Public Schools of Petoskey
School district in Michigan, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Public Schools of Petoskey is a public school district in Northern Michigan. In Emmet County, it serves Petoskey, the townships of Bear Creek, Resort, and Springvale, and parts of the townships of Littlefield and Little Traverse.[4] In Charlevoix County, it serves parts of Chandler Township and Melrose Township.[5]
| Public Schools of Petoskey | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
1130 Howard Street[1]
, Eaton, Michigan, 49770United States | |
| District information | |
| Grades | Pre-Kindergarten-12 |
| Superintendent | Dr. Jeffrey Leslie[2] |
| Schools | 7[3] |
| Budget | $37,443,000 2021-2022 expenditures[3] |
| NCES District ID | 2627930[3] |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 2,409 (2024-2025)[3] |
| Teachers | 164.51 (on an FTE basis) (2024-2025)[3] |
| Staff | 351.66 FTE (2024-2025)[3] |
| Student–teacher ratio | 14.64 (2024-2025)[3] |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
History
A school has been located on the southeast corner of Howard and State Streets, site of the current Central Elementary, since December 1875, when a new school opened there.[6] The next year, the school almost burned when the thick woods surrounding it caught fire. The school was saved by students and townspeople who doused the flames using a bucket brigade.[7] The students were formally separated into grades in 1881.[6] A high school was built that year at Ottawa and Lake Streets, and the first class graduated in 1885.[8]
The high school burned down in December 1889.[9] It was rebuilt near the Howard Street School and opened in early 1891.[6][10]
A new high school replaced the Howard Street school in 1913. The previous high school became a grade school called Central. It was torn down around 1929 and a new Central Elementary opened on the site in fall 1930. Warren S. Holmes was the architect.[6] The project included a new 2,000 seat gymnasium for the high school.[11] Also in 1930, the Northmen was chosen as the high school's team name.[12]
A bond issue to build a new high school and Ottawa Elementary passed in 1964. The present high school, designed by architecture firm Daverman Associates, opened in fall 1966. The previous high school became a middle school. A new middle school opened in fall 1990. The 1913 high school building was left empty and was torn down in 1999.[6] A 1945 mural that had been painted in the building was painstakingly salvaged, stored, and reinstalled at North Central Michigan College in 2002.[13]
The 1930 Central Elementary remains in use, including the gym and auditorium once used by the high school.[6]
In 2022, district employees partook in a survey that showed 90 percent of the employees perceived serious problems to be present in the culture of the school district.[14] Superintendent Chris Parker resigned in response.[15] The school board made a plan in response to the survey results and Parker's departure,[16] and Jeffrey Leslie became the new superintendent.[17]
Schools
| School | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Petoskey High School | 1500 Hill Street, Petoskey | Grades 9-12. Opened 1966. [6] |
| Petoskey Middle School | 801 Northmen Drive, Petoskey | Grades 6-8. Opened 1990.[6] |
| Central Elementary | 410 State Street, Petoskey | Grades K-5. Opened 1930.[6] |
| Lincoln Elementary | 616 Connable Avenue, Petoskey | Grades K-5 |
| Ottawa Elementary School | 871 Kalamazoo Avenue, Petoskey | Grades PreK-5 |
| Sheridan Elementary School | 1415 Howard Street, Petoskey | Grades K-5 |