Principal Hank Schmelz

Phoenix Middle School continues to beat the odds by offering a traditional middle school setting — grades 6-8 — that delivers tremendous results.

In 2015-16, Phoenix has proven to outpace most schools in the nation when it comes to improvement reading and math achievement over the course of a school year. It was also named by the state Department of Public Instruction as a “beating the odds” school for the third time

The school’s 141 eighth graders made especially good progress with their reading and math improvement, bettering between 97 to 99 percent of the country in growth and reaching national averages on achievement scores, the data shows. This is tremendous news for a school that continues to show improvements.

“It really shows that something special is happening here at Phoenix,” said Principal Hank Schmelz. “We’re really working together to close the gap. That’s something that I don’t know that everyone in Delavan knows. Not only are we doing well, but we’re also accelerating student growth. That’s the upward trajectory that we’re on.”

In comparing growth math and reading achievement growth scores, Phoenix out-paced the nation in all grades and in Caucasian and Hispanic demographic groups, with results in the top 25% in nine out of 12 measured areas.

A focus on literacy in every classroom is the backbone of the students’ great improvement. The school also has a diverse learning environment and positive behaviors are encouraged every day through our Comet Code.

A new Fab Lab opened in the summer of 2016 and Phoenix Middle School’s music programs are nationally recognized as some of the best in the country.