How Data Drives Reading Growth at Ferndale Public Schools
(Camille Hibbler, Superintendent of Ferndale Public Schools, Oct 29, 2025)
Ferndale, MI – Third-grade reading proficiency at Ferndale Public Schools has grown from 37% to 48.4% in the last year.
In 2025, our third-graders outperformed the state average, showing that our young learners are becoming strong readers despite the challenges of pandemic learning setbacks. It’s no small feat; our progress was just recognized by Bridge Magazine in a roundup of schools that have flipped the script on diminishing third-grade reading scores in Michigan.
We can attribute our success at Ferndale Schools to several efforts working together, like our grant-funded K-3 literacy coach and our dedicated teacher training efforts in literacy. But what’s made the biggest difference for our reading scores is how closely we monitor student progress through data.
Instead of waiting for end-of-year test results to guide teaching approaches, we look at classroom and student-level data all year long. That tells us exactly where students are improving and where they may need extra support. With this information, teachers can adjust quickly to keep students on track. Data becomes action, and action leads to progress.
At the heart of this progress is our teachers. Their dedication, combined with our understanding of student progress, gives students the best chance to grow as readers.
We are proud of the gains our students have made, but we know the work isn’t done. We’ll continue investing in early literacy, supporting teachers and relying on data to give our students the support they need to succeed. Our goal is clear: to make sure every child leaves third grade ready to read with confidence.
Camille Hibbler is Superintendent of Ferndale Public Schools, and this column is part of a monthly series of updates about the district. Learn more about Ferndale Schools at https://www.ferndaleschools.org/
