Phoenix Points of Pride
Family-Oriented Learning Institution: Students feel very close to each other and the staff at Phoenix High School. Small class sizes allow teachers the opportunity to work closely with students, enabling them to achieve their full academic potential.
Student Ambassadors: Student leaders are actively involved in the upkeep, safety, and cleanliness of the building. They meet with the building administrator weekly in order to take part in the decisions that impact their educational and personal lives at Phoenix High School. The Student Ambassadors are trained in conflict resolution, conflict management, and anti-bias tools to enhance the overall culture of the school. The Ambassadors represents Phoenix High at public forums, cultural events, community activities and school functions. They also participate in the superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.
Phoenix Graduate Accolades: Phoenix High School graduates anywhere from 80 to 102 students each school year. At the 2016 graduation, Phoenix High School graduated 102 students — its largest graduating class in the school's history. Student speakers, student performers, and a salute to the valedictorian and salutatorian are part of the Phoenix commencement ceremony.
Extended Learning and Post-Secondary Enrollment: Phoenix students may extend their learning day in multiple ways. Students are engaged in after-school mentoring, tutoring, and on-line learning experiences through collaboration with volunteers, mentors, college tutors and teachers. Phoenix students are active enrollees in the county-wide Education for Employment and Education for the Arts programs as well as the dual enrollment programs between Kalamazoo Public Schools and Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Western Michigan University. Every Phoenix High School senior/graduate (100 percent) applies to a post-secondary institution or trade program.
Social Justice Theme: Phoenix High School has a reputation for its community service and social justice initiatives. Phoenix students facilitates voter registration drives for all 18-year-old students in the school. They also hold active leadership roles in the community-wide Cesar Chavez activities, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, millage elections, Black History Month celebrations, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, Women’s History Day celebrations, Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Tours, HBCU Fairs, and many other themes driven by of students’ interests.
Phoenix Athletics: Phoenix High School is a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). Students may participate in girls’ and boys’ basketball, track and field, wrestling, cheerleading, bowling and lacrosse. The varsity basketball team has won three district championships since 2009, when the school joined MHSAA.
Student Organizations: The following student organizations are available to Phoenix students: Multi-Cultural Club, Student Ambassadors, Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, Fury Readers Book Club, Females Book Club, Poetry cCub, yearbook, elementary mentoring program, and Grad Bash committee.
Advisory Initiative: Phoenix High School engages its students in “Advisory Wednesdays.” This is an opportunity for teachers, students and support staff to collaborate and engage each other in a relevant curriculum surrounding college and career readiness, conflict management, time management, goal setting, dropout prevention, #projectgraduation, communication and public speaking, organization, study skills, brain research and metacognition, cyber citizenship, and anti-bias education.
Career Exploration: Each trimester, Phoenix High School hosts or engages its students in career exploration activities. This includes events such as visits by area professionals, employer presentations at career assemblies, job shadowing opportunities, and attendance at the county-wide MiCareerQuest event. Students have opportunities to visit colleges, trade schools and employment industries.
Mental Health Counseling: Phoenix High School has a mental health therapist on site to assist with students’ mental health needs, conflict mediation and restorative practices.