To meet our building Principals, [click here]
For specific School of Choice information, click here
Current School of Choice families have this to say...
The Carpenter Family
Making Whitmore Lake school district our choice wasn’t a
tough decision at all. We had moved to the community from a larger,
overcrowded district where my children were on their way to becoming
faceless numbers in the crowd. Parents didn’t know each other in the
hallways and both my children and I had struggled to find a peer group.
After all our initial research of the district and many conversations
with residents, our choice was clear. Our move and transition to
Whitmore Lake Public Schools was smooth and flawless. My children were
embraced by their school family and flourished within the system. As
well as receiving a solid education they have developed a strong sense
of community that I just don’t think is possible in a larger district.
The smaller class sizes have allowed for building stronger bonds with
teachers and classmates as well as a more personalized experience. The
class options are plentiful and we haven’t had to worry about missing
a class opportunity because it had filled up immediately. My high school
students’ biggest struggles have been trying to decide which classes
they want to take and then making those choices work within their
schedule. The counseling staff has been instrumental in guiding the
students and helping them with their options. Because they know the
students first hand they are more able to help them with this process.
When we lost our home to a tragic house fire several years back we
were embraced and supported by not just our residential community but by
our school community as well. Our Superintendent and several School
Board members were on hand that very evening assuring us that our
children would be well cared for within the schools and that any
counseling needed would be immediately available. When we made the
decision to rebuild our home on a different site, just outside of the
school district boundaries, we made certain that school of choice was an
option. We never looked at the drive into town as a hindrance. It
allowed us to connect with the community and gave us a good excuse to
linger at the school and volunteer where needed. That experience within
the school allowed for more time with my children and an even stronger
school community bond.
I want to thank you and the staff at Whitmore
Lake High School for all the support you have given Caleb, my freshman
son, who transferred mid-year into WLHS from a local school district. My
wife and I were surprised at how accommodating the school was in
addressing our needs, especially after Caleb's knee surgery in February.
The teachers and supporting staff have reached out to Caleb and have
been patient explaining all of the opportunities WLHS has to offer, both
in academics and sports.
Caleb has found the student body to be welcoming and quickly made
friends within the school. He has started a student body club that has
been given the full support of the WLHS staff and students. With the
support of the teaching body, Caleb made the honor roll for the full
year and we believe that he is receiving a good education at WLHS. The
small student body naturally lends itself to a closer relationship
between the students and staff that is difficult to replicate in the
area due to the size of most area high schools. In addition, the school
offers unique athletic opportunities for students who are interested in
playing multiple sports in a small personal team setting. I would
recommend WLHS to anyone seeking a quality education at a local public
high school that offers unique athletic opportunities.
Mike & Sherry York Caleb-10th, Josiah-9th
(not pictured)
The Figot Family
We moved into the Whitmore Lake area from Westland. Moving from a larger
school district to a smaller one was definetly a change, but we soon found
it was a change for the better. Our children thrived in the small school
setting.
We like the fact that our children benefited greatly from this.
More attention is given to each student and we feel like our children are
not lost in the crowd of a bigger school. Teachers get to know each and
every one of their students and take the time to work with those needing
more attention. This would not happen in a bigger school.
As parents, we have always been strongly encouraged to show up and help in the
classrooms. We have also gotten to know the principal of the school. Mr.
Benczarski takes the time to get to know parents as well as students. He
appears to care very much about the educational process. Rachel (entering
6th grade) has had nothing but praise for her 5th grade experience.
We heartily recommend Whitmore Lake Public Schools to anyone seeking a
meaningful, heartfelt education for their children.
Steve and Joanne Figot
Rachel - 6th, Emily - class of 2008
The Putnam Family
Choosing to send our children to the Whitmore Lake Public
School System continues to be one of the finest decisions our family has
ever made. Our daughters have thrived in the environment of a small and
intimate high school experience. The personalized attention the children
receive affords them every opportunity to participate in the classroom,
sports activities and clubs. We know teachers, staff, students and their
families as friends. I am confident that Whitmore Lake is making a
lifelong positive influence on both of our daughters. The beautiful new
high school is just one more bonus!
With gratitude,
Bob & Denise Putnam
Lauren-Class of 2008, Rachael-11th
The Cattley Family
As Brighton residents, the choice to send our four children to Whitmore
Lake school system was not made lightly. We were concerned about large
schools where our children would be lost in the crowd and not have
opportunities to participate in the sports programs. Having personal
contact with the teachers and administrators at Whitmore Lake was another
positive consideration for trusting Whitmore Lake.
The personalized attention each of our high school children has received made all the
difference in their academic success. The sports programs provided opportunities for both our daughters and sons to learn teamwork,
commitment, dedication and hard work in competitive team environments.
The friendships and life lessons learned form the extra-curricular activities
made it easy for our kids to transition into and be accepted at Whitmore
Lake. We are also very impressed with the level of parental involvement
and support that the students at Whitmore Lake High school seem to enjoy.
The new high school building provides a bright, new, safe learning
environment where students seem to thrive. We'll be making Whitmore Lake
our "home away from home" for at least 3 more children and four more
years!
Sincerely,
Bill and Charlene Cattley
Austin (13), Alex (16), Jocelyn (14) and Jessica (class of 2008)
To arrange for a personal tour or for more information, please call 734-449-4464
ext. 5002.
Please feel free to explore our website to learn more about Whitmore Lake Schools.
Because we are a small school,
we have the luxury of knowing our students and families well. We welcome parent participation in the classroom and encourage parents and guardians to visit as often as possible. We are confident you will find our school to be a happy and safe place for your child to learn.
In addition to a comprehensive program in math, science, English language arts, and social studies, all students participate in art, music, physical education and 1st through 4th grades in technology. We use many kinds of assessment data to guide all decisions for school improvement. Children in 2nd through 4th grades take the “Measures of Academic Progress” assessment in September, January and May. This information is used by teachers to adjust lessons to meet the needs of all students and is shared with students and parents.
Our kindergarten is a full day program. In grades one through four, we offer both a traditional classroom setting with 1 teacher per class, as well as a Multi-Age option which combines 1st through 4th graders in many aspects of their learning experience.
I encourage you to explore the Elementary School website and to contact us for more information or a personal tour of our buildings. Please make arrangements by calling the Superintendent’s office: 734-449-4464 ext. 5002.
Whitmore Lake Middle School (WLMS) is safe, newly renovated, and
conveniently located between Brighton and Ann Arbor right off of US 23. Being a small school enables our staff to get to know students personally, hence enabling us to identify individual strengths and weaknesses. The WLMS staff is trained in and committed to utilizing differentiated instruction and other best practices in order to meet our mission of providing an “exceptional personalized education.” In addition, the WLMS staff is 100% highly qualified as outlined in the No Child Left Behind Act.
WLMS is has two computer labs with 30 computers in each lab. In addition, there are two laptop carts with 30 laptops each, available for students to use in our WiFi equipped classrooms. A student favorite is our Technology Lab in which students can conduct wind tunnel testing, engage in video production and use presentation software. It our belief that by empowering students to utilize technology at the point of instruction, students to develop skill sets today that will prepare them for success in tomorrow’s world.
I invite you to contact us for more information or for a personally guided tour.
Parents who consider WLHS as an option for schooling almost always want to know about our curriculum and the opportunities we provide outside the classroom.
The academic preparation we provide at WLHS is geared toward college level success. Over 90% of our graduates attend college. In fact, we recently partnered with Eastern Michigan University to allow students an opportunity to get started on college as early as their sophomore year through our Early College Alliance (ECA).
Regarding extra curricular opportunities, at a small, comprehensive high school like ours, the opportunity to be a part of organizations that shape our school’s culture are plentiful. We have had many students come here from surrounding schools with over 2000 students – there, these students were part of a team, maybe. At WLHS, these same students are stars!
Please, come join us and see what we’re all about.
