SUTTONS BAY -- A northern Michigan school is being studied by the University of Michigan.
According to research, Suttons Bay High School is the most diverse school in northern Michigan and they've adapted to help cater to the variety of needs.
As 7&4's Kate Fox shows us…it's that success that has sparked interest from the university.
Suttons Bay High School Principal Raphael Rittenhouse says, "This is one of those stories of hope. Our country is going to look like Suttons Bay.”
Suttons Bay High School Principal says not one of their students are the same and for the last four years the staff has been dedicated to providing individual teaching plans to cater to their diverse student population.
The success of these innovative methods grabbed the attention of Dr. Dana Dyson a professor at the University of Michigan Flint.
U of M Flint Professor Dr. Dana Dyson says, "Suttons Bay tells a story about how schools can reshape their curriculum, their programs and implement innovative programs. I’m really excited about their cultural centered education that they have."
Dr. Dyson is doing an in depth study on the plethora of programs the high school offers.
He explains, "Credit recovery, credit protection, there seeing online classes both in the building and also at a distance, duel enrollment classes they can take and get credit through NMC."
One of the most effective programs is ‘Reaching and Teaching.’
Rittenhouse says, "It becomes about getting kids to take a risk, a challenge, to stretch, if a kid was only going to take algebra maybe you'll find them in AP statistic course."
Native American student Austin Floid says the reaching and teaching program is the key to his academic success and has him excited for the future.
Suttons Bay High School Student Austin Floid, "It really makes me feel good, I’m doing a lot better in school, this program is going to get me to graduation."
Dr. Dyson says she'll wrap up the study Friday and get right to work on her case study.
