Otsego Public Schools

Otsego Public Schools
Address
400 Sherwood Street[1]
Otsego
, Allegan, Michigan, 49078
United States
District information
GradesPre-Kindergarten-12
Established1957[2]
SuperintendentJeffery Haase[3]
Schools6[4]
Budget$38,980,000 2021-2022 expenditures[4]
NCES District ID2627060[4]
Students and staff
Students2,377 (2023-2024)[4]
Teachers121.5 FTE (2023-2024)[4]
Staff287.61 FTE (2023-2024)[4]
Student–teacher ratio19.56[4]
Other information
Websitewww.otsegops.org

Otsego Public Schools is a public school district in Allegan County and Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It serves Otsego and parts of Otsego Township, Trowbridge Township, and Watson Township in Allegan County.[5] In Kalamazoo County, it serves parts of Alamo Township, Cooper Township, and Oshtemo Township.[6]

History

A one-room schoolhouse existed in Otsego as early as 1839.[7]

Otsego Public Schools was established in 1957, when several small districts in the Otsego area consolidated with districts in Alamo Township.[8]

The site at the corner of Allegan Street and North Street has long been important to the school district. First, it was the site of Oak Grove Seminary, a private school built in 1855.[9]

Several of Otsego Public School's buildings have been destroyed by fire.[10]

  • The Oak Grove Seminary burned down in 1863. By that time, it had become a public school. It was rebuilt, and a brick school was built on the site in 1868.[11] In 1897 the seminary was torn down and a high school was built on the site.[12]
  • In 1902, the high school burned down and was rebuilt. A three-story building called Oakwood School was added to the site in 1910, replacing the 1868 building, and it was connected to the 1902 building in 1925 with a bridge.
  • In 1932, the complex was destroyed by fire. Parts of it, including the Oakwood School, were salvaged and rebuilt.
  • On February 15, 1952, the wing of the building known as Oakwood School burned down. The Oakwood School was used as an elementary school,[13] and it was connected to the newer high school section with fire-resistant doors that protected the high school.[14] A new high school, designed by G.E. Diekma of Kalamazoo,[15] opened in fall 1961 on its current campus[16] The Allegan Street building became a junior high.
  • In 1966, one of that building's wings burned down. This led to the construction of a new junior high on its current campus. The former junior high was repaired and reopened as Allegan Street Elementary.[17] It closed in summer 2007.[18]

Otsego High School opened in fall 2007. It was designed by architecture firm TowerPinkster.[19] It replaced a building, now Otsego Middle School, built in 1961.[20] The former middle school, built in 1969, became Washington Street Elementary.[21]

Schools

Schools in Otsego Public Schools district[22][4][23]
School Address Notes
Learn 'n Grow Early Childhood Education Center 485 18th Street, Otsego Preschool with an outdoors/nature-based curriculum[24] Opened fall 2019.[25]
Alamo Elementary 8184 N. 6th St., Kalamazoo Grades K-5
Dix Street Elementary 503 Dix St., Otsego Grades K-5
Washington Street Elementary 538 Washington St., Otsego Grades K-5. Built 1969.
Otsego Middle School 540 Washington St., Otsego Grades 6-8. Built 1961.[26]
Otsego High School 550 Washington St., Otsego Grades 9-12. Opened fall 2007.

References

  1. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "Otsego Public Schools". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  2. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "About OPS". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  3. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "Superintendent". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Otsego Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  5. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Allegan County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  6. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Kalamazoo County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  7. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "About OPS". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  8. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "About OPS". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  9. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "About OPS". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  10. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "About OPS". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  11. ^ Monroe, Permelia H. (1924). History of the Otsego Public Schools (Aurora, Vol. 1 ed.). Otsego, Michigan: Otsego High School Yearbooks. p. 6.
  12. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "About OPS". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  13. ^ "Otsego school building burns". Kalamazoo Gazette. February 15, 1952. p. 1.
  14. ^ "Effectiveness of fire doors proven". Kalamazoo Gazette. March 2, 1952. p. 8.
  15. ^ "Otsego accepts bids on schools". Kalamazoo Gazette. January 29, 1960. p. 8.
  16. ^ "Plan dedication event at Otsego High School". Kalamazoo Gazette. September 28, 1961. p. 8.
  17. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "About OPS". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  18. ^ Hoekenga, Bryce (August 12, 2008). "Otsego elementary to become a college". Kalamazoo Gazette. p. 1.
  19. ^ TowerPinkster. "Otsego High School". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  20. ^ "Plan dedication event at Otsego High School". Kalamazoo Gazette. September 28, 1961. p. 8.
  21. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "About OPS". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  22. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "Schools". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  23. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "About OPS". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  24. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "Curriculum & Assessment". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  25. ^ Otsego Public Schools. "Facilities and Operations". Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  26. ^ "Plan dedication event at Otsego High School". Kalamazoo Gazette. September 28, 1961. p. 8.


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