What attracts someone to a city? It may be great food, beautiful landscaping or good job opportunities. But for many in DeWitt, it is the strong education system.
“A lot of people come here because the schools are great,” said DeWitt mayor Sue Leeming.
DeWitt Public Schools consist of six buildings that have students ranging from early childhood to high schoolers. The number of students enrolled in these schools is just over 3,100 and has been rising since 2014. Superintendent Dr. John Deiter said that its school system continues to experience strength in numbers.
“We are one of the rare districts experiencing growth,” Deiter said. “But we expect it to start leveling off a bit.”
According to data from DeWitt Public Schools, the peers of DeWitt Public Schools, including other schools in Clinton County, have experienced a decrease in enrollment in the last 10 years.
City Administrator Daniel Coss said he has noticed the influx of families with young kids in the city.
“One of the biggest factors and why we’re seeing the demographic switch to younger families is because of the school district,” Coss said. “We have a strong school system with great facilities.”
Deiter said that in line with the $25 million bond project that was approved in November 2016, the middle school began a remodel of the auditorium and cafeteria in the spring. The high school also remodeled the cafeteria and theater.
Another reason DeWitt schools stand out is because of the academics. Laurie Towns, DeWitt resident, has lived in the city for 23 years. She sent her son to DeWitt Public Schools, and her grandson is now a first-grader at Schavey Road Elementary.
“I think a lot of schools in the area are pretty good,” Towns said. “But I know when they go around and they do the testing on the schools, DeWitt is right up there as far as their ratings and the kids’ academic scores. So we know they’re getting a good education.”
According to MI School Data, the middle school and high school both rank superior in percentage of students in all subjects on all state tests. Also, DeWitt High School offers 21 Advanced Placement classes, and its rates are superior to similar schools for graduation and college enrollment.
Although the DeWitt Public Schools population size is smaller than many public school systems, bigger is not always better. Towns said she appreciates the smaller class size.
“It’s not like Grand Ledge where there’s 400 or 500 kids, you can make some friends and actually know who you’re going to school with,” Towns said. “It’s one of those communities where you can make friends easily.”