By Superintendent Shawn Ryan

Spring is a time of renewal and revitalization! By all accounts, our recent “Well-Being Spring Break,” which guaranteed no homework for students and no tests on their first day back, served that purpose. When students and staff are rested and ready, they’re unstoppable!
In fact, our district’s mission is to “create a learning environment where students, staff, and families are challenged, healthy, engaged, safe, and supported.” I am so inspired by this mission statement. These words provide a strong foundation for excellence in all we do and inform all of the decisions we make as a district. Notice that we intentionally included students, staff, and families in our mission statement. We believe in our school district, and the people we serve, and we believe in the academic programs we offer.
With that mission in mind, our Board of Education recently approved our plan to expand the district’s specialty academic programs to benefit our students. We love that our students have so many opportunities to explore their passions in programs such as CSMTech and the International Baccalaureate Programme, but we know we must continue to be innovative in our approach to educating young minds. Our aim is to ensure the longevity of our specialty programs by constantly improving what we offer and making sure they’re attractive options for kids.
While most of these specialty academic programs have been offered as open-enrollment programs for several years (meaning out-of-district students can apply), we truly believe in the power of our academic offerings and are pleased to introduce a few new, enhanced opportunities for kids. These specialty academic programs are now, or will soon be accepting applications for the 2019-2020 school year for out-of-district students. If you know of a student who would be perfect for one of these programs, please encourage them to visit our district website to learn more!
Clarkston’s Open-Enrollment Specialty Academic Programs include:
Music Certificate Program (Band, Choir, Orchestra), Grades 6-12, applications accepted April 22-May 21, new;
Clarkston Construction Technology Program, Grades 6-12, hands-on STEAM & construction tech curriculum, applications accepted April 22-May 21, new;
Career Immersion Program, Grades 8-12, earn a Career Diploma endorsement at graduation in Business Administration, Computer Science, Education, Engineering, Finance, or Marketing, applications accepted April 22-May 21;
Advanced Studies Endorsement Program, Grades 8-12, leads to endorsement at graduation. Applications accepted April 22-Aug. 9;
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, Grades 11-12, applications accepted April 22-Aug. 9;
CSMTech, Grades 9-12, integrated four-year STEM academy for highly motivated high school students, applications accepted now through April 12;
Online and Hybrid Program, K-12, complete online schooling or a hybrid schedule, applications accepted through Aug. 23;
Stars & Stripes Gymnastics Partnership Program, Grades 4-12, for talented athletes at junior Olympic level 5 or above, applications accepted July 9-Aug. 7;
Renaissance Alternative High School, Grades 9-12, applications accepted year-round.
The success and sustainability of a healthy school district depends on its ability to look into the future, adapt, and innovate. Clarkston Community Schools is “ahead of the curve” in so many ways! I believe in our schools, and our ability to continue to lead the way with robust academic offerings.
Of course, we can’t do it alone. We are ever grateful for the partnership of the incredible Clarkston community, our students, staff, and families. Visit www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/enroll for more information.