Champions academically and athletically: Arbor Prep honored at State Capitol

In just five years of existence, Arbor Preparatory High School in Ypsilanti has climbed to the top of the mountain both athletically and academically. The charter school – which just opened in 2011 – was honored at the State Capitol this week for excellence on the court and in the classroom. This week (May 1-7) is National Charter Schools Week.

On the court, the Lady Gators won the Class C state championship in girls basketball this season, defeating Traverse City St. Francis in the championship game, 53-37. In doing so, Arbor Prep made history as the first charter school to win a state championship in girls basketball.

And in the classroom, Arbor Prep recently achieved acclaim as one of the top 10 high schools in the state in terms of preparing students for college. Two publications – the Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report – recently released their rankings of the best high schools in Michigan, using metrics that evaluate college-readiness. Arbor Prep finished in the top 10 in both rankings: No. 6 in the Washington Post and No. 10 in the U.S. News & World Report.

On Thursday, Arbor Prep’s state-championship girls basketball team was honored at the State Capitol, as the school also earned praise for its academic prowess. The team was recognized from the Senate floor by Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, and met with a number of top officials, including Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Arlan Meekhof, R-Olive Township.

Arbor Prep Principal Ana Salazar, head coach Rod Wells and the entire team and coaching staff made the trip to Lansing to be recognized.

“Arbor Prep is a success story like nothing we’ve ever seen before,” said Dan Quisenberry, president of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA), the state charter school association, which brought Arbor Prep to Lansing. “They win the state championship in basketball and they’re ranked among the 10 best high schools in the state academically, and they’ve only been in existence for five years. As a charter school, they’ve shown what can be accomplished when you empower parents to make the right choice, and when you empower educators to do what’s best for students. We’re extremely proud of them.”

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The Livingston Post is the only locally owned, all-digital information and opinion site in Livingston County, Mich. It was launched by award-winning journalists who were laid off from the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus by Gannett Co. Inc. in 2009.