Points of Pride

It is with great pride and excitement that we announce that Caledonia Elementary School has been named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for being an Exemplary High Performing School!  Awesome job, Caledonia Elementary!!

Press Release - September 19, 2023
National Blue Ribbon School Award Announcement

We are excited to announce that Dutton Elementary School has been recognized as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for being an Exemplary High Performing School. Awesome job, Dutton!!

Three Caledonia Schools Named 2024-2025 Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools

Exciting News! Dutton Elementary, Kettle Lake Elementary, and Paris Ridge Elementary have each been named 2024-2025 Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools! This recognition celebrates their commitment to fostering nurturing and positive environments for all our students. Join us in congratulating our schools on this outstanding achievement!

April 24 Press Release

2024–2025 Honorees

• Dutton Elementary
• Kettle Lake Elementary
• Paris Ridge Elementary

2023–2024 Honorees

• Dutton Elementary
• Kettle Lake Elementary
• Paris Ridge Elementary
• Kraft Meadows Intermediate School

We are thrilled to share that all 9 of our schools in the district have earned the prestigious MI HEARTSafe School designation for 2023-2026! This honor, presented by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Education, American Heart Association, Michigan High School Athletic Association, and Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young, recognizes our commitment to creating a safer learning environment and helping prevent sudden cardiac death. 

This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our staff and community to prioritize student and staff safety. 

We're excited to share that Caledonia Elementary School has earned an impressive Top 25 in the state on the U.S. News & World Report's rankings for the Top Elementary Schools in Michigan!  This incredible recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and the entire Cal community. Way to go, Cal El!  

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/elementary-schools/michigan

Caledonia High School - 30 Best High Schools in Michigan 

Caledonia High School has been recognized as one of the best in Michigan, earning the #19 spot on Money Inc.’s list of “The 30 Best High Schools in Michigan.” This honor highlights CHS’s commitment to academic excellence, with above-average proficiency in math, science, and reading; a wide range of AP and honors courses; a 95% graduation rate with most students pursuing higher education; and more than 30 extracurricular opportunities, including championship-level programs in debate and robotics. With modern facilities, innovative learning spaces, and strong community partnerships that provide real-world experiences, CHS continues to prepare students for success beyond high school. We are proud to be one of only three public schools in West Michigan ranked in the top 20, alongside Forest Hills Central and East Grand Rapids.

Duncan Lake Middle School MVP Sports Award

Big congratulations to Taylor Kastens, Jen Amorose, and Makayla Roberts for representing Caledonia at the United Champion Schools Annual Conference for Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI)!

While they were there, Duncan Lake Middle School was honored with the MVP Sports Award for the 2024-2025 school year! 

This is such an amazing recognition and accomplishment for our Duncan Lake community. It is a true testament to the dedication, inclusion, and sportsmanship shown by our students and staff.

AP Excellence at Caledonia High School

Caledonia High School’s Advanced Placement program continues to set the pace—more students are challenging themselves, and more students are succeeding.

Highlights:

AP Government: 98.6% pass rate; 82% earned a 4 or 5; met or exceeded state and national averages on all 30 AP learning targets.

Overall AP Growth: 
2024 → 357 students tested | 82.5% scored 3+
2025 → 372 students tested | 87.63% scored 3+
That’s 15 more students testing and 30 more earning a passing score.

Why it matters: 
AP courses build college readiness and can translate into significant tuition savings. We’re proud of every Fighting Scot who took on the AP challenge—and grateful to the educators who make this success possible.

Caledonia Community Schools has been named one of the Top 10 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in Michigan for the number of students earning the Seal of Biliteracy in 2024-2025! This honor celebrates our students’ incredible achievement in becoming proficient in English AND another world language.

Congratulations to Mrs. Micalah Waskiewicz!  We’re proud to share that Kraft Meadows Intermediate School’s own Micalah Waskiewicz has been named the 2025 Educator of the Year by the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan!  Mrs. W’s classroom is a place where every student is seen, valued, and supported—and her incredible impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. As one student put it: “She understands me. She takes care of me and makes me feel safe.” Thank you, Mrs. Waskiewicz, for making Caledonia a place where all students can thrive.  

Congratulations to Mary Frey, kindergarten teacher at Kettle Lake Elementary School, for being honored with the Michigan Lottery’s Excellence in Education Award!  Mrs. Frey’s incredible dedication to her students and her passion for building a strong foundation for lifelong learning have made a lasting impact on our school community. We are so proud to have Mrs. Frey represent Caledonia Community Schools!

Duncan Lake Middle School has been nationally recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community at Work® by Solution Tree—and is one of only 5 schools in the entire state of Michigan to earn this honor! This recognition celebrates the incredible work of our educators who focus on learning, collaboration, and results to help every student succeed. We’re proud of the commitment and culture that make Caledonia such a special place to learn and grow. 

Press Release

Each year the Congressional Medal of Honor Society selects one individual nationwide as the recipient of their Distinguished Citizen Award and this year our very own Heather Tornes from Caledonia High School has been chosen for this prestigious honor! Heather’s dedication to education and youth development has made a profound impact on our students, and now her efforts are being recognized on a national stage!  She received this prestigious award at the Circle of Honor Dinner held at the New York Stock Exchange on March 5, 2025. Heather attended the NYSE Closing Bell Ceremony as a guest, alongside over 20 Medal of Honor recipients being recognized for their service and sacrifice. We are beyond proud of Heather for her commitment to instilling leadership, integrity, and civic responsibility in our students. 

Congratulations to Eric Pinder, a cherished teacher at Caledonia High School, for being honored as a Detroit Red Wings "Best in Class" educator! Nominated by one of his students and winning the vote, Eric was celebrated in unforgettable fashion. His recognition included two tickets to the game, a pre-game reception, a meet-and-greet with Justin Abdelkader, and an array of Red Wings merchandise and gift cards. As a lifelong Red Wings fan, this experience was a dream come true. We are so proud to see one of our own receive such a special honor. Eric, your dedication and inspiration truly make a difference—this recognition is so well-deserved!

Big News for Caledonia Girls Basketball! The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) has named Coach Todd Bloemers as their Week 3 Coach of the Week, presented by the Detroit Pistons! Congratulations, Coach Bloemers, and thank you for your leadership and dedication to our Caledonia Girls Basketball program.  We are proud to have you represent Caledonia Community Schools!

Caledonia Community Schools is incredibly proud of Robin Trocinski, preschool teacher at Duncan Lake Early Childhood Center, for being named a 2024 Literacy Champion by the Kent District Library! Robin’s dedication to fostering a love of reading in our youngest learners is truly inspiring. Congratulations, Robin!