Public Schools of Petoskey

Public Schools of Petoskey
Address
1130 Howard Street[1]
, Eaton, Michigan, 49770
United States
District information
GradesPre-Kindergarten-12
SuperintendentDr. Jeffrey Leslie[2]
Schools7[3]
Budget$37,443,000 2021-2022 expenditures[3]
NCES District ID2627930[3]
Students and staff
Students2,433 (2023-2024)[3]
Teachers164.51 (on an FTE basis) (2023-2024)[3]
Staff339.83 FTE (2023-2024)[3]
Student–teacher ratio14.79 (2023-2024)[3]
Other information
Websitewww.petoskeyschools.org

Public Schools of Petoskey is a public school district in Northern Michigan. In Emmet County, it serves Petoskey, the townships of Bear Creek, Resort, and Springvale, and parts of the townships of Littlefield and Little Traverse.[4] In Charlevoix County, it serves parts of Chandler Township and Melrose Township.[5]

History

A school has been located on the southeast corner of Howard and State Streets, site of the current Central Elementary, since December 1875, when a new school opened there.[6] The next year, the school almost burned when the thick woods surrounding it caught fire. The school was saved by students and townspeople who doused the flames using a bucket brigade.[7] The students were formally separated into grades in 1881.[6] A high school was built that year at Ottawa and Lake Streets, and the first class graduated in 1885.[8]

The high school burned down in December 1889.[9] It was rebuilt near the Howard Street School and opened in early 1891.[6][10]

A new high school replaced the Howard Street school in 1913. The previous high school became a grade school called Central. It was torn down around 1929 and a new Central Elementary opened on the site in fall 1930. Warren S. Holmes was the architect.[6] The project included a new 2,000 seat gymnasium for the high school.[11] Also in 1930, the Northmen was chosen as the high school's team name.[12]

A bond issue to build a new high school and Ottawa Elementary passed in 1964. The present high school, designed by architecture firm Daverman Associates, opened in fall 1966. The previous high school became a middle school. A new middle school opened in fall 1990. The 1913 high school building was left empty and was torn down in 1999.[6] A 1945 mural that had been painted in the building was painstakingly salvaged, stored, and reinstalled at North Central Michigan College in 2002.[13]

The 1930 Central Elementary remains in use, including the gym and auditorium once used by the high school.[6]

In 2022, district employees partook in a survey that showed 90 percent of the employees perceived serious problems to be present in the culture of the school district.[14] Superintendent Chris Parker resigned in response.[15] The school board made a plan in response to the survey results and Parker's departure,[16] and Jeffrey Leslie became the new superintendent.[17]

Schools

Schools in Public Schools of Petoskey District[18][3]
School Address Notes
Petoskey High School 1500 Hill Street, Petoskey Grades 9-12. Opened 1966. [6]
Petoskey Middle School 801 Northmen Drive, Petoskey Grades 6-8. Opened 1990.[6]
Central Elementary 410 State Street, Petoskey Grades K-5. Opened 1930.[6]
Lincoln Elementary 616 Connable Avenue, Petoskey Grades K-5
Ottawa Elementary School 871 Kalamazoo Avenue, Petoskey Grades PreK-5
Sheridan Elementary School 1415 Howard Street, Petoskey Grades K-5

References

  1. ^ Public Schools of Petoskey. "Public Schools of Petoskey". Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  2. ^ Public Schools of Petoskey. "Superintendent's Welcome". Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Public Schools of Petoskey". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  4. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Emmet County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  5. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Charlevoix County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Buckmaster, Karla. "Petoskey High/Jr/Middle". Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  7. ^ "Petoskey loses one of oldest landmarks--Howard School". The Petoskey Record. April 3, 1913.
  8. ^ McCune, William S. (March 21, 1985). "Petoskey Schools built first State Street building in 1876". Petoskey News Review.
  9. ^ "Petoskey's high school building burned". Detroit Free Press. December 17, 1889. p. 4.
  10. ^ "Matters in Michigan". The Telegram Herald (Grand Rapids, Mich.). November 8, 1890. p. 5.
  11. ^ Editorial staff of Petoskey High School yearbook. Petosegan 1947 (Petoskey High School 1947 yearbook). p. 3.
  12. ^ "Petoskey names team Northmen". Petoskey Evening News. May 3, 1930.
  13. ^ Hayes, Lisa (February 11, 2002). "Historic mural has a new home in community center". Petoskey News Review.
  14. ^ Foley, Steve (April 11, 2022). "Consultant: 90% of Public Schools of Petoskey staff interviewed find culture 'broken'". Petoskey News. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Ware, Tess (May 6, 2022). "Petoskey Schools superintendent Chris Parker resigns amid district culture report and evaluation". Petoskey News. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Doyle, Annie (July 27, 2022). "What's next? Petoskey school board sets new path following superintendent resignation". Petoskey News. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  17. ^ Graham, Karly (August 3, 2022). "Petoskey board of education approves superintendent contract, begins role Aug. 31". Petoskey News. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Public Schools of Petoskey. "Schools". Retrieved September 7, 2025.