If youâre reading this, youâre probably familiar with Troy School Districtâs historical reputation as one of the top School Districts in Metro Detroit. But as the economic dynamics of the Metro Detroit region over the last 50 years demonstrates â nothing lasts forever, change is the only constant, and vigilance is required to maintain the standard of excellence that begets âa World Class School Districtâ. While the Superintendent recently suggested that the Communityâs âsilenceâ in regards to a proposed writing curriculum suggests concurrence with current District strategy (thereâs a history there, for similar claims) and performance, we doubt this silence would continue if more Community members were aware of the Covid induced regression in academic achievement which has subsequently led to all time lows in academic achievement in Troy School District.
Before we dive into the data – Troy School District is filled with incredible Students, Staff, and Community Members that make it a wonderful environment for students to learn and grow, enabling them to take the next step in continuing their education or equipping them with the essential skills to enter the workforce. But as we look at how Covid has impacted academic achievement in conjunction with historical trends, the results are concerning â
- During the 2014-2015 school year, 84.6% of 3rd Grade Students demonstrated English (ELA) proficiency. As of 2023-2024, this shrank to 63.2%.
- At one of the high schools, the number of 11th Grade Students scoring proficient on SAT Math dropped from 75.2% (2018-2019) to 53.8% (2023-2024).
When parents brought these concerns to the Administration, a common retort referenced the nationwide impact Covid has had across all Public Education, along with changes in subgroup representation over the last decade. With respect to TSD population data –
- % of Troy School District students that are English Language Learners (ELL) â 2014/2015 – 12.52% vs 2023-2024 – 15.48% | +2.96% across the student population.
- % of Troy School District students that are Economically Disadvantaged â 2014-2015 – 11.78% vs 2023-2024 – 16.16% | +4.38% across the student population.
Neither are shifts that would portend the academic regression thatâs occurred. In regards to Covid learning loss remediation, TSDâs 3rd through 7th Grade ELA Covid recovery lags its counterparts â https://educationrecoveryscorecard.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/report_MI_2634260_troy-school-district.pdf
At the heart of this though, weâre asking for the Community to show up to Board and Workshop meetings, and ask the Administration & Board of Education to commit to the following –
- A revised Troy School District Strategic Plan that commits to remediating Covid learning loss, as the current Strategic Plan lacks a roadmap or accountability mechanism to returning Troy School District to its Pre-Covid performance. This Strategic Plan should include target dates and performance metrics to eliminate Covid learning loss across all grades and subjects.
- The restoration of English 9 & 10 and Middle School Honors Math classes, as the Community expressed in the November 2024 election in the sweep of incumbents, with all newly seated Board members committing to restoring Honors courses.
Finally, it should be noted that at the November 2024 school board election, three long-time incumbents were soundly defeated by all four challengers, which contradicts the Superintendentâs claim that the public is satisfied with the secular decline and stagnation in student performance. The majority recognizes that TSD is not living up to its potential, not because of any shortcomings of students, teachers, or community. Rather, the problem is an administration unable or unwilling to set ambitious goals to drive district-wide improvement. We demand better and respectfully ask that the board hold the Superintendent accountable for these lackluster results on his 24-25 evaluation, which they will also discuss in closed session on Tuesday, 06/03/25.