News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Hinks students gathered for an assembly on Wednesday, where students were recognized for their academic achievements and positive behavior.

ALPENA — Michigan School Index reports from the 2024-2025 school year were released to the public on MiSchool Data in late November, showing a comprehensive overview of how well students are doing academically at individual schools across the state and within the Alpena Public Schools district.

Across the district, students are reaching growth targets in English language arts (ELA) more often than in math. Six of the eight schools in the district saw lower overall index scores from the 2023-2024 school year. Besser, Wilson, and Hinks elementary schools all earned overall index scores above 90 points.

There are seven components to the school index score, those components being growth index, graduation rate index, school quality and student success index, support category, proficiency index, English learner progress index, and assessment participation index.

Graduation rate index does not apply to elementary schools or junior high. Scores for each component are measured out of 100 points.

The growth index component aggregates the percent of students that are on track to reach or maintain proficiency within three years across the content areas of ELA and mathematics. Scores are included from M-STEP, SAT, and MI-Access assessments.

The growth target for ELA is 57.05% and the growth target for math is 35.80% at all schools in the district. That means that 57.05% of students tested are on track to reach or maintain proficiency in ELA within three years.

Stephanie Hitchcock, principal at Hinks Elementary, spoke highly of the teachers and staff at Hinks in making their school index scores some of the highest in the district.

“The staff is amazing,” Hitchcock said, “They are right here in the thick of it. They are dedicated, they love this building. I think that they have so much to be proud of because they’ve built the culture here.”

Hitchcock said that the teachers are all data driven, and they help older students analyze that data and set goals for themselves as well.

“The overall index score just shows that Hinks is succeeding across multiple measures of student success,” Hitchcock said.

ALPENA HIGH SCHOOL

The overall index score at AHS was 67.63 in 2024-2025, which is down from 69.32 in 2023-2024.

The growth index score was 76.45. The ELA target was met at 57.21% of students tested meeting the growth goal. The math target was not met, with 21.78% meeting the growth target.

The target graduation rate for AHS was 93% for those graduating in four years. That goal was not met. The graduation rate was 75.10%. The five year graduation rate target was 95.76%, and the rate achieved was 87.20%.

In the school quality and student success component, AHS scored 49.75.

The school quality and student success component combines the results of up to five subcomponents: on-track attendance, advanced coursework, postsecondary enrollment, access to arts/physical education, access to librarian/media specialist.

THUNDER BAY JUNIOR HIGH

The overall index score at TBJH was 62.98 in 2024-2025, which is up from 57.50 in 2023-2024.

The growth index score was 71.17. The ELA target was narrowly missed at 53.97%. The math target was also not met at 22.47%.

In the school quality and student success component, TBJH scored 55.06.

HINKS ELEMENTARY

Overall, Hinks scored 92.41 in 2024-2025 which is down from 95.36 in 2023-2024.

The growth index score was 89.97. The ELA target was met with 60% of students meeting the growth goal. The math target was not met with 27.5% of students meeting the growth goal.

In the school quality and student success component, Hinks scored 93.61.

BESSER ELEMENTARY

Overall, Besser scored 91.58 in 2024-2025, which is up from 77.84 in 2023-2024.

The growth index score was 96.93. The ELA target was met with 65.56% of students meeting the growth goal. The math target was met with 36.67% of students meeting the growth goal.

In the school quality and student success component, Besser scored 94.11.

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY

Overall, Lincoln scored 55.64 in 2024-2025, which is down from 63.32 in 2023-2024.

The growth index score was 60.99. The ELA target was not met with 44.74% of students meeting the growth goal. The math target was not met with 18.42% of students meeting the growth goal.

In the school quality and student success component, Lincoln scored 88.65.

ELLA WHITE ELEMENTARY

Overall, Ella White scored 62.62 in 2024-2025, which is down from 71.14 in 2023-2024.

The growth index score was 60.44 The ELA target was not met with 51.05% of students meeting the growth goal. The math target was not met with 23.78% of students meeting the growth goal.

In the school quality and student success component, Ella White scored 92.56.

WILSON ELEMENTARY

Overall, Wilson scored 93.18 in 2024-2025, which is down from 86.43 in 2023-2024.

The growth index score was 99.89. The ELA target was narrowly missed with 56.67% of students meeting the growth goal. The math target was met with 45.00% of students meeting the growth goal.

In the school quality and student success component, Wilson scored 97.28.

SANBORN ELEMENTARY

Overall, Sanborn scored 71.91 in 2024-2025, which is down from 93.40 in 2023-2024.

The growth index score was 65.75. The ELA target was missed with 43.08% of students meeting the growth goal. The math target was not met with 21.21% of students meeting the growth goal.

In the school quality and student success component, Sanborn scored 92.52.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.