FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Saturday, July 29, 17
Contact: David Dugger, 734-395-0529, [email protected]
Test scores at consortium program soars
The numbers are in and Washtenaw International High School (WIHI) has come out on top. The
school, only three years old, has a building composite ACT score of 27.3, the highest school
composite score documented in Washtenaw County. Based on this score, the school is ranked # 2 in
Michigan according to the Michigan Department of Education.
WIHI is an International Baccalaureate Diploma program and this is the first year the high school
has participated in the MME/ACT since it’s launch in 2011. According to David Dugger, Executive
Director of the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium (WEOC), the scores are in line with the
expectations for the program.
“The three WEOC programs (Early College Alliance @ EMU, Washtenaw International High
School and WAY Washtenaw) were developed and designed to provide options for students in
Washtenaw County’s public schools,” Dugger said. “Each program has a unique focus, design and
pedagogy which allows districts to diversify their offerings through collaboration and innovation.
WIHI’s results coupled with the ECA @ EMU’s current ranking by SchoolDigger.com
http://tinyurl.com/cnnukcz as the #6 high school in Michigan for 2014 affirms the notion that when
school districts come together to think collaboratively and innovatively good things can happen.”
The WEOC programs are high school options offered by member districts to their students and
families interested in taking advantage of the various programs while remaining anchored to their
local districts. The ECA prepares students for college and affords them the opportunity to acquire up
to 60 college credits at no cost to the students or families. The WIHI program is designed for
students who are interested in the IB diploma and are seeking a more global perspective in terms of
curriculum and orientation. Both programs are highly rigorous with high expectations.
WIHI Lead Teacher Eric Wynn believes the impressive test results are indicative of the attitude and
expectations of students and staff.
“I believe these results reflect the enculturation of academic success that exists at WIHI,” said
Wynn. “At our school, test scores, or good grades, are eventual results of the tireless work of our
educators and students in building a community that strengthens ability, builds confidence, and then
breeds success; not the other way around."
WIHI’s principal, Bert Okma, former executive director of the International Academy programs and
IB executive board member, was not surprised by the test results given the success of other IB
diploma programs.
“We are proud of our students and staff for this exceptional accomplishment. It is a direct outcome
of a challenging and engaging curriculum that requires extensive application of core skills to produce
sophisticated academic products,” Okma said. “Our students and teachers challenge each other in
eight courses and eventually are held accountable to international standards in a wide array of
assessments. A three year experience of this nature produces exceptional academic growth.”
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WEOC, a cluster of high school option programs, was originally developed by Washtenaw
Intermediate School District in cooperation with the nine public school districts in the county.
The WEOC programs are accepting applications for fall 2014. For details visit www.wihi.org or
www.earlycollegealliance.org.
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