ABOUT OPS

Otsego’s Vision is “Expect Excellence” and we believe that all students can excel. We are focused on creating well-rounded individuals who are college, career and community ready.

ABOUT OPS
Otsego Public Schools educates more than 2300 students in three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and an alternative high school. Otsego is also home to a unique nature-based preschool building, the Learn ‘n Grow Early Childhood Education Center, and began its own virtual school, Otsego Virtual Academy, in the fall of 2021.

TECHNOLOGY
Technology is strategic and focused at Otsego. Otsego is now a 1:1 technology district implementing a device for each student that will transform our teaching and learning. With a wireless campus, our teachers find new ways to engage our students in their courses with technology. As trends change, we seek ways to incorporate new tools in our students’ learning. Otsego offers a variety of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) opportunities in and out of the classroom.

Research is a driving force behind our teaching methods and educational strategies that, we feel, sets our students apart. Innovative language and literacy programs along with increased physical activity programs are direct implementations of that research. Otsego is consistently among the top area schools in student achievement ranking above the state average. Otsego has received five Excellence in Education awards from the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB.)

Along with the core subjects, elementary students take art, music, technology, Spanish, health and physical education each week. Those continue into middle school along with engineering, choir and band. Extra-curricular activities embrace a variety of student interests across all grade levels from art and robotics to writing and physical activity. Our focus on literacy is year-round with the addition of the Bulldogs Bookin’ Bus mobile library, on the road since the summer of 2017.

CAPTURING KIDS' HEARTS
Above all, the culture and climate throughout the district is one of caring, concern and compassion. We know that building strong relationships with the individual student strengthens their educational experience and performance. All staff are trained in Capturing Kids’ Hearts, a national program that aims to help students achieve a higher level of learning through the simple concept of caring. Four of our buildings were named National Showcase Schools for 2021-22.

COMMUNITY
Our community is an integral part of an Otsego education. Students participate in, and initiate community service activities at each grade level collecting food, toys, donating blood and raising money for various causes.

In Otsego, we are committed to your child’s education and success! Expect Excellence.

MISSION STATEMENT:

Otsego Public Schools is a student-centered learning community empowering every individual to achieve excellence.

History of OPS
1839-present

1800's

Otsego schools date back to possibly 1833, but the first recorded one-room schoolhouse was in 1839, a one-floor, white-frame house on Franklin Street. The structure of school systems in early times of settlement in Michigan are much different than today. Each one-room schoolhouse, often a log cabin, was its own district. The school buildings themselves were updated over time, but it wasn’t until 1957 that the Otsego School District officially formed, joining several districts together along with two schools in Alamo Township.

One of the most prominent educational sites in Otsego Schools’ history was erected in 1855. Oak Grove Seminary opened on the corner of Allegan and North Streets and was home to District #2, one of the first township schools. It also became the home of students on Franklin Street after a fire destroyed that house in 1863.

With the population growth, a new two-story school opened next to that site on Allegan Street in 1868.

Population growth dictated a greater need for educational facilities and Ward School opened on the corner of Kalamazoo and Morrell in 1892.

In 1897, a much larger facility was needed to handle the influx of students that came with greater population and growing educational system. Oak Grove Seminary was torn down, and a new building erected in its place next to the 1868 building. This was the first official Otsego High School.

1900's

Fire struck the Allegan Street school in 1902 destroying the new high school, but residents stepped in and a new high school opened just one year later.

In 1910, a new three-story building, equipped with an auditorium that could seat 550 people was built. Called Oakwood School, it replaced the 1868 building and stood next to the two-story high school.

Records show that in 1923, Otsego had 950 students. The new high school was renovated with a gymnasium and auditorium. and in 1925 a bridge was built to join the two buildings on the Allegan Street site.

Fire once again struck that location in 1931, destroying the new high school. That was rebuilt once more with remnants of the old buildings and became one unit, including the original Oakwood School. But fire struck once more in 1952 destroying Oakwood School.

Planning for growth was already underway, so students were not without a home long. In 1953, Dix Street Elementary School opened.

In 1961, voters passed a $1 million bond making way for a new high school building on Washington Street. The Allegan Street School then became the Otsego Junior High.

When fire destroyed the east wing of the Junior High in 1966, residents passed another bond to build a new middle school on Washington Street, with a pool, improve the high school and build Bulldog Stadium. Allegan Street was repaired, and became Allegan Street Elementary. The new middle school was dedicated in 1969.

A population decline closed the Alamo schools in the 1980’s, but Alamo Elementary was renovated and reopened in 1991.

2000's

The district stayed essentially constant for the next 35 years; but school families and local citizens realized that many of the district’s buildings were aging and in need of repairs and upgrades. In 2004, voters passed a $60 million bond to build a new, state-of-the-art high school, turn the high school into the middle school and the middle school into Washington Street Elementary school. Every existing building also received significant upgrades except for Allegan Street Elementary as its role in Otsego Public Schools’ education ended.

The new high school opened in the fall of 2007.

Our latest school building addition focuses on the importance of Early Childhood Education. Otsego opened its own preschool, Learn 'n Grow, in 2007. It grew significantly over the years and in 2019, with a voter-approved bond extension, Otsego opened the Learn 'n Grow Early Childhood Education Center which educates our students ages 3-5 in a nature-based preschool environment.

Our facilities expanded further with voter support after the passage of the May 2020 Bond Extension. We are proud to have a state-of-the-art aquatic facility that was built onto the high school. The Otsego Aquatic Center was designed with our community, club teams and competitive teams in mind.

ABOUT OPS

MISSION STATEMENT:

History of OPS 1839-present

History of OPS
1839-present