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Pontiac Academy for Excellence History

Pontiac Academy for Excellence (PAE) serves students from many communities including Pontiac, Waterford, Auburn Hills, Flint, and Detroit. Pontiac Academy for Excellence originally began as a high school program. In January of 1997, New Directions Institute (NDI) was opened, chartered by Saginaw Valley State University. NDI was managed by the Leona Group. The Institute was a collaborative effort of the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OHLSA), Motech and representatives of the building trades. NDI was conceived as a vocationally oriented high school for at-risk youth, combining academics with hands-on learning in the construction and automotive trades. Shortly after NDI opened, various problems arose. These concerns included low attendance and enrollment, high staff turn over, several principals, budget constraints, discipline issues and a break down of the school's structure. In fall of 1998, the School Board resolved to change directions by closing the high school and continuing NDI as a K-5 elementary school. In spring of 1999, the Leona Group dissolved its relationship with the School Board, and The Romine Group was chosen as the new management company. Soon after, The Romine Group merged with Beacon Education Management. An amendment to the original charter was written and accepted by SVSU to re-charter the school as a K-5 school and NDI was renamed Pontiac Academy for Excellence.

In 2000, SVSU expanded the charter to 12th grade. The school would initially open as a K-5 school and add a grade level each year. (With the exception of year two when two grade levels were added.) In August 2000, PAE opened its doors as a K-5 charter school with 247 students and 20 staff members. During the 2001-2002 school year the program expanded to a K-7 program with 445 students. The building underwent construction to complete the first and second floors. In the spring of 2002, Beacon Education Management merged with Chancellor Academies and became Chancellor Beacon Academies. Enrollment jumped to 647 the next school year, 2002-2003, as eighth grade was added and the building grew again with the addition of the 3rd floor. In 2003-2004 the addition of high school grades began as PAE became a K-9 program with 769 students.

In spring of 2004, Chancellor Beacon Academies merged with Imagine Schools. PAE was now managed by Imagine Schools. In July 2005, PAE ended its relationship with Imagine Schools. The decision was made to move toward self management. Charter Management Alternatives was hired to aide in this transition. PAE under went construction again, as a new high school building is opened in fall of 2005. In the 2005-2006 school year enrollment was 1033 with the addition of the 11th grade. The PAE staff grew to almost 100. The 2006-2007 school year marked PAE becoming a full K-12 program with 1058 students and saw the opening of first floor of the High School building and Administrative Offices. The 2006-2007 produced the first graduating class of Pontiac Academy for Excellence, numbering thirteen. During the summer, four High School Seniors traveled to China with the Michigan State University Special Program for Gifted Students. The 2007-2008 enrollment was 1105. PAE transition to being self-managed began during this school year.

The 2008-2009 school year began as a self-managed school. Four PAE students, along with selected staff, attended President Obama's Inauguration in Washington, D.C.. This event was sponsored by Oakland University's Upward Bound Program. PAE continued to partner with Oakland University for education field placement students, hosting 120 college students this year. PAE Elementary and Middle Schools both made AYP on the 2008-2009 MEAP test. The leadership of PAE consisted of a Superintendent along with an Elementary Principal and a Secondary Principal. 1135 students attended PAE during the 2008-2009 school year.

To accommodate the growing number of students enrolling and attending PAE, a decision was made to divide our school into three separate schools, thereby making PAE a school district. Prior to the doors opening for the 2009-2010 school year, construction once again began to produce more classrooms, relocate the District Administrative Offices and give each building (Elementary School, Middle School, and High School) a central location for its administrative offices. Leadership expanded as well, with an Elementary Principal, a Middle School Principal and a High School Principal. Not only does this allow more students to join the family of PAE, it allows each building level to focus solely on the needs of its students at their academic level. As of count day 2009, there are 1382 students attending the Pontiac Academy for Excellence School District.