About Us
Rochester Community Schools Mission
To provide a quality education in a caring atmosphere so all students can attain the necessary skills and knowledge to become lifelong learners and contribute to a diverse, interdependent and changing world.
Welcome to Rochester Community Schools
The Rochester Community School District is part of a treasured community that is rich in tradition, where partnerships between families, schools and businesses are integral for student success.
Our mission is to provide a quality education in a caring atmosphere so all students can attain the necessary skills and knowledge to become lifelong learners and contribute to a diverse, interdependent and changing world.
With 13 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, and a child care center, nearly 15,000 students residing in the Greater Rochester area have the advantage of receiving a world-class education from Michigan’s premier school district.
Our high-quality curriculum, delivered by a skilled, caring staff enables all students to learn at the highest levels. Our students consistently perform above the state and national averages on college entrance exams, and ninety-eight percent of our students graduate.
Programs and services include:
- A comprehensive curriculum for students in kindergarten through 12th grade
- Pre-kindergarten classes
- Transitional kindergarten classes
- Adult education courses
- Special education for students up to 26 years of age
- Before- and after-school child care
- And, community enrichment programs
We celebrate the performing arts through our theatre productions, delight in the music produced by our band, choir, and orchestra programs, and appreciate the designs of our young artists in the visual arts programs.
Our high-school athletics offerings include more than 75 Michigan High School Athletic Association varsity teams and 90 sub-varsity teams across the district.
We embrace cultural diversity. More than 55 countries are represented in schools throughout the district, providing our students with the opportunity to learn about, and appreciate, the history and customs of their peers.
We have much to be proud of at Rochester Community Schools. There’s a definite joy in our work that enables us to truly awaken the potential in every student—a potential that not only serves our young men and women in their K-12 experience, but through their life’s work.
Thank you for your interest in learning more about Rochester Community Schools’ Pride in Excellence.
The Greater Rochester Community
Students residing in the greater Rochester area have the advantage of receiving a world-class education from one of Michigan's premier school districts.
The district is comprised of 561 acres of property encompassing 66 square miles, primarily in the City of Rochester Hills, the City of Rochester, and Oakland Charter Township. The well-established communities of Rochester and Rochester Hills include approximately 89,335 residents with a median household income of $91,929.
The rural and suburban settings have attracted business professionals and families who enjoy the areas' wide array of recreational and cultural activities. Situated north of the Detroit Metropolitan area, the community is home to Oakland University, Rochester University, and Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital.
A Brief History of Rochester Community Schools
1889 Original school building on Fourth and Wilcox was built for $8,000 and housed all grade levels.
1916 First dedicated high-school building built at Fourth and Wilcox.
1920 Addition to the high school included the first gymnasium.
1921 Woodward Elementary School was built. This building was closed in 1983 and served as the center for the Older Persons Commission for many years. The school was demolished in the early 2000s and the site was developed for residential use.
1927 Baldwin Elementary School was built.
1928 The last addition to the building on Fourth and Wilcox was named the Harrison School after a beloved custodian. It included a cafeteria and 16 classrooms. Avon School was constructed (now part of the Dr. John M. Schultz Educational Campus) costing $32,000 for the two-story, four-room building.
1929 Hamlin Elementary School was built as a two-room school building.
1931 First high-school graduating class to have caps and gowns. The Depression was a difficult time for families. Local dairies and grocers began providing milk and cookies for 50 undernourished children in grades 1-6. Classes for grades 1-5 were reduced to half-days, and no meals were served in the cafeteria to reduce costs. Teachers opted for a salary cut instead of eliminating positions. After World War II, baby boomers started attending school in massive numbers; there was an immediate need for additional educational space.
1954 North Hill Elementary School was constructed on land donated by Howard McGregor Jr.
1955 The Avon School District No. 5 changed its name to the Rochester Community School District.
1956 Rochester High School was built at University and Livernois.
1957 Meadow Brook Elementary School was built.
1960 McGregor Elementary School was built on land donated by Howard McGregor Jr.
1961 The junior high, housed at the current Administration Center, became known as Central Junior High.
1963 West Junior High School was built on Old Perch Road.
1967 Long Meadow Elementary School was built.
1970 Adams High School first opened its doors to students.
1973 University Hills Elementary was built off Avon Road.
1975 Reuther Junior High School and Van Hoosen Junior High School were built to accommodate growing enrollment.
1980 Brewster Elementary School opened. Woodward Elementary closed.
1982 Rochester High School celebrated its 100-year anniversary.
1983 Dr. John M. Schultz was appointed superintendent.
1987 Rochester Community Schools changed from a junior-high to middle-school model.
1988 Hugger Elementary School was built on Sheldon Road.
1989 Musson Elementary School opened on Dutton Road.
1990 Hart Middle School first opened its doors to students.
1993 Hampton Elementary School was built. A new Brooklands Elementary School was built behind the original school. Hamlin Elementary School underwent renovations. The old Brooklands School then housed the Adult Education Program.
1994 Proposal A, approved by voters, raised the state sales tax and changed school funding from local property taxes to a per-pupil allocation distributed by the State of Michigan.
1997 Voters approved a high-school bond issue to renovate Rochester and Adams High Schools and build a third high school.
2000 The bond was approved by voters for $107 million to build a 13th elementary school and renovate West Middle School and several elementary schools. School attendance boundaries were redrawn. Stoney Creek High School was completed. Adams High School students were housed at Stoney Creek during renovations at AHS.
2001 Adams High School renovations were completed. Rochester High students were housed at Stoney Creek while the building was renovated.
2002 Delta Kelly Elementary was built. West Middle School, McGregor and Long Meadow Elementary Schools were renovated.
2003 Stoney Creek High School opened as the third high school. Delta Kelly Elementary School opened as the 13th elementary. Limited renovations were scheduled for Brewster, Hugger, Musson, and University Hills Elementary Schools, plus full renovation and expansion of Meadow Brook and North Hill Elementary Schools. North Hill students were housed at Stoney Creek High School during renovations.
2004 Voters approved a bond for $64.9 million for technology upgrades; to renovate and expand ACE (Alternative Center for Education), Reuther and Van Hoosen Middle Schools; install artificial turf fields at the three high schools; and construct a new Facilities Operation Center on Hamlin.
2005 Dr. John M. Schultz retired after 22 years as superintendent. Artificial turf fields were installed at the three high-school stadiums. Renovations began at ACE, Reuther and Van Hoosen. Construction for the new Facility Operations Center began on Hamlin Road.
2006 Mr. David Pruneau was appointed as superintendent. ACE was rededicated.
2007 Renovation of Reuther and Van Hoosen Middle Schools was completed. New roofing installed over sections of Rochester High School.
2011 Mr. Fred Clarke was appointed as superintendent.
2012 Dr. Tresa Zumsteg was appointed as interim superintendent.
2013 Dr. Robert Shaner was appointed as superintendent.
2015 Voters overwhelmingly approved a $185-million bond to enhance student safety and school security, and to update schools, facilities, equipment, and technology.
2016 School entrances were renovated to include secure vestibules. Construction began at Hugger, Musson, and Rochester High. Demolition of the old Brooklands Elementary School was completed.
2017 Renovations began at Baldwin, Hamlin, and West. Adams High School and ACE began renovations. The district introduced a new logo to better reflect the community that it serves.
2018 Renovations started at Brooklands, Hampton, Long Meadow and McGregor. The original ACE building expanded by 30,000 square feet to provide space for ACE, the adult Special Education program, and the Rochester Adult Center for Education. The building reopened as the Dr. John M. Schultz Educational Campus. Renovations began at Hart Middle and North Hill Elementary Schools. The district purchased and renovated a former parochial school building and opened the RCS Caring Steps Children’s Center.
2019 For the first time in district history, voters passed a building and site sinking fund proposal for $7.8 million per year for 10 years to repair, replace, and buy new facility and infrastructure items, enhance security, and upgrade technology. Delta Kelly, Meadow Brook and the Transportation Center were renovated. Renovations began at Stoney Creek High, Brewster and University Hills Elementary Schools, Renovations began at Van Hoosen and Reuther Middle Schools in 2020.
2020 The district launched a one-to-one technology initiative to provide a device to every RCS student for equitable access to learning and resources.
2024 Nicholas Russo was appointed as superintendent.