The kids are back! Where will they go?
Summary
Good news
The survey results have been presented. They look great!
The school board is presenting a resolution today authorizing use of bond funds to maintain Trombly so it could eventually be reopened as an Elementary. It also suggests to use it as an Educational Enhancement Hub until it decides to reopen Trombly.
The City Council of Grosse Pointe Park is voting on a resolution today requesting that the school district analyze the survey data and allocate bond funds to Trombly for use as a preschool + elementary school.
Bad news
The resolution the school board is presenting does not discuss analyzing the survey data or presenting a plan for introducing preschool to elementary schools throughout the district. This survey is just the tip of the iceberg for an incredible opportunity to re-capture and attract students to all of Grosse Pointe Schools.
We recommend sending a letter to the school board today before the 7pm School Board meeting requesting the analysis of the survey results .
The Survey Results
Good News: The kids are back!!
Bad News: It’s still a well kept secret.
A huge thank you to all the families who completed the GPPSS Headcount Survey! Thanks for being such an important part of our Trombly United Family!
We’re feeling incredibly positive and energized by the results and we’re excited to share just a little glimpse of that with you below. What you are seeing below is the analysis of the survey data unlike what was presented at the school board meeting. Data only was presented and assumptions were made without this very important analysis.
227 households with at least one “Under 10” child responded to the survey.
That’s an astonishing 56.75% response rate. Plante Moran estimates ~400 “Under 10” households in the Trombly area.
There are more 0-5 year olds in the Trombly area than we thought. Plante Moran predicted the Trombly area as the fastest-growing in the entire district; but the survey’s 56.75% sample size has already exceeded their 0-5 year old estimate in the area.
Between 70-88% of families that do not attend Grosse Pointe Schools said they would if Trombly reopened.
Almost 90% of families with 0-4 year old children said they would send their children to a Trombly preschool.
If you want to see the entire survey presentation, you can do so here.
What does this mean??
This means some wonderful things for the Trombly area and the entire district.
#1 People want preschool
Increasing enrollment is most important at the earliest ages. With “PreK for All” coming to Michigan; the school district now has the data suggesting “if we build it, they will come”.
The most cost-effective and attractive offering to attract new families is to use funding from the State of Michigan to allow for at least one preschool room in every elementary school. The cost of teachers and any renovations is provided by the State.
#2 The district is leaving students (and money) on the table
In the Trombly area, 70-88% of families that don’t choose Grosse Pointe Schools would come back to GPPSS if Trombly reopened. This is referred to as “capture rate”. The district has seen a 10% drop in capture rate district-wide between 2017 and 2022.
Areas like the Trombly Catchment and Harper Woods are the fastest growing in the district. These are the areas to treat with the most urgency, areas where the district needs to know why families aren’t choosing Grosse Pointe Schools. Could preschool + elementary options be the key in other areas of the district as well?
Plante Moran heat map presented to the School Board in December 2024.
#3 We should have quality data for every community in the district
There is hopeful and actionable information for the Trombly catchment area. We think such a valuable survey should be conducted in every neighborhood of the district.
How you can help
Parents often ask what they can do to support Trombly, and the answer is simple but powerful: we need your voices. One of the most impactful things you can do is attend School Board meetings—your presence shows the Board that our community is engaged, watching, and deeply invested in the future of our neighborhood school. We also urge you to continue using the Trombly United letter-writing tool to share your concerns directly with Board members—every message counts and helps keep Trombly at the forefront of the conversation. Lastly, please talk to other parents in the area. Make sure they know what’s happening and encourage them to stay connected through Trombly United, where they can get the latest updates, calls to action, and opportunities to help. Our collective voice is strongest when we’re informed, united, and active.
🎒 How to Stay Involved & Make a Difference with Trombly United!
✅ Show Up!
Attend School Board Meetings – your voice matters!
✉️ Speak Up!
Use the Trombly United Letter Writing Tool to easily send letters to the School Board.
🗣️ Chat It Up!
Talk to other parents and neighbors – share info and ideas!
📲 Stay in the Loop!
Follow Trombly United for the latest updates, events, and action steps.