school’s high ranking. (In Livingston County, Brighton, Whitmore Lake, and Charyl Stockwell are consistently ranked in the top 100).

These results do not happen by chance. Ms. Henry is definitely a leader who guided WLHS to these successes. I’m proud of her and her staff for the work they put in. And, I’m proud of the AP Scholars who excelled on last year’s exams, setting the pace for future success. They are listed below. AP Scholar Awards come in different levels and types. The criteria are as follows:

AP Scholar: Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.
AP Scholar with Honor: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
AP Scholar with Distinction: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

WLPS has great partnerships in the community of Whitmore Lake. Our year could not start in the manner it does without the efforts of the following agencies and organizations:

I appreciate the work our partners do and their commitment to the students and families in this community. Please take some time to learn about these organizations and how you can benefit or support them in their efforts. On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for supporting our students and their families.

I hope every student had a great kickoff to the 2025-26 school year. I’m sure the kids (and staff) are eager to get a four-day weekend to remember what sleeping feels like. Let’s make this year a great one to be a Trojan!