Ithaca Public Schools

Ithaca, MI Public Schools serves as the K-12 education district for the communities of Ithaca, Sumner, North Star and the surrounding townships. Most of the district is located in the center of Gratiot County, Michigan. There are three schools within the district. All three schools receive accreditation from North Central Accreditation. The superintendent of schools is Mr. Nathan Bootz.

All three schools offer extracurricular activities in the forms of athletics, art, and education. Their nickname is the Yellow Jackets.

District Information

• Size of District: 168 square miles (440 km²)
• Enrollment: 1,445 F.T.E. (07-08)
• Taxable Value: $194,433,599
• Current Debt Levy: 1.65 mills
• Buildings:
• Junior/Senior High 118,200 square feet (10,980 m²)
• North Elementary 60,280 square feet (5,600 m²)
• South Elementary 39,020 square feet (3,625 m²)
• ICE Building 3,612 square feet (335.6 m²)
• FFA Building 3,772 square feet (350.4 m²)
• Maintenance/Transportation 7,624 square feet (708.3 m²)
• TOTAL 231,508 square feet (21,507.8 m²)
• Acres of Roof Maintained: 5.3
• Total Acres of Land: 79
• Number of Buses: 20
• Number of Support Vehicles 8
• 2008-2009 General Fund Budget: $11,540,179 (preliminary)
• 2008-2009 Food Service Budget: $552,265 (preliminary)
• 2008-2009 Athletic Budget: $303,167
• Tentative Fund Balance: $1,832,890

South Elementary School

Located on the south end of the community of Ithaca, South Elementary School includes students from kindergarten to third grade. Mr. Mark Abenth is the principal.

MEAP Results

	2005	2006	2007	State
3rd Grade Reading	91%	92%	95%	86%
3rd Grade Writing	52%	48%	71%	57%
3rd Grade Math	94%	94%	100%	90%

North Elementary School

Located on the north end of Ithaca, North Elementary includes the grades of fourth to sixth grade. Ms. Paula Peterson is the principal.

MEAP Results

	2005	2006	2007	State
4th Grade Reading	86%	91%	92%	84%
4th Grade Writing	51%	45%	41%	44%
4th Grade Math	88%	93%	89%	86%
5th Grade Reading	81%	91%	86%	82%
5th Grade Writing	63%	52%	63%	59%
5th Grade Math	77%	93%	82%	74%
5th Grade Science	86%	93%	92%	82%
6th Grade Reading	81%	90%	92%	82%
6th Grade Writing	76%	76%	80%	73%
6th Social Studies	88%	84%	86%	73%

Ithaca Jr./Sr. High School

The building serves as both a high school and a middle school. Mr. Steven Netzley serves as the high school principal, while Mrs. Renee Sopel serves as the junior high principal. Mr. Terry Hessbrook serves as the athletic director.

Offerings

Agri-Science: Ag Mechanics I & II, Business Management/Ag Marketing I & II, Horticulture/Landscaping I & II, Animal Science I & II

Art: Intro. to Art, Drawing 1 & 2, Painting, Ceramics, Digital Photography, Studio Art

Business/Technology: Intro. to Business, Accounting/Finance, Business Math, Co-op Program: Co-op is only open to juniors and seniors. Students must have the approval of the guidance department. Word/Excel, Access/Powerpoint, Web Page Design, Computer Programming (classes available based on student demand)

English Language Arts: English 9, English 10, English 11, English 12, AP English Literature, Advanced Speech, Newspaper, Yearbook, Writing Theater Workshop

Foreign Language: Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III

Health/Physical Education: PE Activity, BFS, Girls BFS, Health Education, Team Sports, Individual and Dual Sports, Fitness for Life, 7th grade PE, 8th grade PE

Industrial Arts: Woods, Metals, Small Engines

Mathematics: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Math 12 (pre-calc.), College Prep Math, ACT Prep, AP Statistics.

Music: Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, Choral

Science: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, AP Biology, Honors Physics, Honors Chemistry

Social Studies: U.S. History, Civics, Economics, World History, Government, Psychology, Sociology, AP U.S. History

External links

• Ithaca Public Schools Website
• South Elementary Website
• North Elementary Website
• Ithaca Jr./Sr. High School Website