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The Edwardsburg School District is now in a class by itself. All five of the districts schools have now been recognized as Blue Ribbon schools.
The Blue Ribbon Program honors the best schools in the state and nation. Edwardsburg is the only district in the state of Michigan where 100% of its schools are Blue Ribbon award winners.
Edwardsburg schools aren't afraid to try something different and that is one of the reasons that they are being honored. One example is the placement of children from two different grade levels in the same classroom.
Catherine Wood of Eagle Lake Elementary said, "You have both second and third graders in there, same teacher for two years, which is very beneficial for kids who really need that stability in that classroom."
In doing something different, Edwardsburg has done what no other district in the state of Michigan has been able to do.
"We currently have five buildings and each now have been recognized either as national or state of Michigan Blue Ribbon schools,"said Superintendent Sherman Ostrander.
The district won its first Blue Ribbon School award in 1994 at the high school. Eagle Lake School was the latest award winner.
Even before the latest honor, the district had already impressed hundreds of out of towners. About 9% of all students enrolled in Edwardsburg schools live elsewhere and got in through Michigan's Schools of Choice Program.
A few have even paid a heavy price to cross state lines to attend Edwardsburg schools.
"We do have a few students coming from Granger area who have opted to pay the entire $6,700 in foundation grants in order for their children to attend here," said Superintendent Ostrander.
Many homebuilders are investing big bucks in a belief that the schools are a big reason why more people will want to live in Edwardsburg in the future.
Six new subdivisions are now under development. The district is projected to grow by as much as 30% in the next five years.
WNDU NewsCenter16, Feb. 07 2005, Mark Peterson
