Dear Lansing School District Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. As always, it is a pleasure to be writing to you all.

On Friday, February 24, the Michigan Department of Education released the 2021-2022 high school graduation rates. I am very happy to announce that our graduation rate went up by 6%, from 62.10% to 68.16%

We should be proud of this. A 6% raise in our first year is strong. The other good news (not that we should be comparing ourselves) is that our grad rate is higher than Flint, Pontiac, Battle Creek, Eastpointe, Benton Harbor, Niles, Redford Union, and Oak Park, among others. As you all know, I am not from Michigan, so these are the school districts on the list I recognize.

Additionally, if you take the 2019-2020 COVID rule change year out, this year's attainment of 68.16% is the highest graduation rate Lansing has had since the state started compiling data through MI Schools in 2012-2013. And I know this is just the beginning. Our focus on graduation is starting to pay dividends. We are finally getting hard data to show that our work is moving students.

Of course, we should and will do better. 68% is still low and certainly lower than it should be. We are not taking a bow and walking off stage. But it is important to celebrate wins as they come. As a community, you all should be proud of your work. From the educators to the families, our entire Lansing family is pulling together to help move our entire district forward.

I especially want to thank the teachers, assistants, principals, and support staff. If it were not for all our educators coming to school every day, believing in our students, and pushing them to excel, this would not happen. And, of course, I want to thank the families. If it weren't for you sending your students to school, supporting them as they do their homework, and pushing them to succeed, we wouldn't be growing the way we are. Please keep on holding our children accountable for attending school and doing their work.

Thank you all for trusting me and our wonderful school district family in our work as we move our students toward success.

Thank you so much for all of your incredible support of our community. Together, we will do great things for Lansing.

Benjamin Shuldiner, Superintendent

Lansing School District

Maryssa is not only a great student but also a great person who has shown so much growth through her years in Lewton's Spanish Immersion Program — both academically and personally. She is very dedicated to her academic work as well as to her friends.

Maryssa shows great effort in all of the work she does — striving for excellence in math, reading, science, and social studies. Her capacity for second language acquisition, Spanish, is extraordinary. She is compassionate, kind, and loving and shows respect to everyone. A beacon of positivity, she also enjoys helping her classmates and the Lewton school community.

Marisa is constantly demonstrating her growing leadership skills — we are confident that Maryssa will make a wonderful pack leader and are so happy she is a Lobo!

Fun-Size Fact: Lobo is Spanish for wolf.

Margaret Cary, Universal Preschool Secretary, and Laura Beckner, Universal Preschool Coordinator, are instrumental to our preschool program! They always go above and beyond for our students, families, and staff. You can bet that they will greet you with a warm smile and answer any questions you have regarding preschool in the Lansing School District.

They would like to remind you that on March 10th, enrollment opens for the 23/24 school year. To enroll in Universal Preschool, or any of our other excellent programs, please go to www.enrollinLansing.com and click the applicable link on the right side of the page.

For preschool enrollment, you can also contact the preschool office at (517)755-3390 or preschool@lansingschools.net.

We hope to see you for the 23/24 school year!

If you prefer to enroll in person, the staff at the Dr. Eva L. Evans Welcome Center will be happy to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the enrollment process.

Dr. Eva L. Evans Welcome Center

2400 Pattengill Ave.

Lansing, MI 48910

Questions About Enrollment?

Call us at (517)755-2820

Keeping pace with a storied history of offering incredible exposure opportunities, Everett Dance Company saw its dancers perform at the Little Caesars Arena for the Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls pre-game show on Wednesday. The piece was choreographed by Jared Frxsco Autrey with special assistance from Cheer Coach Brittanie Guilbeaux who are both EV Dance Alumni.

To see a short clip of their warm up, click here, and check out a short hype video from Autrey here.

Lansing SAVE (Student Accounts Valuing Education) is a special savings program that was created by MSUFCU in partnership with the City of Lansing and the Lansing School District. Kindergarten through eighth-grade students enrolling in the Lansing School District are automatically enrolled in this special CSA (Children's Saving Account). This program helps students start saving money for post-secondary educational expenses, and also helps students attain the financial literacy needed to attain their goals and reach their dreams.

If you are interested in helping Lansing Save in their initiative to bring all 8th-grade SAVE students to a $100 account balance click the image below.